Berkeley vs. Columbia for IPE

[timutz]

I'm a fairly advanced incoming student studying international political economy of finance (financial elite communities, global capital flows, banking regulation), with strong methods training I intend to build on. My final competing programs are UC Berkeley and Columbia, which each have solid merits for these focuses. The former has more senior faculty (VA, BE in dual appointment) where the latter has great new hires in that field (NG and AC, with ongoing searches, they assure me). Obviously the latter has an advantage of pedigree, but I'm looking for any and all advice on which program has a better fit for this field, and placement of students with this particular focus. Also interested in unspoken departmental norms (corroboration of rumors regarding Berkeley methods sequence incoherence, intolerable competitive environment at Columbia, etc.). Many thanks in advance, folks.