Leopoldo Biffi

I am a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance, at Princeton University. I received my PhD in International Relations/Political Science from the Geneva Graduate Institute.

I study the political economy of international trade and the politics of international economic law. I consider how domestic factors like veto players, constitutional aspects, and economic interests drive international economic cooperation, and how international institutions adapt to them. My doctoral dissertation looks at the institutional design of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs). It explores how PTAs and BITs innovate their design to tackle cooperation problems like uncertainty, political risk, and protectionist demands, with a particular focus on the politics of treaty implementation. My broader research interests include international organizations, the politics of investment screening, and the European Union.

I hold a BA in International Relations (First Class Honours) from King’s College London and an MA in International Relations/Political Science from the Geneva Graduate Institute.