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January 9, 2025
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
News from the Ford School
for policy researchers, educators, and professionals
  Photo of Luke Shaefer holding an infant

Child cash benefits improve child health and development internationally

Research led by Luke Shaefer, published in The Lancet, analyzed child cash transfer programs from over 140 countries, concluding that these government-funded initiatives significantly improve child health outcomes. The study suggests that nations seeking to enhance public health and drive economic growth should consider adopting these programs.

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Headshot of Sarah Cohodes

Cohodes' research "helped define" education in 2024

Sarah Cohodes has been recognized by The 74 for her groundbreaking research on Boston-based non-urban charter schools. Her findings reveal that despite lower standardized test performance, these schools significantly boost college enrollment and graduation rates, challenging conventional beliefs about test-based accountability. More »

Photo of Mara Ostfeld speaking at a Poverty Solutions event

Talk to him: One conversation can shape public support for women’s rights

A new U-M study, led by Mara Ostfeld, reveals that while young women's views on policies protecting their rights are relatively stable, a single conversation with a close family member can significantly influence young men's attitudes towards gender equality.
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In the news

Quotation Marks
 

"It’s one thing to be frustrated at the DMV because you have a ton of paperwork to fill out or you have to spend an hour in line. It’s a whole other thing to face those barriers when they are the difference between whether you’re going to get life-saving care or not." Pamela Herd on administrative burdens.

National Public Radio.

 

“This is a devastating setback for Iran and perhaps Russia and other countries as well. Whatever becomes of this new Syrian government, even if ruled by a coalition, how will it play with all the countries on its border.” Javed Ali.

ABC News.

 

“New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are ‘really energizing people’ to consider the directions of science and technology and ‘what role might they have in changing them’." Shobita Parthasarathy on teaching graduate students about science policy.

Nature.

 

“This is not about wokeness or free speech; it is about Trump using government powers to engage in selective punishments and purges on a scale we really have not seen before,” Don Moynihan, on President-elect Trump’s promise to punish or control the media, higher education, the federal bureaucracy, the legal system and the military.

The New York Times.

 

“Paid parental leaves can support better postpartum recovery for moms, which is not only beneficial to their well-being, but also contributes to longer-run, improved family financial health. These policies also support a healthy start in life for babies, and thus are an important investment in the next generation.” Luke Shaefer.

Michigan Advance.



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Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
University of Michigan
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