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Princeton School of Public and International Affairs


Tighter border policies leave migrants vulnerable to effects of climate change

A new study suggests that restrictive border policies could exacerbate the effects of climate change on vulnerable regions, limiting their ability to emigrate. In contrast, open borders have a positive impact on developing countries, providing an important source of income through remittance and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 12, 2020

Middle-aged Americans report more pain than the elderly

A study published in PNAS found that middle-aged Americans without a college degree are reporting more pain than the elderly, which could put further strain on healthcare systems. The researchers attribute this trend to increasing social isolation, stagnant wages, and rising deaths of despair among less-educated populations.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Mental illness treatment varies widely among american adolescents within and across zip codes

Researchers found that only 70.8% of children received any follow-up treatment for mental illness within the first three months, varying widely by ZIP code. Many children were prescribed strong drugs with little evidence of effectiveness, despite generally recommended therapy as a first line of treatment.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Society perceives the poor as less affected by distress than those with more means

Researchers found a 'thick-skin bias' persists across various groups, including children and adults, professionals, and U.S. citizens, perceiving low-income individuals as less harmed by negative events than their high-income counterparts. This bias may lead to neglect of those most in need and exacerbate cycles of poverty.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalBehavioural Public Policy·DateAug 17, 2020

Tracking misinformation campaigns in real-time is possible, study shows

A team of researchers developed a technique to identify malicious internet accounts and track online foreign misinformation campaigns in real time. They found that their model was effective in identifying posts and accounts that were part of a foreign influence campaign, including those by accounts that had never been used before.

Discrimination may erase 'birthweight advantage' of black US immigrants in one generation

A recent study published by Princeton University researchers reveals that the 'healthy immigrant' effect experienced by foreign-born black women is lost within a single generation due to discrimination and inequality. In contrast, foreign-born Hispanic women maintain a modest advantage in birthweight across generations.

Projecting the outcomes of people's lives with AI isn't so simple

A collaborative study using machine learning techniques to predict six life outcomes for children, parents, and households found that even with high-quality data and state-of-the-art modeling, the predictive models were not very accurate. The study suggests that sociologists and data scientists should use caution in predictive modeling...

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

A cautionary tale about measuring racial bias in policing

Two Princeton professors critique a study on racial bias in policing, pointing out that it ignored crucial factors like encounter rates and didn't account for all police-civilian interactions. The researchers' conclusions hinge on an assumption that black and white officers encounter black and white civilians equally.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

Initially threatened by change, people adapt to societal diversity over time

A recent study published in PNAS found that people can adapt to societal diversity and actually benefit from it. Researchers analyzed data from multiple surveys across 100 countries and found that religious diversity was initially negatively associated with quality of life but later became neutral when measured over longer spans of time.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 23, 2019

Reducing carbon emissions while improving health is economically attractive, study shows

A new climate policy model debuts in Nature Communications, finding that reducing carbon emissions is economically sound due to immediate human health benefits. The study supports the Paris Climate Agreement targets and suggests a target of 2 degrees Celsius is defensible if health benefits are included.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 7, 2019

Racial bias associated with disparities in disciplinary action across US schools

A study by Princeton University researchers found that racial bias contributes to disciplinary disparities in US schools, with black students experiencing higher rates of suspension and expulsion. The study analyzed data from over 3,100 counties and found a correlation between county-level measures of racial bias and disciplinary action.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 3, 2019

Are the grandkids worth it? Climate change policy depends on how we value human population

A new study finds that reducing greenhouse gas emissions to protect future generations from environmental destruction could save tens of billions of dollars annually, especially in wealthier countries. By valuing human population differently, policymakers can make more informed decisions about climate policy.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 30, 2017

Air pollution cuts solar energy potential in China

Severe air pollution in northern and eastern China blocks about 20% of sunlight from reaching solar panels, significantly reducing solar energy production. The study found that aerosol pollution reduces the potential for solar electricity generation by as much as one and a half kilowatt-hour per square meter per day.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2017