November 2024
Weidenbaum Center Resident Fellow Jake Rosenfeld authors article on big gains for Boeing Workers after recent strike
Weidenbaum Center Breakfast Speaker Michael Strawbridge interviewed on voters backing Republicans in big numbers while endorsing progressive ballot initiatives
Weidenbaum Center Women's Event Speaker Diana O'Brien comments on the outcome of Harris loss and the future of women candidates
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.
This illuminating Public Policy luncheon provided perspective and commentary on the 2024 election results. Presentations were given by Weidenbaum Center Director and Professor of Political Science, Andrew Reeves, Weidenbaum Center Resident Fellow and Assistant Professor of Political Science Michael Olson, and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, Anita Manion (pictured). Among the national issues discussed were how Latinos and young voters swung to Trump, the future of the Presidency, ticket splitting, and the overperformers and underperformers in the House and Senate. Local and state political discussion included the rural-urban divide in the Missouri ballot and amendments, and the GOP sweep of every statewide office.
This breakfast discussion included debriefs by ten Washington University faculty members on Presidential election returns, as well as insights and comments on the House, Senate, and local races. Discussion focused on how election outcome and demographic voter turnout would affect immigration policy, unions, gender and politics, voter discussion on results, and the historical importance of Trump's path to victory. Faculty commenting represented several different WashU Arts & Sciences departments including Political Science, Sociology, and History.
Melanie Fontes Rainer (pictured), director of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, discussed privacy and civil rights issues in health care. Her talk focused on OCR's recent efforts to strengthen nondiscrimination protections and advance civil rights in health care. Rainer said she has heard too many stories of people facing discrimination in their health care and the robust protections of these rules are needed now more than ever. According to Rainer, "Patients and providers are scared, and it impedes their ability to get and to provide accurate information and access to safe and legal health care." Click below to watch her presentation.
Author Barbara Bradley Hagerty and Ben Spencer (pictured) discussed her new book, “Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice,” which details Spencer’s 34-years-long fight to maintain his innocence despite a wrongful conviction. Professor John Inazu moderated the event. Spencer told the story of his arrest, conviction, and procedural hurdles to eventually be released from prison. Bradley Hagerty explained how she got involved in the case and came to write her book about Spencer and his fight for justice.
Election Results Policy Lunch Speakers (l to r): Weidenbaum Center Director Andrew Reeves, Professor of Political Science Anita Manion (UMSL), and Weidenbaum Center Resident Fellow Michael Olson
Attendees at Election Results Policy Lunch
Director Melanie Fontes Rainer addressing attendees at forum on Enforcing Privacy and Civil Rights Issues in Healthcare
Director Melanie Fontes Rainer of the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Congratulations to our 2024 Weidenbaum Center Small Grant Awardees!
Find out more about Weidenbaum Center Small Grant AwardsTerritorial Disputes and Public Opinion
Gerrymadering's Polarizing Impact on Primary Electorates
Place-Based Policies, Family Structure, and the Geography of the American Dream
Why has the ETIC Expanded So Much? Intensive and Extensive Elasticities Over Time
Constituent Communications in an Era of Polarization
(When) Are Populists Bad for the Environment?
Does the China Model Challenege the Liberal World Order?
Martingales, Filtrations, and Probability Measures
Corporate Campaigning in Brazil
Employment and Hours Over the Business Cycle
Exploiting Extremism: Strategic Responses of Radical Right Parties to Right-Wing Violence in Europe
Women on the Frontlines: Military Conscription and Perceptions of Female Political Leadership
On December 3, we will be co-sponsoring a talk with the Center of Social Development at the Brown School that will feature Jason Fichtner, Chief Economist at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Fichtner will be discussing the future of social security. On December 11, stop by the Saint Louis Club for the best event of the year, our annual holiday party. Come celebrate with your Weidenbaum Center family! And as a preview of our exciting Spring 2025 schedule, a don't miss event - our annual Women's Networking Luncheon and Public Policy Event. Hear sociologist Caitlyn Collins discuss her research on gender inequality and work-family issues, and political scientist Jaclyn Kaslovsky discuss the experience of women in Congress.
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