Research

My research interests lie in two areas of international and comparative political economy. First, I am interested in the political economy of globalization. My research explores the political consequences of global economic integration for emerging economies, with an empirical focus on South Asia. I am also engaged in several projects related to the political economy of international migration. At Texas A&M, I am a Research Fellow in the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy and a Faculty Associate of the Lab for Economic Development Research (LEDR).

See below for a list of my publications and works under review and in progress.

Book

Leblang, David and Benjamin Helms. 2023. The Ties That Bind: Immigration and the Global Political Economy (with David Leblang). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Click here to order from Cambridge University Press, or click here to order on Amazon.

Peer-reviewed articles

Helms, Benjamin and Junghyun Lim. 2025. "Globalization, Internal Migration, and Public Goods Provision in Emerging Economies." Accepted at American Journal of Political Science.

Helms, Benjamin, Sonal Pandya, and Rajkumar Venkatesan. 2025. "War on Aisle 5: Casualties, National Identity, and Consumer Behavior." Journal of Conflict Resolution, 69 (2-3): 434-462.

Helms, Benjamin. 2024. "Global Economic Integration and Nativist Politics in Emerging Economies." American Journal of Political Science, 68 (2): 595-612.

Helms, Benjamin. 2023. "Exit or Voice? Corruption Perceptions and Emigration." Studies in Comparative International Development, 59: 138-175.

Helms, Benjamin and David Leblang. 2022. "Labor Market Policy as Immigration Control: The Case of Temporary Protected Status." International Studies Quarterly, 66 (3), sqac042.

Helms, Benjamin and David Leblang. 2019. "Global Migration: Causes and Consequences." Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press.

Under review

"Foreign Direct Investment Increases Bureaucratic Corruption" (with Sonal Pandya and Sheetal Sekhri).

In progress

"Global Economic Integration and the Political Economy of Education Provision." In preparation for submission.

"Globalization, Nativism, and Local Politics: A View from the States" (with David Leblang). In preparation for submission.

"Historic Marginalization and Support for Globalization in Emerging Economies." Draft in progress.

"International Migration and Interstate Conflict." (with David Leblang and Philip Potter). Revision in progress.

"Globalization and Support for the Radical Right in Emerging Economies" (with Junghyun Lim). Analysis in progress.

"Migrant Networks as Economic Shock Absorbers" (with David Leblang and Margaret Peters). Analysis in progress.

"Globalization and Human Capital Decisions of Marginalized Groups." Analysis in progress.

"Monetary Policy and International Migration." Analysis in progress.