In a study of nearly 12,000 adolescents, Professor Deanna Barch and Graduate Student Patrick Lindsley found that perceived neighborhood danger — more than actual crime rates — was linked to differences in brain structure, mental health, and cognitive performance.
Kim says if the lawsuit is successful—which could take years—AI hiring tools might be more upfront about what data they collect and work harder to ensure accuracy.
Crum says that we've seen this fight before, and so this is probably the first volley in a fight for the 2030 census to exclude undocumented immigrants
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.
Ninety women gathered for the 8th Annual Women’s Luncheon and Public Policy event, a signature Weidenbaum Center tradition connecting women, ideas, and policy. Founded and organized by Molly Cline, the luncheon brought together leaders from business, government, and the nonprofit sector alongside WashU faculty, staff, and students. Speakers, sociologist Adia Harvey Wingfield (pictured left) and political scientist Clarissa Hayward, shared timely research on power, inequality, and politics. Moderated by Elizabeth Pippert Larson, the discussion explored how workplace dynamics sustain racial inequality and how shared values and competing perspectives reshape political life. Watch the full program on the Weidenbaum Center’s YouTube channel.
Amid rapid changes in federal immigration enforcement, the Weidenbaum Center convened a rapid response conversation on what is happening inside the United States and why it matters. Moderated by Ariela Schachter, Associate Professor of Sociology and Weidenbaum Center Associate Director, the panel featured Margot Moinester, Assistant Professor of Sociology, and Trevor Gardner (pictured left), Vice Dean of Research and Faculty Development and Professor of Law. Together, they unpacked the structures, authorities, and limits shaping interior immigration enforcement today, and explored why these distinctions carry profound consequences for law, democracy, and communities nationwide.
Using surveys and experiments across four countries, Professor Motolinia found that voters tend to prefer less wealthy candidates yet underestimate how rich politicians actually are. Research for the project was part of the Weidenbaum Center Survey.
Professor Wingfield explains that Black women are systematically underrepresented in positions of authority as their labor is diverted into roles that rarely convert into power.
Women’s Event Founder & Organizer Molly Cline welcoming attendees
Elizabeth Larson, Ruth Kim, Anna Crosslin, and Sara Bosco at Women's event
Steve Knight asking question during Immigration event Q&A
Attendees at Women's event
On April 2, hear award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Center Grantee Simón Ríos break down the urgent challenges immigrant families face seeking refuge under the second administration of Donald Trump.
On April 9, Former United States Senator Phil Gramm will discuss his new book "The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism."
