Dr. Carolyn Bourdeaux from the Concord Coalition urged the WashU community to learn about and respond to the impact of the United States’ rising national debt and its effect on the next generation of students.
WashU faculty experts reflect on the the rules of international law, public opinion of imperialism and the meaning of the Monroe Doctrine.
2026 could present new challenges for the Department of Social Services due to stricter Medicaid eligibility requirements passed by Congress, such as work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks
The Weidenbaum Center is a research institute at Washington University in St. Louis that supports social scientific research in the fields of public policy, economics, political science, and sociology. Led by Weidenbaum Center Director Andrew Reeves (pictured), the Center funds faculty research, provides administrative support for research activities, and sponsors a wide range of public affairs programs. In doing so, the Center serves as a bridge between scholars, policymakers, and the general public.
Through unbiased empirical research and events, the Center addresses many of the pressing public policy issues facing America and the world today.
The Weidenbaum Center provides significant research support for faculty in the departments of Economics, Political Science, and Sociology. This support allows a wide array of faculty members to participate in a variety of impactful research, and is of particular importance to our younger faculty who are just starting their research careers. Research efforts contribute to work that addresses key social issues locally, nationally, and globally, and enhances the prominence of Washington University in the academic and policy world. Donations fund our grant programs which support this research. We could not support nearly as much research without this generosity.
Dr. Carolyn Bourdeaux, Executive Director of The Concord Coalition and former U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District, spoke to a packed house with a candid assessment of the fiscal and political challenges facing the nation. She outlined ways to move beyond stalemate to restore stability, rebuild political trust, and promote long-term prosperity, while exploring what it will take to strengthen cooperation and secure America’s fiscal future. The event was co-sponsored by Washington University’s Olin Business School. Watch the full program on the Weidenbaum Center’s YouTube channel.
Professor Krister Knapp, coordinator of the Crisis & Conflict in Historical Perspective series in the Department of History, spoke to a sold-out crowd on the return of the Monroe Doctrine in U.S. foreign policy. He offered historical context and examined how its core ideas continue to shape modern U.S. foreign policy decisions, including those involving Venezuela and Greenland. As Knapp noted, “Expansionist policies have gone by many names — Manifest Destiny, the Monroe Doctrine, dollar diplomacy, the Open Door. Nationalists may celebrate them. Realists may try to deploy them strategically. And liberals may condemn them as disastrous, self-defeating imperialism. But they are part of our national DNA.”
Data from the Weidenbaum Center Survey (October 2025) reveal how traditional media, social media, and AI chatbots fit into Americans' political information landscape.
Galea, Margaret C. Ryan Dean of the Washington University School of Public Health, and co-authors say that universities have been forced to freeze faculty hires, downscale or terminate research programs, and pause enrollment of new graduate students.
Rich Ryffel, Executive Director of Business Leadership at the Mitch Daniels School of Business at Purdue University, with Phil Smith, National Field Director at The Concord Coalition
Event attendees
Clint Zwifel, Former Missouri State Treasurer, during the Q&A session
On February 20, hear from White House insider Aaron Hedlund on the current state of the economy and a forecast of our economic future.
On April 9, Former United States Senator Phil Gramm discusses his new book "The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism."
