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Delivery worker wearing a medical mask and carrying packages.
Feature: The Impact of State Paid Sick Leave Laws on Service Workers

Daniel Schneider finds that state paid sick leave laws increased service workers’ access to paid sick leave and reduced the share of service workers who worked while sick.

A family with a father, mother, and two small children walking on a dirt path.
Feature: Connecting Absolute and Relative Intergenerational Mobility

Deirdre Bloome offers two frameworks for understanding the relationship between types of intergenerational mobility, or whether people are socioeconomically better off than their parents.

Two women in rural India dressed colorfully and carrying baskets on their heads.
Feature: Studying a Government Program to Support Women’s Self-Help Groups

Michael Walton explores the interactions between state and society in rural India within a major community-based development program, finding two major tensions.

A network of computer motherboards and other parts assembled to look like a miniature city.
Feature: The Data-Informed City

Jorrit de Jong presents a comprehensive framework for how cities can use data to address problems more effectively, efficiently, equitably, and with better accountability.

Harvard Kennedy School faculty disseminate their research in working publications and papers that contribute to public knowledge and fuel policy innovation. This list features recent faculty publications, including journal articles, books, edited volumes, research papers, and public testimony.

Faculty Publications

Would a Trump Victory Really Be Good for School Choice?

Peterson, Paul E. "Would a Trump Victory Really Be Good for School Choice?" School Choice 24.4 (Fall 2024).

The Nation’s Charter Report Card: A New Ranking of States by Charter Student Performance

Peterson, Paul E., and M. Danish Shakeel. "The Nation’s Charter Report Card: A New Ranking of States by Charter Student Performance." Journal of School Choice (2023).

Are School Reforms Liberal, Conservative, or Populist? Populism and Education Policy Opinions in the United States

Shakeel, M. Danish, and Paul E. Peterson. "Are School Reforms Liberal, Conservative, or Populist? Populism and Education Policy Opinions in the United States." Journal of School Choice (2023): 1-32.

The Efficiency-Equity Trade-off in a Federal System: Local Financing of Schools and Student Achievement

Lastra-Anadón, Carlos X., and Paul E. Peterson. "The Efficiency-Equity Trade-off in a Federal System: Local Financing of Schools and Student Achievement." Publius: The Journal of Federalism 53.2 (Spring 2023): 174-200.

Long-run Trends in the U.S. SES—Achievement Gap

Hanusehk, Eric A., Jacob D. Light, Paul E. Peterson, Laura M. Talpey, and Ludger Woessmann. "Long-run Trends in the U.S. SES—Achievement Gap." Education Finance and Policy 17.4 (Fall 2022): 608-640.

A Half Century of Progress in US Student Achievement: Agency and Flynn Effects, Ethnic and SES Differences

Shakeel, M. Danish, and Paul E. Peterson. "A Half Century of Progress in US Student Achievement: Agency and Flynn Effects, Ethnic and SES Differences." Educational Psychology Review 34.3 (September 2022): 1255-1342.

A Half Century of Student Progress Nationwide: First Comprehensive Analysis Finds Broad Gains in Test Scores, with Larger Gains for Students of Color than White Students

Shakeel, M. Danish, and Paul E. Peterson. "A Half Century of Student Progress Nationwide: First Comprehensive Analysis Finds Broad Gains in Test Scores, with Larger Gains for Students of Color than White Students." Education Next 22.4 (Fall 2022): 50-58.

Status, Growth, and Perceptions of School Quality

Houston, David M., Michael Henderson, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Status, Growth, and Perceptions of School Quality." Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 44.1 (March 2022): 105-126.

Parent Poll Reveals Support for School Covid-Safety Measures Despite Vaccine Hesitancy, Partisan Polarization: Private-school parents report less learning loss, greater satisfaction with pandemic scho

Henderson, Michael B., David M. Houston, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Parent Poll Reveals Support for School Covid-Safety Measures Despite Vaccine Hesitancy, Partisan Polarization: Private-school parents report less learning loss, greater satisfaction with pandemic schooling." Education Next 22.1 (Winter 2022): 25-36.

Hunger for Stability Quells Appetite for Change: Results of the 2021 Education Next Survey of Public Opinion.

Michael B. Henderson, David M. Houston, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Hunger for Stability Quells Appetite for Change: Results of the 2021 Education Next Survey of Public Opinion." Education Next 22.1 (Winter 2022): 8-26.

Status, Growth, and Perceptions of School Quality

Houston, David M., Michael Henderson, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Status, Growth, and Perceptions of School Quality." Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 44.1 (August 2021): 105 -126.

'Reopening Hesitancy' Threatens Fall 2021.

Peterson, Paul E. "'Reopening Hesitancy' Threatens Fall 2021." Education Next 21.3 (Summer 2021): 76-78.

School Choice and 'The Truly Disadvantaged': Vouchers boost college going, but not for students in greatest need.

Cheng, Albert, and Paul E. Peterson. "School Choice and 'The Truly Disadvantaged': Vouchers boost college going, but not for students in greatest need." Education Next 21.3 (Summer 2021): 52-59.

