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Crowd of Black Lives Matters demonstrators marching in the street.
Feature: The Democratic Necessity of Reckoning

Erica Chenoweth reviews scholarship that overwhelmingly shows the Black Lives Matter movement generated high levels of public awareness about systemic racism and increased support for criminal justice reform.

Electronic stock ticker board with numbers and arabic letters.
Feature: Against Rule-of-Thumb Economics

Dani Rodrik argues against neoliberalism’s universal rule-of-thumb approach and for economic analyses grounded in contextual dependencies.

Several hands of team members covering one another in a huddle above a work table.
Feature: Leaders’ Psychological Bravery

Dana Born explores what skills leaders need to cultivate psychological safety on their teams and across their organizations.

Dollars and Euros piled on top of one another.
Feature: Dollar vs. Euro as International Reserve Currencies

Jeffrey Frankel explores the strengths and weaknesses of using the Dollar and the Euro as international reserve currencies.

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

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.

A Pessimistic View of Public-School Reform

Peterson, Paul E. "A Pessimistic View of Public-School Reform." Review of Confessions of a School Reformer, by Larry Cuban. Education Next, 23.1, Winter 2023.

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.

A Half Century of Progress in U. S. Student Achievement: Ethnic and SES Differences; Agency and Flynn Effects

Shakeel, M. Danish, and Paul E. Peterson. "A Half Century of Progress in U. S. Student Achievement: Ethnic and SES Differences; Agency and Flynn Effects." Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series, December 2021.

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.

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.

The Populist-Burkean Dimension in U.S. Public Opinion

Shakeel, M. Danish, and Paul E. Peterson. "The Populist-Burkean Dimension in U.S. Public Opinion." Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series, April 20, 2021.

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.

To Critics of The Beautiful Tree, a Pearl of a Reply: Was that test on which the experiment depends taken in English or Telugu?

Peterson, Paul E. "To Critics of The Beautiful Tree, a Pearl of a Reply: Was that test on which the experiment depends taken in English or Telugu?" Review of Really Good Schools: Global Lessons for High-Caliber, Low-Cost Education, by James N. Tooley. Education Next, 21.2, March 2021: 78-79.

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).

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.

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.

Public Opinion, Attitude Stability, and Education Policy

Houston, David M., Michael B Henderson, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R West. "Public Opinion, Attitude Stability, and Education Policy." Program on Education Policy and Governance Working Papers Series, January 2021.

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.

Status, Growth, and Perceptions of School Quality

Houston, David M., Michael B. Henderson, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West. "Status, Growth, and Perceptions of School Quality." 2020.

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).

The Unwavering SES Achievement Gap: Trends in U.S. Student Performance

Hanushek, Eric A., Paul E. Peterson, Laura M. Talpey, and Ludger Woessmann. "The Unwavering SES Achievement Gap: Trends in U.S. Student Performance." HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP19-012, March 2019.

Review of Learning from the Federal Market-Based Reforms

Peterson, Paul E. Review of Learning from the Federal Market-Based Reforms, ed. William Mathis and Tina M. Trujillo. Journal of School Choice, 12.1, Jan-Mar 2018: 154-155.

Scalia’s Constitution: Essays on Law and Education

Peterson, Paul E., and Michael W. McConnell, eds. Scalia’s Constitution: Essays on Law and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

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).

Does the Partisan Divide Include the K-12 Curriculum?

Peterson, Paul E. "Does the Partisan Divide Include the K-12 Curriculum?" Education Week, September 4, 2015.

Teachers and Schools are Funded at a Higher Rate than Most People Know

Peterson, Paul E. "Teachers and Schools are Funded at a Higher Rate than Most People Know." Washington Times, August 13, 2015.

Even Teachers are No Fans of Forced Union Payments

Peterson, Paul E., and Martin R. West. "Even Teachers are No Fans of Forced Union Payments." Wall Street Journal, 266.13, 7/16/2015, A11.

Is Seeing Believing? How Americans and Germans Think about Their Schools

Henderson, Michael B., Philipp Lergetporer, Paul E.Peterson, Katharina Werner, Martin R. West, and Ludger Woessmann. "Is Seeing Believing? How Americans and Germans Think about Their Schools." The Program on Education Policy and Governance, 2015.

No Child Left Behind and Testing Help Hold Schools Accountable

Peterson, Paul E. "No Child Left Behind and Testing Help Hold Schools Accountable." Los Angeles Times, February 23, 2015.

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 Rescue Plan for the Black Family

Peterson, Paul E. "A Rescue Plan for the Black Family." New York Daily News, January 19, 2015.

How the Education Spendthrifts Get Away With It

Peterson, Paul E. "How the Education Spendthrifts Get Away With It." Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition. 09/22/2014.

Teachers Versus the Public: What Americans Think about Schools and How to Fix Them

Peterson, Paul E., Michael Henderson, and Martin R. West. Teachers Versus the Public: What Americans Think about Schools and How to Fix Them. Brookings Institution Press, 2014.

The Vital Link of Education and Prosperity

Peterson, Paul E., and Eric A. Hanushek. "The Vital Link of Education and Prosperity." Wall Street Journal. September 12, 2013.

The Obama Setback for Minority Education

Peterson, Paul E. "The Obama Setback for Minority Education." Wall Street Journal. August 6, 2013.

Experimentally Estimated Impacts of a School Choice Intervention on Long-Term
Educational Outcomes:
The Effects of School Vouchers on College Enrollment

Chingos, Matthew M., and Paul E. Peterson. "Experimentally Estimated Impacts of a School Choice Intervention on Long-Term Educational Outcomes: The Effects of School Vouchers on College Enrollment." Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard, July 2013.

A Generation of School-Voucher Success

Chingos, Matthew M., and Paul E. Peterson. "A Generation of School-Voucher Success." Wall Street Journal, August 23, 2012.

Teachers Unions Have a Popularity Problem

Peterson, Paul E., William Howell, and Martin West. "Teachers Unions Have a Popularity Problem." Wall Street Journal, June 4, 2012.

Obama’s Education Grade Left Behind By Bush’s

Peterson, Paul E. "Obama’s Education Grade Left Behind By Bush’s." Washington Times, April 5, 2012.

A Blue State Bailout In Disguise

Peterson, Paul E. "A Blue State Bailout In Disguise." Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2011.

Why Can't American Students Compete?

Peterson, Paul E., and Eric A. Hanushek. "Why Can't American Students Compete?" Daily Beast, August 28, 2011.

Do We Really Need to Spend More on Schools?

Peterson, Paul E. "Do We Really Need to Spend More on Schools?" Wall Street Journal, August 5, 2011.

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.