Patrick Obrien

Background

About Patrick Obrien

I have extensive training and expertise in public policy and quantitative research methods, and I'm committed to using evidence-based research to shape policies that drive economic fairness and opportunity. I'm currently the Research and Policy Director at Connecticut Voices for Children (CT Voices), a leading state-level think tank and advocacy organization working to make Connecticut a place where all children and families can thrive. I earned my Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University, specializing in public policy and quantitative research methods. My dissertation became the basis for a peer-reviewed academic book,"Presidential Control Over Administration: A New Historical Analysis of Public Finance Policymaking, 1929–2018." The book provides a sweeping historical analysis of presidential control over public finance from the Hoover administration through the start of the Trump administration, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data to trace how economic crises have shaped presidential authority and public finance policymaking. In my role at CT Voices, I have authored numerous policy reports that analyze and propose state-level reforms on critical issues such as tax fairness, labor markets, and social safety nets. My work has contributed to developing and advancing key proposals like a Connecticut Child Tax Credit, the expansion of the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit, and other progressive fiscal policies aimed at reducing inequities and strengthening support for low- and middle-income families. My work at CT Voices has also involved providing research support on labor market trends, inflation, and monetary policy for the Board of Directors at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, which oversees the Second District of the Federal Reserve System, including part of Connecticut.