Experimentally Estimated Impacts of School Vouchers on Educational Attainments of Moderately and Severely Disadvantaged Students

Cheng, Albert, and Paul E. Peterson. "Experimentally Estimated Impacts of School Vouchers on Educational Attainments of Moderately and Severely Disadvantaged Students." Sociology of Education 94.2 (April 2021): 159-174.

Pandemic Parent Survey Finds Perverse Pattern: Students Are More Likely to Be Attending School in Person Where Covid Is Spreading More Rapidly: Majority of students receiving fully remote instruction;

Henderson, Michael B., Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Pandemic Parent Survey Finds Perverse Pattern: Students Are More Likely to Be Attending School in Person Where Covid Is Spreading More Rapidly: Majority of students receiving fully remote instruction; private-school students more likely to be in person full time." Education Next 21.2 (Spring 2021): 34-48.

Cost-Benefit Information Closes Aspiration Gaps – If Parents Think Their Child Is Ready for College

Peterson, Paul E. "Cost-Benefit Information Closes Aspiration Gaps – If Parents Think Their Child Is Ready for College." Education Economics 29.3 (January 2021): 233-251.

Cost-Benefit Information Closes Aspiration Gaps – if Parents Think their Child is Ready for College

Cheng, Albert, Michael B. Henderson, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Cost-Benefit Information Closes Aspiration Gaps – if Parents Think their Child is Ready for College." Education Economics (01/20/2021).

Amid Pandemic, Support Soars for Online Learning: Results from the 2020 Education Next survey of public opinion

Henderson, Michael B., David M. Houston, Paul E. Peterson, M. Danish Shakeel, and Martin R. West. "Amid Pandemic, Support Soars for Online Learning: Results from the 2020 Education Next survey of public opinion." Education Next 21.1 (Winter 2021): 6-22.

What American Families Experienced When Covid-19 Closed Their Schools

Henderson, Michael B., David M. Houston, Paul E. Peterson and Martin R. West. "What American Families Experienced When Covid-19 Closed Their Schools." Education Next 21.1 (Winter 2021): 45-59.

Charter Schools Show Steeper Upward Trend in Student Achievement than District Schools

Shakeel, M. Danish, and Paul E. Peterson. "Charter Schools Show Steeper Upward Trend in Student Achievement than District Schools." Education Next 21.1 (Winter 2021): 40-48.

Changes in the Performance of Students in Charter and District Sectors of U. S. Education: An Analysis of Nationwide Trends

Shakeel, M. Danish, and Paul E. Peterson. "Changes in the Performance of Students in Charter and District Sectors of U. S. Education: An Analysis of Nationwide Trends." Journal of School Choice 14.4 (September 2020): 604-632.

Public Support Grows for Higher Teacher Pay and Expanded School Choice Results from the 2019 Education Next Survey

Henderson, Michael B., David M. Houston, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Public Support Grows for Higher Teacher Pay and Expanded School Choice Results from the 2019 Education Next Survey." Education Next 20.1 (January 2020).

One Brainchild Left Behind

Peterson, Paul E. "One Brainchild Left Behind." Hoover Digest: Research & Opinion on Public Policy 4 (Fall 2016): 138-141.

Relative Performance Information and Perceptions of Public Service Quality: Evidence From American School Districts

Barrows, Samuel, Michael Henderson, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Relative Performance Information and Perceptions of Public Service Quality: Evidence From American School Districts." Journal of Public Administration Research and Theor (April 2016).

Experimentally Estimated Impacts of School Vouchers on College Enrollment and Degree Attainment

Chingos, Matthew M., and Paul E. Peterson. "Experimentally Estimated Impacts of School Vouchers on College Enrollment and Degree Attainment." Journal of Public Economics 122 (February 2015): 1-12.

A Decade Redrawn: Presentence Boundaries of the Priviledge Against Compelled Self-Incrimination since Mitchell v. U.S.

Peterson, Paul E. "A Decade Redrawn: Presentence Boundaries of the Priviledge Against Compelled Self-Incrimination since Mitchell v. U.S." Federal Sentencing Reporter 25.1 (October 2012).

Freedom to Fail: The Keystone of American Federalism

Peterson, Paul E., and Daniel Nadler. "Freedom to Fail: The Keystone of American Federalism." University of Chicago Law Review 79.1 (Winter 2011): 253-281.

It’s Easier to Pick a Good Teacher than to Train One: Familiar and New Results on the Correlates of Teacher Effectiveness

Chingosa, Matthew M., and Paul E. Peterson. "It’s Easier to Pick a Good Teacher than to Train One: Familiar and New Results on the Correlates of Teacher Effectiveness." Economics of Education Review 30.3 (June 2011): 449-465.

Teaching Math to the Talented

Hanushek, Eric A., Paul E. Peterson, and Ludger Woessmann. "Teaching Math to the Talented." Education Next 11.1 (Winter 2011): 10-18.

Meeting of the Minds

Howell, William, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin West. "Meeting of the Minds." Education Next.org 11.1 (Winter 2011).

