Policy & Governance Lab

Welcome to the Policy & Governance Lab (PGL)

At Dr. Lily Hsueh’s Policy & Governance Lab (PGL), we take an interdisciplinary, problem-driven approach—drawing on economics, political science, policy, and management—to investigate the emergence, evolution, and impacts of market-based, nonregulatory, hybrid, and alternative forms of governance.

PGL’s research examines complex institutional, market, and technological dynamics across three core pillars facing unprecedented governance challenges:

Global Climate Change, Energy Transitions & Resilience
Disasters, Extreme Events & Risk Management
Decentralized Governance and Equitable Urban Development
Ocean, Marine & Natural Resource Governance

Highlighting Our Emerging Work: Active Research Initiatives

PGL’s latest research extends our comparative governance framework across two overarching initiatives:

Initiative I: Next Generation Climate, Energy, & Emerging Technology Governance

Governance of AI Infrastructure and Data Center Supply and Demand
U.S. Tribal Energy Governance and Decarbonization Pathways
Renewable Energy Policy and Technology Innovation and Adoption: Evidence from OECD Countries
Voluntary Climate Markets and the Design of International Climate Clubs

Initiative II: Firm-Government Dynamics, Organizational Capacity & Corporate Decarbonization

Policy Signals, Managerial Agency, and Corporate Climate Action
Managerial Agency, Firm Dynamics, and Private-Public Interactions in Decarbonization Strategies

Core Themes & Methodological Pluralism

Firm-Government & Market Dynamics

A central theme at PGL is examining how public policies, market forces, and political economy drivers incentivize private sector engagement in public goods provision, alongside managerial and organizational dynamics shaping firm–government interactions. We closely analyze the interactions among firms, policymakers, and critical stakeholders—including consumers, investors, and activists—to shed light on policy and regulatory design as well as corporate strategy.

Rigorous Causal Inference

Methodologically, we blend quantitative tools and methods for causal inference—such as applied econometrics, quasi-experimental methods, and data science techniques—with qualitative approaches, including semi-structured interviews and process tracing in systematic case studies, to uncover deep causal mechanisms.

Featured Media & Frameworks

Corporations at Climate Crossroads

Discover PGL’s theoretical framework on how internal firm leadership, organizational dynamics, external regulatory pressures and global norms shape private sector action.

Read Dr. Hsueh’s Book | Watch Dr. Hsueh's Book Talk| Explore Active Projects | Join PGL

TEAM

Principal Investigator

Lily Hsueh, Ph.D.

Read her bio here.

Current Members and Students

Eugene Cho is a Ph.D. Candidate at the School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University. Her primary research interests lie at the intersection of environmental policy and inequality. Policy analysis, environmental economics, and sustainability are also included in her research area. These research interests are mainly derived from a 12-year career at South Korea’s Ministry of Environment, especially at two research centers related to air pollution and climate change. She received her B.A. in Anthropology from Seoul National University and took graduate courses in Public Administration at the same university. Read more on Eugene's website.

Ximing Dong is a second-year PhD student in Public Administration and Policy at ASU School of Public Affairs. His research interests center on environmental, energy, and technology policy, with a particular focus on the administrative and governance challenges in these domains. He is also passionate about advancing quantitative and computational methodologies. He is currently conducting research with Dr. Eric Welch at the Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies (CSTEPS) and with Dr. Lily Hsueh on environmental policy and emergency management. Prior to joining ASU, he worked with the Climate Policy Division of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C. Read more on Ximing's ASU profile.

Jett Timmons is a junior at the Barretts Honors College, Arizona State University. Driven Economics major with a strong eye for detail and a passion for developing a more sustainable future. Seeking to deepen expertise in environmental economics and policy with a well rounded skill set in research, report writing, and data analysis. Skilled in cross functional communication, interviewing, and leadership. Holds experience working with Excel, Tableau, and large language models. Read more on Jett's LinkedIn profile.

Pooja Chandramohan received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a concentration in political science from New York University’s campus in Shanghai, China. While the majority of her academic career was in Shanghai, she has also spent several semesters in New York, Buenos Aires, and Madrid. These experiences of living in various political climates and countries with histories and cultures much different from her own, have not only expanded her knowledge of international relations, comparative politics, and global policy, but have also strengthened her abilities in cross-cultural communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. She graduated from teh Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions where she gearned a Master of Public Policy (MPP). Her interests lie in international economic development and environmental policy. She is currently a Research Analyst at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Alumni of Dr. Hsueh's research team include Jessica Bass, Jacob Emnett, Elliott Harwood, Elizabeth Kuttner, Daniel Marchetto, Won No, Cassidy Schwalenberg, Jeff Suarez, Reva Anmala (high school research intern), Nihaal Konda (high school research intern).

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