Paul Pierson

Paul Pierson (* 1959 in Eugene, Oregon) is an American political scientist who was known for his research on comparative political science, public policy, political economy, welfare state and political development in the United States.

Both parents Pierson taught at the University of Oregon. He earned his B. A. in political science in 1981 at the Oberlin College and earned an MA in 1986 and M.Phil. and 1989 the Ph. D. in political science at Yale University

Pierson taught from 1989 to 2004 at Harvard University and then went to the University of California, Berkeley, where he is currently Professor of Political Science in 2012.

Pierson's first book, " Dismantling the Welfare State? ", Published in 1994, was a revision of his dissertation and won the American Political Science Association 's Kammerer Prize for the best work of the government policy of the United States. His essay, " Increasing Returns, Path Dependence, and the Study of Politics " won the Heinz Award for the best Eulau 2000 published in the American Political Science Review article. His special power is the analytical foundation of the concept of path dependence by Increasing Returns, whose adaptation of the economic science is fundamental to his work.

Pierson from 2003 to 2004, President of the American Political Science Association of the political and historical department.