New power sources
Thirty-six million people in the U.S. use an energy system developed by a handful of activists in the 1990s. An MIT scholar examines this unusual story.
Study: Higher minimum wages raise voter turnout
Low-wage workers, who vote infrequently, gain a participation boost when their salaries increase.
An honor that empowers change
Pressman Awards inspire undergraduate engagement in politics and policy, and sometimes a complete pivot in direction.
Adding depth to the popular discussion of transgender rights
Professor Edward Schiappa’s new book carefully surveys recent public debates about a vital societal issue.
Q&A: Can the world change course on climate?
Political scientist Nazli Choucri discusses challenges and hopes for global coordination on climate issues — and the role of political science in the process.
Q&A: David Autor on the long afterlife of the “China shock”
MIT economist’s new research shows U.S. locales hammered by open trade with China have not rebounded, even a decade or more later.
Is watching believing?
In spreading politics, videos may not be much more persuasive than their text-based counterparts.
3 Questions: Administering elections in a hyper-partisan era
MIT professor of political science Charles Stewart III discusses the status of US election administration.
Punishment for the people
Professor Lily Tsai’s new book explains how “retributive justice,” the high-profile sanctioning of some in society, helps authoritarians solidify public support.
Citizens emerge from the slums
PhD student Ying Gao's research reveals that the urban poor in the developing world are politically engaged and capable of effecting change.
Data flow’s decisive role on the global stage
New research by political science PhD candidate Meicen Sun illuminates the broad economic and political impacts of internet restrictions.
Study: Crowds can wise up to fake news
Experiment with Facebook-flagged content shows groups of laypeople reliably rate stories as effectively as fact-checkers do.
How authoritarian leaders maintain support
Study finds public anticorruption campaigns bolster leaders, even when such measures lack tangible results.
3 Questions: James Poterba on making infrastructure pay off
MIT economist sees overlooked value in repairs, upgrades, and user fees to help fund projects.
Searching for truth in data from authoritarian regimes
PhD student Minh Trinh studies misreporting of government statistics and the effect on accountability in his home country of Vietnam.