 Politics Catches Up with Views on Income Inequality
IPR sociologist Leslie McCall combs through two decades of public opinion research to explain why popular movements and presidential speeches are catching up with what Americans have long thought about income inequality. The public’s concerns about income inequality have remained constant, she argues, but what’s new is how the black box of business practices has been opened to public scrutiny and deliberation.
Women in Power Can Help Girls Dream Bigger
A new study, co-authored by IPR economist Lori Beaman, examines the impact of an affirmative action law in India that reserves leadership positions for women in village councils. Published in Science, the research shows that such laws can increase girls' career aspirations and erase the gender gap in adolescent educational attainment.
The Nanotechnology Challenge: Tiny Particles, Big Risks
As nanotechnology development zooms ahead, research on its effects on health and the environment lags. A new book, The Nanotechnology Challenge: Creating Legal Institutions for Uncertain Risks, edited by IPR associate and law professor David Dana with contributions from faculty James Druckman and Daniel Diermeier, explores ways to address this gap.
Are Single-Sex Schools Better at Educating Students?
IPR labor economist Kirabo Jackson has conducted one of the first studies to credibly link the effects of single-sex education to student achievement. While a select few benefit from attending single-sex schools, he finds little to no difference in achievement for most students in the sample.
The 1 Percent and the Common Good
A new Northwestern pilot study is believed to be the first representative, systematic effort to survey the opinions, attitudes and behaviors of America's wealthiest 1 percent. Led by IPR associate and political scientist Benjamin Page, and colleagues including IPR director and social policy professor Fay Lomax Cook, the study sheds light on how the 1 percent think about social and economic issues and engage in politics.
Rethinking Official Forecasts to Embrace Uncertainty
A Washington Post blog points to a need to completely rethink how we treat economic data, citing IPR economist Charles F. Manski’s research on “policy analysis with incredible certitude.” Manski calls for allowing official government forecasts to express uncertainty to more honestly portray the fragile nature of policy predictions and analysis.
IPR Announces New Director for September 2012
Education economist David Figlio, an IPR fellow, will become the Institute's sixth director in September 2012, taking over from current director Fay Lomax Cook. A leading scholar on education policies and interventions, Figlio came to IPR/Northwestern from the University of Florida in 2008.
Parents Help Preteens Lie About Age to Join Facebook
A new report co-authored by IPR associate and media researcher Eszter Hargittai shows that many parents are complicit in helping their preteen children lie so they can join age-restricted sites like Facebook. The study calls into question the efficacy of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
Report Proposes "Energy Star" Label for Food
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report led by communications researcher and IPR associate Ellen Wartella urging that the front of all food packages display a simplified nutrition label, much like the Energy Star labels on air conditioners and washing machines. The aim of such a system is to help consumers find heathier foods when they shop.
Read the Wall Street Journal article.
Smaller Class Sizes Can Boost College Attendance
In a new working paper, IPR economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach and her colleagues examine the effects of reducing elementary school class sizes on college enrollment and getting a degree. They find smaller classes increase the probability of attending college, with the biggest gains for black and low-income students. The researchers also compare costs and impacts of a small class-size intervention with others such as Head Start and financial aid.
Read The Economist blog.
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