State Standards Rise in Reading, Fall in Math

Peterson, Paul E. and Carlos Xabel Lastra-Anadón. "State Standards Rise in Reading, Fall in Math." Education Next 10.4 (Fall 2010): 12-16.

The Persuadable Public

Howell, William, Martin West, and Paul E. Peterson. "The Persuadable Public." Education Next 9.4 (Fall 2009): 20-29.

For-Profit and Nonprofit Management in Philadelphia Schools

Chingos, Matthew M., and Paul Peterson. "For-Profit and Nonprofit Management in Philadelphia Schools." Education Next 9.2 (Spring 2009): 64-70.

What Happens When States Have Genuine Alternative Certification? We Get More Minority Teachers and Test Scores Rise

Peterson, Paul E., and Daniel Nadler. "What Happens When States Have Genuine Alternative Certification? We Get More Minority Teachers and Test Scores Rise." Education Next 9.1 (Winter 2009): 70-74.

School Vouchers in the United States: Productivity in the Public and Private Sectors

Peterson, Paul E. "School Vouchers in the United States: Productivity in the Public and Private Sectors." Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft - Journal of Educational Science, ZfE 11.2 (2008): 253-267.

The 2008 Education Next-PEPG Survey of Public Opinion: Americans Think Less of Their Schools Than of their Police Departments and Post Offices

Howell, William G., Martin R. West, and Paul E. Peterson. "The 2008 Education Next-PEPG Survey of Public Opinion: Americans Think Less of Their Schools Than of their Police Departments and Post Offices." Education Next 8.4 (Fall 2008): 12-26.

Few States Set World-Class Standards: In Fact, Most Render the Notion of Proficiency Meaningless

Peterson, Paul E., and Frederick Hess. "Few States Set World-Class Standards: In Fact, Most Render the Notion of Proficiency Meaningless." Education Next 8.3 (Summer 2008): 70-73.

What Americans Think About Their Schools: The 2007 Education Next - PEPG Survey.

Howell, William G., Martin R. West, and Paul E. Peterson. "What Americans Think About Their Schools: The 2007 Education Next - PEPG Survey." Education Next 7.3 (Summer 2007).

The Entrepreneurs and the New Commission: Changing Minds in the Education Establishment.

Peterson, Paul E. "The Entrepreneurs and the New Commission: Changing Minds in the Education Establishment." Education Next 7.2 (Spring 2007): 5.

The Case for Curriculum-Based, External Examinations That Have Significant Consequences for Students.

Peterson, Paul E. "The Case for Curriculum-Based, External Examinations That Have Significant Consequences for Students." Peabody Journal of Education 82.4 (2007): 645-666.

The NCES Private-Public School Study: Findings are Other than They Seem.

Peterson, Paul E., and Elena Llaudet. "The NCES Private-Public School Study: Findings are Other than They Seem." Education Next 7.1 (Winter 2007): 75-79.

Is Your Child's School Effective?: Don't Rely on NCLB to Tell You.

Peterson, Paul E., and Martin R. West. "Is Your Child's School Effective?: Don't Rely on NCLB to Tell You." Education Next 4 (Fall 2006): 76-80.

Keeping an Eye on State Standards: A Race to the Bottom?

Peterson, Paul E., and Frederick Hess. "Keeping an Eye on State Standards: A Race to the Bottom?" Education Next 6.3 (Summer 2006): 28-29.

The Efficacy of Choice Threats Within School Accountability Systems: Results from Legislatively Induced Experiments.

West, Martin R., and Paul E. Peterson. "The Efficacy of Choice Threats Within School Accountability Systems: Results from Legislatively Induced Experiments." Economic Journal 116.510 (March 2006): C46-C62.

Johnny Can Read... in Some States.

Peterson, Paul E. "Johnny Can Read... in Some States." Education Next 5.3 (Summer 2005): 52-53.

NCLB: A Mid-Course Correction Needed.

Peterson, Paul E. "NCLB: A Mid-Course Correction Needed." Education Next 5.2 (Spring 2005): 3.

The New Politics of Federalism.

Peterson, Paul E. "The New Politics of Federalism." Spectrum: Journal of State Government 78.2 (Spring 2005): 5-7.

Participation in a National, Means-Tested School Voucher Program.

Peterson, Paul E., William G. Howell, Patrick J. Wolf, David E. Campbell, Martin West. "Participation in a National, Means-Tested School Voucher Program." Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 24.3 (2005): 523-541.

“Efficiency, Bias, and Classification Schemes: A Response to Alan B. Krueger and Pei Zhu.

Peterson, Paul E., and William G. Howell. “Efficiency, Bias, and Classification Schemes: A Response to Alan B. Krueger and Pei Zhu." American Behavioral Scientist 47.5 (January 2004): 699-717.

Uses of Theory in Randomized Field Trials.

Howell, William G., and Paul E. Peterson. "Uses of Theory in Randomized Field Trials." American Behavioral Scientist 47.5 (January 2004): 634-657.