His research interests are in international trade, political economy and economic history. His primary work in international trade focuses on understanding patterns of comparative advantage and trade flows; the determinants of multinational activity; and the role of FDI policies. His work in political economy has examined the determinants of corruption; and the interactions between political participation, culture, and economic conditions. Davin completed his A.B. in Economics summa cum laude from Harvard University in 2000. He also holds an A.M. in Statistics (2000) and a Ph.D. in Economics (2007) from Harvard.