Publication

The role of state ballot initiatives in abortion policymaking has peaked, Lantz says

Dec 18, 2024

Since the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, state ballot measures, which allow citizens to vote on state constitutional amendments and laws, have become a significant form of abortion policymaking. Paula...

Publication

Talk to him: How a conversation can shape public support for women’s rights

Dec 17, 2024

A single conversation with a close family member may not change a young woman’s views on policies protecting their rights, but it can strongly influence young men’s attitudes.A University of Michigan study found that family opinions heavily shape...

Mara Ostfeld speaking at a Poverty Solutions event.

Publication

Beating the odds: Students at Detroit public schools are less depressed, anxious

Nov 11, 2024

The share of 8th-12th grade students reporting depression and anxiety symptoms fell below pre-pandemic levels in 2022-23 in the Detroit Public School Community District—which is the opposite of national trends.The most substantial improvements were...

Photo of two students comparing notes, smiling.

Publication

The functioning of democracy at the local level

Oct 29, 2024

The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) has released a new resource that summarizes Michigan local government leaders' views on democracy and democratic governance. The findings come from the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), a...

Publication

Distrust in U.S. healthcare system fuels COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

Sep 20, 2024

New research from the University of Michigan examines how long-standing distrust in the U.S. healthcare system has significantly impacted attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. The research is led by Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Joan and Sanford Weill...

Headshots of Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes and Dom Adams-Santos

Publication

Local leaders in Michigan sound alarms over hiring, keeping law enforcement officers

Sep 17, 2024

Concerns about hiring and keeping law enforcement officers have skyrocketed among local government officials in Michigan in the past decade.Local law enforcement officials themselves are even more pessimistic about recruitment and retention within...

Publication

Jacob’s new research reveals lasting changes in K-12 education due to COVID-19 pandemic

Sep 5, 2024

By the fall of 2022, children across the country returned to what seemed like “normal” school: students and educators returned to classrooms and masks began to disappear. While schools seemed to be going back to what they were before the pandemic,...

Photo of Brian Jacob standing at the Annenberg Auditorium podium, delivering remarks at a public event

Publication

Rabe highlights need for U.S.-China cooperation on Methane Emissions

Sep 3, 2024

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, the United States and China have the opportunity to collaborate on reducing methane emissions, a critical greenhouse gas significantly contributing to about 30 percent of global warming.Ford School political...

Publication

Lantz urges rigorous research into the effects of abortion policy

Aug 28, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court 2022 Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health decision significantly altered the public policy landscape for abortion care, and created a critical need for objective and high-quality abortion policy evaluation research, according...

Publication

Support for carbon capture positive overall, but varies by group and aspect of technology

Aug 22, 2024

A range of technical and policy approaches are being considered to mitigate global climate change. Whether and how these approaches are prioritized or abandoned often depends directly on public approval.For one such technology—carbon capture and...

Publication

Transitional kindergarten programs expand early education access, boost academic gain

Aug 16, 2024

Children enrolled in transitional kindergarten programs in Michigan did better in math and English by the time they reached 3rd grade, with higher test scores than other kids who didn't go through the program, according to a new policy brief from...

Kindergarten teacher with students at a table

Publication

As election approaches, national poll shows which health topics concern older adults most

Aug 15, 2024

All types of health care costs, and financial scams, rise to the top in University of Michigan study.More than half of the people who voted in the 2020 election were age 50 and older, making this age group a key demographic for candidates up and...

Publication

Fewer local leaders in Michigan feeling positive about how democracy is functioning in state, U.S.

Aug 15, 2024

Local leaders in Michigan are slightly less optimistic in their views on the health of democracy at the state and national levels, according to an ongoing survey by the University of Michigan.Although assessments of civic health at the national...

Photo of an American flag backed by a gray sky

Publication

Key insights from the first citywide maternal and infant cash prescription program

Aug 14, 2024

A recent survey conducted by Rx Kids provides valuable insights into how Rx Kids is improving the lives of City of Flint families. These survey findings share the much-anticipated early results from Rx Kids.A prescription for health, hope, and...

Adult kissing a baby on the cheek, the baby is holding a teddy bear and wearing a floral headband.

Publication

Youth Policy Lab explores the impact of family engagement with educational technology

Aug 12, 2024

Family support for young learners—both during school and outside of school hours—can be crucial for developing key academic skills like reading. Gauging family support can be difficult, though, especially when multiple languages are involved, but...

