Hsin-Ta Andre Tsai

Joint Ph.D. Student between Georgia Tech & Georgia State University

Member Of:
  • Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy
Related Links:
Email Address: htsai49@gatech.edu

Overview

Education:
  • MA Policy Studies, University of Chicago (Honors)
  • MSc Comparative and International Education, University of Oxford
  • BA Economics and Education Studies, Berea College (Magna Cum Laude)
Awards and
Distinctions:
  • Graduate Student Assistance Fund Award (max. amount), American Educational Research Association (2025)
  • PA Theory Fellow, Public Administration Theory Network (2024)
  • Non-resident Fellow, the NSF of Taiwan [or NSTC] (2024)
  • Pre-doctoral Research Fellow, New York University [funded by the Institute of Education Sciences] (2022-2023)
  • Institute of Politics Stipend Award, University of Chicago (2021)

Interests

Research Fields:
  • Applied Econometrics
  • Education Policy
  • Labor Economics
  • Program Evaluation, Public Management and Administration

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Cultural Conservatism and Opposition to Marriage Equality: The Case of Taiwan
    In: Politics & Policy [Peer Reviewed]
    Date: May 2025

    Abstract: Religious and political conservatism are the strongest predictors of opposition to same-sex marriage (SSM) in the West. As marriage equality increasingly becomes a political issue in parts of the world where evangelical Christianity is less common and political parties have not taken clear positions, it is less clear whether the same factors influence public opinion elsewhere. We focus on Taiwan, which reinforced its international reputation as a beacon of liberal values by becoming the first Asian country to legalize SSM, even though the public had just voted against marriage equality in a referendum. Although Christian churches led the opposition to SSM, surveys from before and after the policy change indicate that traditional cultural norms presented greater obstacles to marriage equality than religion. Age and education also had strong impacts on public support for marriage equality, but gender and partisan differences were relatively weak.

    View All Details

  • Effect of International Roommates on College Outcomes: Evidence from Students of Disadvantaged Backgrounds
    In: Educational Policy [Peer Reviewed]
    Date: January 2025

    College policies may support intentional cross-cultural interactions among peers. This study examines the impact of having an international roommate on the college outcomes of domestic U.S. students. Using institutional data on more than 6,600 U.S. students from a selective liberal arts college that serves low-income individuals, our analysis demonstrates the positive effects of being paired with an international roommate on U.S. students’ first-year GPA, subsequent GPAs, and second-year retention. However, our findings show no significant effects on graduation rates or retention rates beyond the second year. These findings point to the potential benefits of deliberate organizational and institutional policies to facilitate interactions among individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

    View All Details