Publication

Making the grade: Targeted help, not being held back, offers leg up to students struggling with reading

Jun 26, 2025

Policies calling for holding children back a grade in elementary school to improve their reading skills are widespread—if unpopular—across the United States. However, the benefits to students appear to come from the support services put in place...

Photo of a young child, held in the lap of an a guardian or teacher, reading a book

Publication

Reframing civil rights advocacy to tackle 21st century issues

Jun 26, 2025

Civil rights appeals have historically been instrumental in driving social change and safeguarding human rights in the United States. But invoking civil rights to garner public support for addressing present-day social problems may actually...

Publication

Transportation insecurity: A common and consequential American hardship

Apr 30, 2025

Nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lack access to reliable transportation, making it one of the country's most common forms of material hardship, say University of Michigan...

Photo of cars and buses driving on a Chicago street as the Metro train passes overhead on an elevated platform

Publication

Hassan on AI, power, and decolonial possibility in Africa

Apr 29, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an increasingly defining force, shaping global advancements and influencing crucial aspects of society. Assistant professor Yousif Hassan’s research examines the social, economic, and political implications of...

Publication

Many local officials in Michigan uncertain about the use of AI or other predictive policing tools

Apr 23, 2025

The Michigan Public Policy Survey, conducted last spring by U-M’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, found most officials are unsure about the accuracy of public safety risk assessments made by automated tools such as AI. However, sheriffs...

Publication

Drivers of color more likely to be ticketed than white counterparts, despite similar behavior behind wheel

Apr 8, 2025

When it comes to issuing tickets or levying fines for driving violations, a new study reveals unequivocal bias against minorities. Justin Holz, assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, and colleagues from...

Publication

Potential of grocery delivery services to increase food access in Detroit

Apr 8, 2025

New research from the University of Michigan points to potential ways to leverage grocery delivery services to improve food access in Detroit, where 32% of residents live a mile or farther from a full-service grocery...

blurry grocery store aisle with a grocery bag full of food and hands texting in the foreground

Publication

Yang finds unintended consequences of an early education program in the Philippines

Apr 3, 2025

A major policy change in early education in the Philippines led to an unexpected drop in test scores and academic achievement—revealing the challenges that even well-intentioned reforms can have and the importance of wisely investing in the first...

Publication

U-M study highlights urgent need to train students about the ethical, social, and policy dimensions of STEM

Apr 2, 2025

Advances in fields like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and data science are rapidly shaping society and raising significant ethical and policy questions. The dizzying pace of development also highlights the need for academic programs that...

Publication

CLOSUP’s second annual report analyzes local government fiscal health

Mar 27, 2025

In March, CLOSUP released its second annual report analyzing the fiscal health of local Michigan governments. Using financial data reported to the State of Michigan in 2023, the researchers developed a set of indicators to look at cash, budgetary,...

Publication

From Epic to Elections: How a TV Series Transformed India’s Cultural and Political Landscape

Feb 10, 2025

Economists use variations in TV signal strength to demonstrate long-term impacts of the smash 80s series, ‘The...

Publication

College tuition aid program delivers high marks for value but strives to reach more who qualify

Jan 15, 2025

One of Michigan's largest financial aid programs offers great promise in boosting college affordability as well as the number of college graduates—with room to reach many more who qualify for...

Photo of college students in a hallway, with focus on a student seated on a bench against the wall, holding a coffee and looking at their coffee.

Publication

Child cash benefits improve child health and development internationally

Jan 7, 2025

Looking at programs from more than 140 countries, a University of Michigan-led study concludes that large-scale, government-funded child cash transfer programs improve child health...

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...

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

Bednar and others highlight fragility of continental transboundary water compacts

Aug 17, 2024

Ford School professor Jenna Bednar, along with Michigan professors Andrew Gronewold, Marjorie Cort, Vianey Rueda, Michael Moore, and Jon Allan, published a report in the journal Nature Communications investigating threats to continental-scale...

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...