Publication

One size doesn't fit all: U-M study reveals different educational models can lead to college success

Aug 9, 2024

New research led by University of Michigan education economist Sarah Cohodes provides insights into how different K-12 educational environments shape college preparation, enrollment and graduation...

Publication

Child Tax Credit expansion boosted housing affordability and stability, U-M study shows

Aug 8, 2024

A temporary, pandemic-era expansion of the Child Tax Credit improved housing affordability for families with low incomes, according to University of Michigan research.The study by Natasha Pilkauskas and Katherine Michelmore, associate professors of...

Publication

Small cash incentives boost participation in Medicaid home visiting program

Aug 8, 2024

Offering small cash incentives can significantly increase participation in a Medicaid home visiting program for pregnant people, infants and their families, according to a study by the Youth Policy Lab at University of Michigan.U-M researchers...

Publication

Disparity dynamics: Geographic impact of social transfer programs on income inequality

Jul 31, 2024

Social transfer programs have significant geographic differences in spending that help to reduce income gaps between rich and poor regions of the United States, according to new University of Michigan research.The study, published in Social Service...

Map of personal income per capita in US Core-Based Statistical Areas, 2019. Per capita incomes were highest in metropolitan areas on the East and West Coasts and in tourism and natural resource centers in the interior West.

Publication

Lack of trust in political system main reason some Detroiters won't vote

Jul 31, 2024

Distrust in the political system is the most commonly cited reason that eligible voters in Detroit say they don't plan to vote in November, according to a University of Michigan survey.The survey, fielded by U-M's Detroit Metro Area Communities...

American Flags and Pins on White Background

Publication

Disparities in career, technical education access found in Washtenaw County

Jul 29, 2024

Significant inequalities in career and technical education access have been found across Washtenaw County school districts, according to a report by the Youth Policy Lab at the University of Michigan.The analysis, titled "Inequities in CTE Access in...

People operating machines in a training environment

Publication

Detroiters’ perceptions of their neighborhoods shifted after Strategic Neighborhood Fund investments

Jul 22, 2024

A study drawing on survey data from the past five years shows that while neighborhood satisfaction fell across Detroit as the pandemic unfolded, neighborhoods that had received targeted infrastructure improvements proved more resilient.The survey...

Publication

More Michigan communities developing renewable energy goals, CLOSUP survey finds

Jul 17, 2024

The percentage of Michigan local governments that say they have or are considering renewable energy goals has doubled since 2019.Local officials also report that a variety of energy issues, such as energy infrastructure zoning and planning for...

Publication

Higher education responds to changing labor markets

Jul 8, 2024

Do universities respond to the changing needs of industry by offering curriculums that provide students skills they need on the job? That’s the central question of a multi-year research project headed up by Kevin Stange, co-director of the...

Publication

STPP releases analysis of Biden’s Executive Order on Safe AI and the EU AI Act

Jul 8, 2024

As artificial intelligence technologies proliferate in industries across the globe, governments around the world are working to regulate how and when these technologies are used.In October 2023, President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on Safe...

Illustration of US and EU flags combined

Publication

Study offers ways to boost participation in program promoting healthy pregnancies, infant growth

Jul 8, 2024

Home visiting programs are effective in promoting healthy pregnancies, birth outcomes and infant growth and development—and new University of Michigan research offers ways to increase participation among eligible families.Michigan's Maternal and...

Publication

Prioritizing equity among the great challenges of AI, says Parthasarathy

May 29, 2024

As generative artificial intelligence becomes ubiquitous, University of Michigan expert Shobita Parthasarathy says technical revisions to the mechanics may address some harms built into the technology so far.Yet, she argues, “it will always be...

Publication

Hernandez and Summers offer tips to help leaders articulate values

May 28, 2024

Values are at the heart of leadership, decision making, and organizational culture, but what constitutes a value? How do leaders effectively put them into practice?In an article for MIT Sloan Management Review, leadership experts Morela Hernandez...

Headshots of Morela Hernandez and Catherine Summers

Publication

Most local officials support rooftop solar, a majority opposes nuclear power

May 22, 2024

Michigan’s local leaders overwhelmingly support adding rooftop solar infrastructure in their communities, while a majority strongly oppose developing nuclear power.Those are among the key findings in the latest Michigan Public Policy Survey...

Publication

More local officials see relevance of electric vehicle planning

May 2, 2024

Local officials across Michigan increasingly view electric vehicle infrastructure planning as relevant for their governments, though many cite too few public charging stations and costs associated with adding them as barriers to expansion.The...

Gray Electric Car Parked on a Charging Bay