Economics · Public Policy · Local Democracy
Dr. Ben Tafoya
DLP, MBA
I teach economics and public policy, research how local governments raise and spend money and how citizens take part in local elections, and write about the places where the two meet.
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Research, writing, and teaching
Research
Municipal elections, local finance and state mandates, and public administration.
Research & publications →Writing
A Substack newsletter and a regular column in PA TIMES on public service and local government.
Read the writing →Teaching
Economics at Northeastern, and political science and public policy at Walden and New England College.
Teaching →Featured
Boosting turnout in municipal elections
Issue brief: what changed between 2024 and 2025
A one-page brief for state and local officials on what drives turnout in Massachusetts municipal elections, and a low-cost step policymakers can take.
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Scholar, teacher, and former public official
I am a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies. Before and alongside the classroom, I worked in government, directing the Division of Local Mandates at the Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor and serving on the Reading, Massachusetts Select Board.