Nicole Wilson
Faculty Affiliate
email newilson@mit.edu
twitter @nicolelizwilson
Nicole Wilson (PhD MIT, 2024) is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and College Fellow (2024-2025) at Northwestern University. Her research explores how neighborhood-level characteristics, particularly social and leadership structures, shape the relationship between citizens and the state, with a focus on cities in the Global South. Her current book project considers how and why those who opt for private alternatives to public service delivery continue to engage with the state, drawing on the case of gated communities in Lagos, Nigeria. She also has several papers related to the politics of property taxation and has broader interests in housing and land. Methodologically, she is interested in developing field methods to access difficult-to-reach populations, primarily using surveys, administrative data, and geospatial data. Nicole also values working across subfields and regional specializations.
Projects
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News September 2023
[MIT News] Nicole Wilson: The Politics of a Shifting Middle Class in Nigeria
As the middle class in Lagos retreats to private enclaves, political scientist Nicole Wilson ponders the impacts on democratic norms.
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Research November 2022
Growth or Goods: Examining Tax Morale Among Property Owners in Lagos
Nicole Wilson & Leah Rosenzweig published a working paper with the International Centre for Tax and Development on taxation in Lagos, Nigeria.
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Projects October 2019
Dissertation and Seed Grants
A compilation of research projects and outcomes by MIT Political Science graduate students supported by MIT GOV/LAB.
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News February 2023
Paying Taxes without Receiving Services: Informal Settlements in Lagos
In research published in the journal Studies in Comparative International Development, MIT GOV/LAB researchers look at factors influencing people’s willingness to pay taxes in informal settlements in Lagos, Nigeria.
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News April 2021
Digital Discussions: Hosting Focus Groups on Zoom
Nicole Wilson, Phd Candidate and MIT GOV/LAB Graduate Research Fellow, discusses making progress on fieldwork during the pandemic, and shifting to online research methods.
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News February 2018
Causes and Consequences of Uncertainty Among the Urban Poor in Lagos
PhD student Nicole Wilson reporting back from the field on the results of her GOV/LAB seed project on informal settlements in Lagos, Nigeria.