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Center for Policy Research News

Yingyi Ma Cited in Nature Article on the Future of Science in the US

Although Chinese-student enrolment at U.S. universities has rebounded since the pandemic, China’s best and brightest might be shying away, says Yingyi Ma, professor of sociology. Soaring anti-China rhetoric probably plays a part, she says, but so do expanding opportunities for Chinese graduate students at home, and the growing challenges to obtain work visas.

November 19, 2024

Waiving Physical Presence Requirements During the COVID-19 Pandemic Increased WIC Caseloads

Colleen Heflin, William Clay Fannin, Leonard Lopoo, and Camille Barbin
This brief summarizes findings from a study that compared WIC caseload data collected across 738 counties in 10 U.S. states between January 2019 and May 2021 to determine how these waives affected WIC participation.
November 19, 2024

Differences in PTSD Between US Civilians and Military Veterans in Gulf War and Post-9/11 War Cohorts

Kevin J. Ortiz Diaz, Scott D. Landes, Shannon M. Monnat
“Differences in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Between U.S. Civilians and Military Veterans in the Gulf War and Post-9/11 War Eligibility Cohorts: A Research Note,” co-authored by sociologists Scott Landes and Shannon Monnat, was published in Armed Forces & Society.
November 18, 2024

Does the Reference Period Matter When Evaluating the Effect of SNAP on Food Insecurity?

Colleen Heflin, James P. Ziliak

“Does the Reference Period Matter When Evaluating the Effect of SNAP on Food Insecurity?” co-authored by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.

November 15, 2024

Colleen Heflin Appointed to Committee on National Statistics

The committee is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and provides guidance to the federal government.

November 8, 2024

How Can We Improve Educational Experiences for Refugee Students in Poland?

Iwona B. Franczak and Amy C. Lutz
This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from 24 interviews conducted in 2022 with teachers and mothers of Ukrainian refugee children attending elementary schools in Poland to examine the impact of forced migration on academic progress and socio-emotional well-being of refugee students. 
October 23, 2024

Behavioural patterns of leaders versus followers in setting local sales tax policy

Jongmin Shon, Yilin Hou

“Behavioural patterns of leaders versus followers in setting local sales tax policy,” co-authored by Yilin Hou, professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in Fiscal Studies: The Journal of Applied Public Economics.

October 16, 2024

How Does the Reauthorization of the Farm Bill Impact SNAP?

Colleen Heflin and Camille Barbin
Negotiations on a new Farm Bill have included SNAP proposals to limit state discretion on work requirements during periods of low job availability, indefinitely freeze the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, and lift the ban on prepared meals. This brief describes how these proposals could increase food insecurity and suggests way the new Farm Bill could better serve the nutritional needs of low-income households.
October 16, 2024

Heflin Quoted in Newsweek Article on the Farm Bill Reauthorization and Its Impact on SNAP Benefits

“If the appropriations bills are not passed by the end of December, January benefits will still go out because SNAP benefits are obligated in the prior month (December),” says Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.

October 2, 2024

Kids in Limbo: War, Uncertainty, and the School Experiences of Ukrainian Refugee Students in Poland

Iwona B. Franczak, Amy C. Lutz

“Kids in Limbo: War, Uncertainty, and the School Experiences of Ukrainian Refugee Students in Poland,” co-authored by Amy Lutz, associate professor of sociology, and Ph.D. student Iwona B. Franczak, was published in Sociological Forum.

September 23, 2024

See related: Conflict, Education, Europe, Refugees

Evidence-based practices and US state government civil servants

Yuan (Daniel) Cheng, Leslie Thompson, Shuping Wang, Jules Marzec, Chengxin Xu, Weston Merrick, and Patrick Carter

"Evidence-based practices and US state government civil servants: Current use, challenges, and pathways forward," co-authored by Yuan (Daniel) Cheng, Leslie Thompson, Shuping Wang, Graduate Research Associate for the Center for Policy Design and Governance and the Center for Policy Research, Jules Marzec, Chengxin Xu, Weston Merrick, and Patrick Carter, was published in Public Administration Review.

September 19, 2024

Public Health Measures Related to the Transmissibility of Suicide

Jane Pirkis, Jason Bantjes, Madelyn Gould, Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, Jo Robinson, Mark Sinyor, Michiko Ueda, Keith Hawton

“Public Health Measures Related to the Transmissibility of Suicide,” co-authored by Michiko Ueda-Ballmer, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in The Lancet Public Health.

September 18, 2024

Jales Weighs In on South Korea’s Plan to Address Low Fertility Rate in Think Global Health Article

“Most people are not on the fence about having a (or another) child. Thus, to get someone who would otherwise choose not to have children to change their behavior will take large incentives,” says Hugo Jales, associate professor of economics.

September 17, 2024

Stability and Volatility in the Contextual Predictors of Working-Age Mortality in the United States

Jennifer Karas Montez, Shannon M. Monnat, Emily E. Wiemers, Douglas A. Wolf, Xue Zhang

“Stability and Volatility in the Contextual Predictors of Working-Age Mortality in the United States,” co-authored by Maxwell faculty members Jennifer Karas Montez, Shannon Monnat, Emily Wiemers and Douglas Wolf, was published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

September 17, 2024

On Uniform Confidence Intervals for the Tail Index and the Extreme Quantile

Yuya Sasaki, Yulong Wang

“On Uniform Confidence Intervals for the Tail Index and the Extreme Quantile,” co-authored by Associate Professor of Economics Yulong Wang, was published in the Journal of Econometrics.

September 16, 2024

See related: Research Methods

Ueda-Ballmer Speaks with USA Today About CDC Report on Suicide Risk

“Everybody has a risk of suicide,” says Michiko Ueda-Ballmer, associate professor of public administration and international affairs. “That also means that everybody basically should think about suicide prevention as their...business.”

September 12, 2024

The Effects of Waiving WIC Physical Presence Requirements on Program Caseloads

W. Clay Fannin, Colleen Heflin, Leonard M. Lopoo

“The Effects of Waiving WIC Physical Presence Requirements on Program Caseloads,” co-authored by Maxwell professors Colleen Heflin and Leonard Lopoo, and Ph.D. student W. Clay Fannin, was published in Social Service Review.

September 11, 2024

NIA Awards $3.8 Million for Maxwell Sociologists’ Health and Longevity Research Networks

Research networks led by Jennifer Karas Montez and Shannon Monnat will use two five-year grant renewals to study adult health and aging trends in the United States.

September 11, 2024

Maxwell Welcomes New Faculty for 2024-25

The Maxwell School welcomes several new faculty members for the start of the 2024-25 academic year.   

September 9, 2024

Fiscal Implications of Disasters and the Managed Retreat Thereafter: Evidence from Hurricane Sandy

Qing Miao, Wei Guo, Yilin Hou, Meri Davlasheridze

“Fiscal Implications of Disasters and the Managed Retreat Thereafter: Evidence from Hurricane Sandy,” co-authored by Yilin Hou, professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in Natural Hazards Review.

September 3, 2024

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