New research by Chika Okafor shows how district attorney elections drove up prison admissions and sentence lengths during the era of rising mass incarceration.

In Chicago, half of the city’s Head Start families rely on it so the parents can work.

In case you’re looking for a new deep dive.

New study finds that protecting mature trees could help save lives

Andy Papachristos invites you to explore the research excellence that leads to policy impact within the 50-year old Institute for Policy Research (IPR), home...

IPR faculty use small grants as scaffolding for larger projects

New policy brief explores the gap between agencies' powers and practices Every year, about 17% of low-wage workers in the U.S. are paid less than the minimum wage they a re legally owed. On average, they lose 20% of their income . Between 2021 and 2023, more than 11 million workers lost wages this way.

A recent article found that 53% of voters ages 15–39 want a Democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election. Tabitha Bonilla, an associate professor at Northwestern University, breaks down what the findings mean.

IPR policy research briefs recap important policy-relevant findings.

The new tools should sharpen your thinking rather than outsource it.

The ANCHOR grant program has awarded more than $2 million to Evanston and Chicago groups

New study examines paternal mortality data in Georgia, finds 60% of deaths were preventable

A new study from Northwestern University sought to answer whether Americans have moved past prejudices against gay people, and what kind of gay candidates face little to no electoral penalty. The research reveals American voters are more accepting of gay candidates than at any point in our history, but acceptance is conditional and varies by political party.

Why birth order leaves an indelible mark has long eluded scientists. Now we have some answers that suggest what parents and policymakers can do about it.

Chicago’s deadly 1995 heat wave showed how neighborhood conditions and social ties determine who stays safe in extreme weather. Now, IPR associate Dan Horton is leading a working group to map those risks through a Heat Vulnerability Index. Combining data like temperature, public health records, and residents’ on-the-ground insights, the index will pinpoint which Chicago communities face the greatest danger as climate change makes heat waves more common.

Food preparation typically requires access to clean drinking water. This Analysis of data from the World Risk Poll explores the links between food sufficiency, clean drinking water availability and th...