Christopher Howard (professor)

Christopher Howard (born 1961) is an American political scientist. His scholarship focuses on the history and politics of social policy in the United States, with particular attention to what he has termed the "hidden welfare state" of tax expenditures. Howard is currently the Pamela C. Harriman Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William & Mary, where he has taught since 1993.

Howard has published several books on the United States' welfare state. He has also written opinion pieces and been interviewed widely on U.S. social policy topics for outlets including The Washington Post, CNN, The Hill, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Virginian-Pilot, and National Public Radio stations including WNYC and KERA.