TECH POLICY

How to Depolarize Political Toxicity on Social Media

Political polarization can often seem unsolvable, but research conducted by Christopher Bail and Sunshine Hillygus suggests that anonymous online conversations through a mobile chat platform they developed can give us a possible path to reduce it. The study involved participants with opposing political views discussing topics like immigration and gun control. The anonymous interactions led to reduced disagreement on controversial issues and improved opinions of individuals with differing political views. The findings indicate that anonymous conversations may encourage people to focus on content rather than pre-judging others, potentially offering a way to combat polarization in online discourse. Read the publication.

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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT / NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN POLICY

A New Look at the Economic Aftermath of World War I

A common narrative of World War II is that it was caused by harsh economic reparations after World War I. In the new book "Peacemaking and International Order after the First World War," Jennifer Siegel and co-authors shed new light on the historical facts of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. As Siegel’s chapter explores, this focus on reparations masks deliberate efforts at the conference to restore stability and establish a global financial order, despite challenges like inter-allied debts, wartime destruction and Russia's upheaval. Siegel aims to redirect focus from reparations to the intricate strategies employed to foster post-war financial stability and reconstruction. Read the publication.

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SOCIAL POLICY

How Does Cash Aid Impact Child Development in the U.S.?

The impact of unconditional cash aid on children's development and socioeconomic inequalities in the U.S. is poorly understood, despite children being major beneficiaries of the social safety net. Lisa Gennetian and co-author Hema Shah explain that while evidence exists for the benefits of cash aid on economic and health metrics, research often focuses on family investment mechanisms and poverty reduction, neglecting diverse demographics and outcomes. Studies show the importance of income boosts, parenting skills and early education, but how policies can efficiently drive these improvements remains unclear. While qualitative accounts are promising, further research is needed to inform program design and implementation. Read the publication.

(Photo: Lisa Fotios on Pexels)

SOCIAL POLICY

Gamification in Online Grocery Shopping: A Path to Healthier Food Choices

Food purchasing decisions are heavily influenced by food environments, and with the rise in online grocery shopping due to COVID-19, digital interventions offer a way to improve food choices. Norbert Wilson and co-authors decided to try gamification, using game-like elements, to test a simulated online grocery platform. Testing involved assigning nutritional crown icons to foods, with higher icons indicating healthier choices. Even with a low budget, participants made healthier food choices, collecting more crown icons. Gamification appears promising for improving nutritional quality in online grocery shopping, but further research is necessary. Read the publication.

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Sanford welcomes six new faculty members this academic year. Read more. 

During the 2023-2024 academic year, Deondra Rose has been appointed the university’s third Presidential Fellow. Read the announcement. 

Sanford's Cyber Policy Program will lead the effort for Duke as it joins efforts with North Carolina State University to develop the North Carolina Partnership for Cybersecurity Excellence (NC-PaCE). Read the announcement. 

In this episode of the Ways & Means podcast: kicking America’s multi-billion-dollar food waste habit. Wasted food contributed to climate change, and one simple change – better food date labels – might help make a dent in the problem. This is the sixth episode in the “Climate Change Solutions” series, looking at research-based ideas to help cool a rapidly heating planet. Listen to the episode. 

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