Profile
Robert Lowry received his Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. He teaches courses on political and government institutions and processes, including Political Parties and Interest Groups, Political and Civic Organizations, Politics and Business, and Local and State Government.
His research focuses on institutions and organizations in American politics; specifically state fiscal policy and institutions, nonprofit organizations and citizen groups, political parties and campaign finance, and the political economy of higher education.
Past Work Experience
- 2000-2006
- Associate Professor and Professor, Iowa State University
- 2004-2005
- Visiting Scholar, Harvard University
- 1993-2000
- Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
- 1983-1989
- Attorney, United States Postal Service
recent Awards
National Science Foundation grant to study campaign finance and political parties, 2004-2007
Iowa State University Department of Political Science, Alumni Award for Senior Faculty Excellence, 2005.
Professional Organizations
- American Political Science Association
- Midwest Political Science Association
- Southern Political Science Association
- American Economic Association
Courses
GOVT 3326 - Politics and Business (Spring 2007)
GOVT 4326 - Political Parties and Interest Groups
PSCI 6324 - Local and State Government and Politics (Spring 2007)
PSCI 6333 - Political and Civic Organizations
Publications
Work In Progress
“Corporatism in America? Public Welfare Spending and Private Social Services Organizations in the States.”
“The Determinants of Transfers from National to State and Local Party Committees: Does Anything Matter Other Than Winning Elections in the Short Run?”
Contributions by individuals to political parties, candidates, and PACs
“Transparency and Accountability in U.S. States: Taking Ferejohn’s Model to Data,” with Jim Alt.
“Incomplete Contracts and the Political Economy of the Privatized Public University”
Recent Journal Articles
Lowry, Robert C. n.d. “The Political Economy of Public Universities in the United States.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly, forthcoming.
Lowry, Robert C. 2005. “Explaining the Variation in Organized Civil Society Across States and Time.” The Journal of Politics: 67(May): 574-594. Summarized and extended in “Assessing the Effects of Church and State on Organized Civil Society,” International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law: 7(September, 2005): http://www.icnl.org/JOURNAL/vol7iss4/
Lowry, Robert C. and Matthew Potoski. 2004. “Organized Interests and the Politics of Discretionary Federal Grants.” The Journal of Politics 66(May): 513-533.
Lowry, Robert C. 2004. “What Explains Credible Apologies? A Comment on Yap’s ‘Non-Electoral Responsiveness Mechanisms.’” British Journal of Political Science: 34(April): 368-371.
Lowry, Robert C. 2004. “Markets, Governance and University Priorities: Evidence on Undergraduate Education and Research.” Economics of Governance: 5(April): 29-51.
Alt, James E. and Robert C. Lowry. 2003. “Party Differences in State Budget Outcomes Are There After All: Response to ‘Reexamining the Dynamic Model of Divided Partisan Government’” The Journal of Politics 65(May): 491-497.
Lowry, Robert C. 2001. “Governmental Structure, Trustee Selection, and Public University Prices and Spending: Multiple Means to Similar Ends.” American Journal of Political Science, 45(October): 845-861. Abridged version published as: “Effects of State Postsecondary Education Structures on Public University Prices and Spending.” New Directions for Institutional Research 119(Fall, 2003): 41-53.
Lowry, Robert C. 2001. “The Effects of State Political Interests and Campus Outputs on Public University Revenues.” Economics of Education Review 20(April): 105-119.
Lowry, Robert C. and James E. Alt. 2001. "A Visible Hand? Bond Markets, Political Parties, Balanced Budget Laws, and State Government Debt.” Economics & Politics 13(March): 49-72.
- Updated: October 16, 2006
