Politics, Institutions, and Public Policy: Institute for Policy Research

This broad multidisciplinary program traces how social, political, and institutional dynamics shape and constrain national policymaking in the United States and in comparison with other countries. Experts in political identity, public opinion, inequality, political parties, media, gender, and many others come together to debate and study political processes and institutions and their participants.

A Message From Rachel Davis Mersey, Program Chair

From ongoing gridlock in Washington to increasingly polarized media coverage, political institutions have faced a variety of challenges over the past few years. IPR faculty continue to examine key aspects of the ways in which social, political, and institutional dynamics shape and constrain national policymaking in the United States. Researchers analyze the role of government, policymakers, public opinion, and the media, among others.

Working Papers

Recently published articles and working papers in this program area include:

James Druckman, Samara Klar, Yanna Krupnikov, Matthew Levendusky, and John Barry Ryan. 2020. The Political Impact of Affective Polarization: How Partisan Animus Shapes COVID-19 Attitudes (WP-20-35).

James Druckman and Elizabeth Sharrow. 2020. Public Opinion, Crisis, and Vulnerable Populations: The Case of Title IX and COVID-19 (WP-20-34).

Craig Garthwaite, Christopher Ody, and Amanda Starc. 2020. Endogenous Quality Investments in the U.S. Hospital Market (WP-20-32).

All Papers

Faculty Experts

Representing the fields of political science, economics, social policy, psychology, and sociology, faculty delve into the worlds of politics, institutions, and policymaking.