Professor Penn's areas of specialization
are social choice theory, institutional organization and political
economy. She is particularly interested in the role that political
institutions play in sparking or mitigating conflict between groups.
Some of her past research has focused on the emergence of cooperation
between individuals and groups with competing interests in dynamic
settings. Although most of her work has been theoretic, other projects
have addressed topics relating to local and state governance, including
municipal secession and the initiative in California. Recent
publications: "The Banks set in infinite spaces" and "Alternate
definitions of the uncovered set, and their implications," both
forthcoming in Social Choice and Welfare.