COVID-19 insights and action

Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni are leading the charge on public policy responses to and analysis of the COVID-19 crisis.

Our population, our health care and economic systems, our workforce, housing, and security have all be affected, with some damage yet to be fully seen. The pandemic has laid bare our world’s racism, economic injustice, and other social and structural inequalities: the virus touches all, but the most significant and direct impacts have been and will continue to be on vulnerable people and communities.

Since mid-March 2020, our community has pulled together to find solutions.

Whether it is ensuring that our most vulnerable residents have their basic needs met, assessing the damage to our economy, gathering insights about health preparedness and responses on the ground from Michigan to Mozambique, addressing national security concerns, or providing critical information to residents and small businesses so they can stay afloat, Ford School faculty, students, and alumni are engaged and committed.

Research insights

Can financial incentives help stop COVID?

Development economist Dean Yang and his team find that teaching and financial incentives to learn are complementary methods to improve COVID knowledge in Mozambique
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Research insights

What we can learn from HIV/AIDS

Celeste Watkins-Hayes shows how shoring up and expanding the HIV safety net can target health disparities exposed by COVID-19—and fight two of the present day's most impactful infectious diseases.
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Research insights

Poor migrant workers across India hit hard by COVID-19 lockdowns

In a study that tracks 5,000 migrants across north and central India, Yusuf Neggers finds that women are more affected by the lockdowns than men.
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Engaging community

Safety concerns drives low vaccination rates in Detroit

Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) finds that among Detroiters who have not received any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, nearly 8 out of 10 cited concerns about the safety of the vaccine among their reasons. The results are part of a series of rapid-response surveys measuring the impact of the pandemic on Detroit residents.
Read the study
Engaging community

Students help local townships navigate and adapt

COVID-19 Consulting Corps students partnered with the Michigan Townships Association to provide guidance in the face of pandemic challenges.
COVID-19 Consulting Corps help local townships
Policy impact

College tuition for frontline workers

Youth Policy Lab Fellow Avazeh Attari helped develop the new Michigan policy inspired by the G.I. Bill.
Read more about Futures for Frontliners
Research insights

Not all vaccine hesitancy is the same

New analysis from Science, Technology, and Public Policy program researchers identifies the sources of public mistrust in vaccines, and explores better policy approaches, especially for marginalized communities.
Read the study
Research insights

Stimulus checks substantially reduced hardship

The New York Times and Newsweek cite Poverty Solutions research.
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Research insights

Burgard draws attention to long-term health issues excerbated by unemploment

Discussing the economic and social consequences of the pandemic, Burgard calls for more support for the unemployed.
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Research insights

Ann Lin compares international COVID-19 perspectives

Lin joined U-M Professors to conduct a survey in over a dozen locations around the world which looked at how people feel about the disease and prevention efforts, anxiety, vaccination, and blame.
Ann Lin compares international COVID-19 perspectives
Research insights

Michigan's local government leaders confident with vaccine

The Michigan Public Policy Survey measures the attitudes about the direction of the state, and the performances of the governor and the legislature amidst pandemic.
Read the study
Alumni impact

Susan McLaughlin (MPP/MBA' 93) manages financial crises in three decades at the Fed

McLaughlin is the Head of Treasury Debt Financing Operations and Managing Director of 13 Lending Facilities at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
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Alumni impact

Eric Rodriguez (MPP ‘19) uses virtual local assistance center to reach vulnerable populations

Rodriguez is the senior executive analyst for the City of San José.
Read more

Adrienne Harris on the impact of the coin shortage due to COVID-19. Check out the video from VICE.

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