vlog

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

Honoring Robert D. Putnam

Putnam, Robert D. et al. "Honoring Robert D. Putnam." Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 76.4 (Summer 2023): 28-36.

A Country Divided: The Growing Opportunity Gap in America

Finighan, Reuben, and Robert D. Putnam. "A Country Divided: The Growing Opportunity Gap in America." Economic Mobility: Research & Ideas on Strengthening Families, Communities & The Economy (2017): 139-174.

Social Networks and Geography:
Comments on “How Does Geography Affect Equality of Opportunity”

Putnam, Robert D. "Social Networks and Geography: Comments on “How Does Geography Affect Equality of Opportunity”." The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences 2.2 (May 2016): 159–177.

A Candid Conversation about Schools, Culture, and the Widening Opportunity Gap in America with Professor Robert D. Putnam

Putnam, Robert D. "A Candid Conversation about Schools, Culture, and the Widening Opportunity Gap in America with Professor Robert D. Putnam." About Campus 20.4 (September 2015): 3-7.

Inequity Outside the Classroom: Growing Class Differences in Participation in Extracurricular Activities

Snellman, Kaisa, Jennifer M. Silva, and Robert D. Putnam. "Inequity Outside the Classroom: Growing Class Differences in Participation in Extracurricular Activities." Voices in Urban Education 40 (2015): 7-14.

The Engagement Gap: Social Mobility and Extracurricular Participation among American Youth

Snellman, Kaisa, Jennifer M. Silva, Carl B. Frederick, and Robert D. Putnam. "The Engagement Gap: Social Mobility and Extracurricular Participation among American Youth." ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 657.1 (January 2015): 194-207.

Reply to Gao et al: Racial Composition Does Not Explain Increasing Class Gaps in Obesity

Frederick, Carl B., Kaisa Snellman, and Robert D. Putnam. "Reply to Gao et al: Racial Composition Does Not Explain Increasing Class Gaps in Obesity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111.22 (June 2014): 2238-2238.

Increasing Socioeconomic Disparities in Adolescent Obesity

Frederick, Carl B., Kaisa Snellman, and Robert D. Putnam. "Increasing Socioeconomic Disparities in Adolescent Obesity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111.4 (January 2014): 1338-1342.

Religion, Networks, and Neighborliness: The Impact of Religious Social Networks on Civic Engagement

Lewis, Valerie A., Carol Ann MacGregor, and Robert D. Putnam. "Religion, Networks, and Neighborliness: The Impact of Religious Social Networks on Civic Engagement." Social Science Research 42.2 (March 2013): 331-346.

What’s So Darned Special about Church Friends?

Putnam, Robert D. "What’s So Darned Special about Church Friends?" Altruism, Morality, & Social Solidarity Forum 3.2 (May 2012): 1, 19-21.

God and Caesar in America

Campbell, David E., and Robert D. Putnam. "God and Caesar in America." Foreign Affairs 91.2 (March/April 2012): 34-43.

America's Grace: How a Tolerant Nation Bridges Its Religious Divides

Campbell, David E., and Robert D. Putnam. "America's Grace: How a Tolerant Nation Bridges Its Religious Divides." Political Science Quarterly, 126.4 (Winter 2011): 611-640.

Religion, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction

Lim, Chaeyoon, and Robert D. Putnam. "Religion, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction." American Sociological Review 75.6 (December 2010): 914-933.

Secular and Liminal: Discovering Heterogeneity Among Religious Nones

Lim, Chaeyoon, Carol Ann MacGregor, and Robert D. Putnam. "Secular and Liminal: Discovering Heterogeneity Among Religious Nones." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 49.4 (December 2010): 596–618.

Still Bowling Alone? The Post-9/11 Split

Sander, Thomas H. and Putnam, Robert D. "Still Bowling Alone? The Post-9/11 Split." Journal of Democracy 21.1 (January 2010): 9-16.

Diversity, Social Capital, and Immigrant Integration: Introductory Remarks

Putnam, Robert D. "Diversity, Social Capital, and Immigrant Integration: Introductory Remarks." National Civic Review 98.1 (Spring 2009): 3-5.

<i>E Pluribus Unum</i>: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century: The 2006 Johan Skytte Prize Lecture.

Putnam, Robert D. "E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century: The 2006 Johan Skytte Prize Lecture." Scandinavian Political Studies 30.2 (June 2007): 137-174.

Education and Social Capital.

Helliwell, John, and Robert D. Putnam. "Education and Social Capital." Eastern Economics Journal 33.1 (2007): 1-19.

Answering “Mother-in-Law” Questions Can Move the Discipline Forward

Putnam, Robert D. "Answering “Mother-in-Law” Questions Can Move the Discipline Forward." Perspectives on Politics 3 (2005): 313-314.

Women's Status and Social Capital in the United States.

Caiazza, Amy, and Robert D. Putnam. "Women's Status and Social Capital in the United States." Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy 27.1/2 (October 2005): 69-84.

The Social Context of Well-Being.

Helliwell, John F., and Robert D. Putnam. "The Social Context of Well-Being." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (London) Series B Vol 359 (31 August 2004): 1435-1446.

APSA Presidential Address: The Public Role of Political Science.

Putnam, Robert D. "APSA Presidential Address: The Public Role of Political Science." Perspectives on Politics 1.2 (June 2003): 249-255.

“Reviving Community: What Policy-Makers Can Do to Build Social Capital in Britain and America.

Leigh, Andrew K., and Robert D. Putnam. “Reviving Community: What Policy-Makers Can Do to Build Social Capital in Britain and America." Renewal: A Journal of Labour Politics 10.2 (Spring 2002).

Firearm Prevention and Social Capital.

Hemenway, David, Bruce P. Kennedy, Ichiro Kawachi, and Robert D. Putnam. "Firearm Prevention and Social Capital." Annals of Epidemiology 11.7 (October 2001): 484-490.

Social Capital: Measurement and Consequences

Putnam, Robert D. "Social Capital: Measurement and Consequences." Isuma: Canadian Journal of Policy Research 2 (Spring 2001): 41-51.

Civic Disengagement in America.

Putnam, Robert D. "Civic Disengagement in America." Government and Opposition 36 (Spring 2001): 1-22.