From Lake Constance to New Research Insights

By Ashley Simpson

This June, I traveled to Friedrichshafen to present at the DVPW Dreiländertagung (Deutsche Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft), hosted by Zeppelin University at the beautiful Lake Constance.

I presented my project examining cross-national and temporal variation in the regulation of dual-class shares, with a focus on how coalitions of financial interest groups, combined with competitive regulatory pressure, determine whether dual-class shares are allowed. The panel on Regulation & Federal Politics brought together work with a shared emphasis on the role of private actors in shaping regulatory outcomes. Fellow panelists examined how Germany's debt brake has shaped investment and personnel spending across federal states (Felix Hörisch and Stefan Wurster), how governments regulate the non-profit organizations that deliver welfare state services (Georg Wenzelburger), and how private actors can shape regulation using a case study of the German construction sector (Dionys Zink). Despite being a small group, we had a great discussion. I am grateful to my co-panelists and chair for their thoughtful feedback, which will inform my next steps with the paper.

Beyond my own panel, I enjoyed diverse panels at the conference, including one on the use of evidence in policymaking, including how evidence can function as a political tool, which connected in interesting ways to my own research on regulation.

This was my second DACH conference, and I continue to be impressed by the strong presence of and support for PhD students and early-career scholars. Beyond the conference, it was my first time visiting Germany, and I took the opportunity to explore a few of the lovely towns along the Bodensee region.

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