My key area of research pertains to voluntary programs: how they emerge, how they diffuse, and conditions under which they are effective. My book, The Voluntary Environmentalists (Cambridge, 2006)(co-authored with Matt Potoski), outlines a novel theoretical perspective (the club approach) to study voluntary programs. In this book, we apply the club framework to study the diffusion and efficacy of ISO 14001, the most widely adopted voluntary environmental program. Matt and I have recently co-edited a book, Voluntary Programs: A Club Theory Perspective, (MIT Press, 2009) that employs the club framework to systematically study how institutional design affects program efficacy across voluntary programs. Mary Kay Gugerty and I have extended the club perspective to study voluntary regulation in the non-profit sector. In addition to some papers, we have co-edited a book, Voluntary Regulations of NGOs and Nonprofits: An Accountability Club Framework (Cambridge, 2010). I am also working on papers that examine the Global Compact program (with Dan Berliner) and voluntary programs in the context of global climate change (with Lily Hsueh). My other active projects include:

1. NGOs and Nonprofits:
NGOs influence the policies of governments and firms via public politics as well as by private politics. There is no agreed definition of NGOs; scholars tend to treat them (incorrectly so in my opinion) as actors that are guided by normative concerns, not instrumental reasons. Building on my past work with Susan Sell and Erica Johnson, Mary Kay Gugerty and I have co-edited a volume, Revisiting Advocacy Organizations: A Collective Action Perspective (Cambridge, 2010) to systematically examine the extent to which the firm analogy can be helpful for the study of advocacy NGOs. I am working on a paper with Rebecca Spzer that examines the efficacy of charity ratings, and another one with Taedong Lee and Erica Johnson which examines NGO accountability issues in Eastern and Central Europe.

2. Trade and Foreign Direct Investment:
I am interested in studying how trade and foreign direct investment diffuse rules, regulations, and norms. Previous papers with Matt Potoski examined the role of bilateral trade and the foreign investor's country-of-origin on ISO 14001 diffusion. Recent papers with Xun Cao examine the role of trade competitiveness (measured at both bilateral and sectoral levels) on ISO 9000 diffusion and pollution levels. My other papers examine the role of trade and investment in diffusing human rights (with Brian Greenhill and Xun Cao), labor rights (with Layna Mosley and Brian Greenhill), gender rights (with Brian Greenhill and Xun Cao), and property rights (with John Ahlquist ).

3. Social Regulation and Corporate Responsibility.
I am interested in examining the institutional foundations of the "why and how" aspects of CR. Jennifer Griffin and I will be co-editing a special issue of Business & Society on "Corporate Responsiblity: Initiatives and Mechanisms." In this issue, we pose the following question: how do institutions and actors internal to the firm as well as external to the firm (at the sector, national, regional, and global levels) influence choices regarding Corporate Responsibility (CR) mechanisms and CR initiatives.



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