Public Policy

Richard Layard on Happiness Economics
Public Policy
February 2, 2020

Richard Layard on Happiness Economics

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The Polygraph as Propaganda
Public Policy
January 29, 2020

The Polygraph as Propaganda

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Making Sense of Data in the 2019 General Election
Bookshelf
January 28, 2020

Making Sense of Data in the 2019 General Election

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What is Census Data?
Bookshelf
January 27, 2020

What is Census Data?

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Analysis: A 10th of Climate Change Research Funding Goes to Social Science

Analysis: A 10th of Climate Change Research Funding Goes to Social Science

A new analysis published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science finds that funding for social science climate-change research is not only unhealthy but downright anemic at roughly 10 percent of the total spend. Meanwhile, total spending on climate-change research in total, regardless of discipline, comes to just 5 percent of all competitive research grants funded between 1950 and 2018.

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Lying With Maps and Census Data

Lying With Maps and Census Data

Geographer Frank Donnelly notes that census geography and maps are not automatically reliable – they can be used to intentionally skew research findings.

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Susan Michie on Behavioral Change

Susan Michie on Behavioral Change

While you might think that the essentials of human behavior are pretty similar, one of the things Michie quickly tells interviewer Dave Edmonds in this Social Science Bites podcast is that it can be unwise to jump to conclusions when studying behavior (or trying to change it).

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Engineer from ASU Likely New Head of NSF in 2020

Engineer from ASU Likely New Head of NSF in 2020

Arizona State University electrical engineer Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan is the likely nominee to replace France Córdova as director of the National Science Foundation once Córdova’s six-year appointment ends next year

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US Bill Aims to Legislate Scientific Integrity for Federally Funded Work

US Bill Aims to Legislate Scientific Integrity for Federally Funded Work

Ideally, advocates say, government-sponsored scientists should follow their research where it leads, talk about it honestly and freely with the press and the public, and release unaltered information about their findings. A bill that’s currently stuck in committee would help guarantee that.

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Questioning Randomized Controlled Trials and Development Economics

Questioning Randomized Controlled Trials and Development Economics

Over the last three decades randomized trials have become an increasingly popular way of testing interventions designed to address developmental challenges. But do RCTs generate reliable results – or even retard progress?

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Universities – What Is It Reasonable to Expect of Them?

Universities – What Is It Reasonable to Expect of Them?

Universities in effect, argues our Robert Dingwall, are asked to exercise all the responsibilities of parents and to act as a secular equivalent of the medieval church as the conscience of the nation.

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Why is Inequality Bad?

Why is Inequality Bad?

Here’s a clear, scientific reason drawn from the field of complexity economics to combat rising inequality: good business models that serve many people are becoming less profitable. Solid entrepreneurial ideas that would benefit everyone get passed over when there are easier opportunities to make money by catering to a few individuals with a whole lot of dollars to spend.

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