Nathan Rubin Writing Portfolio

Excited to share a major academic project I completed on a crucial topic in African politics: The Zuma State Capture in South Africa! 🇿🇦

This research wasn't just about corruption; it was about how powerful private interests, led by the Gupta family, successfully rewrote the rules of governance to loot public resources and compromise the independence of key institutions like Eskom and Transnet. The consequences are still being felt today, from crippling electricity shortages to deep political divisions within the ANC.

If you're interested in the intersection of power, law, and economics in emerging democracies, this paper offers a deep dive into the mechanisms of elite patronage and the struggle for accountability.

#StateCapture #SouthAfrica #JacobZuma #AfricanPolitics #PoliticalScience #Eskom #Research

 Associated with Sarah Lawrence College

A deeply personal and academically stimulating project: Fractals in Africanist Culture!

This research was a journey into ethnomathematics, exploring how complex, recursive patterns—like the self-similar structures found in nature—are woven directly into the music, architecture, art, and even social organization of various African traditions.

I argue that from music to the detail on a carved mask, these fractal designs are a brilliant form of indigenous geometry. It’s a powerful reminder that advanced mathematical concepts don't just come from European history; they are deeply rooted in the heritage and ingenuity of African culture.

If you’re interested in the intersection of math, history, and cultural excellence, let’s connect!

#Fractals #AfricanCulture #BlackExcellence #Ethnomathematics

 Associated with Sarah Lawrence College

Independent Research Project | Behavioral Finance

This research paper explores how emotion shapes investor decision-making through multiple psychological and neuroeconomic pathways. Drawing from recent studies in behavioral finance and neuroscience, the analysis examines how affective states influence risk tolerance, belief formation, confidence, and cognitive framing. Using frameworks from Duxbury et al. (2020), Kuhnen & Knutson (2011), etc., the paper highlights how both stable personality traits and momentary emotions systematically guide financial behavior—often beyond conscious awareness.

The project synthesizes insights from experimental evidence, conceptual models, and emerging neuroeconomic literature to propose a more psychologically grounded understanding of investor behavior.

Key Themes: Behavioral Finance, Emotion and Decision-Making, Neuroeconomics, Investor Psychology, Cognitive Biases, Financial Risk Tolerance