How Casino Revenue is a Winning Hand for a Generation of Native American Children

Can cash transfers help break cycles of poverty across generations? This study, co-authored by Kenneth Dodge and Jennifer Lansford, explores the impact of a casino-funded cash transfer program on educational outcomes among American Indian communities. Utilizing a difference-in-difference approach, researchers found that children of mothers exposed to cash transfers for a decade scored higher in math and reading than peers whose mothers received shorter exposure and were also likelier to pursue higher education and delay childbirth. Findings suggest that substantial cash transfers could mitigate intergenerational poverty and enhance the quality of life in underserved communities, particularly when initiated early in parental life.

(Photo: Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels)

The Green Energy Paradox: Renewable Technology Can Fuel Environmental and Social Injustice

The clean energy revolution has a dirty secret. Subhrendu K. Pattanayak and Erika Weinthal co-authored this comprehensive review of critical mineral mining, revealing a complex web of environmental, social, and governance risks. While essential for renewable energy technologies, these mines often lead to habitat destruction, water pollution, and human rights abuses. The study highlights the urgent need for sustainable mining practices and responsible supply chains to ensure a just and equitable energy transition.

(Photo: Dominik Vanyi via Unsplash)

Assuring Equity in Innovative HIV Prevention 

Will everyone benefit from the latest breakthrough in HIV prevention? Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking drug, has shown remarkable effectiveness in clinical trials, reducing infection risk by 96% or more. This twice-yearly injection could revolutionize HIV prevention globally, especially in populations with high HIV incidence. But lead author Gavin Yamey has concerns remain about equitable access, particularly in lower-income countries where the need is greatest. While the drug's manufacturer has committed to licensing generic lenacapavir for these countries, critics argue that more comprehensive access plans are needed to ensure that this groundbreaking drug reaches those who need it most.

(Photo: Mikhail Nilov via Pexels)

Why Politicians Lie, and What We Can Do About It

In this episode of Policy 360, Duke Professor Bill Adair joins us to discuss lying in politics. Adair founded the Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking organization PolitiFact. His new book, Beyond the Big Lie, explores how and why politicians lie, which party does it more, and what can be done about it. This episode is part of our ongoing series of policy-focused conversations related to the 2024 election.

Guest host: Phil Napoli, Director of the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy at Duke University.

(Photo: Sanford School of Public Policy)

North Carolina is considered a close and must-win state for presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Both campaigns have spent millions in the state and held numerous rallies here.

Four Duke experts Tuesday discussed the North Carolina electorate, the issues behind support for either candidate in North Carolina, polling and changing demographics. Read the highlights and watch the briefing.

A new Duke University initiative will provide opportunities to study and share climate solutions in Southeast Asia, with the possibility of expansion to other regions. Duke has received $1 million in funds from HPS Investment Partners and the Kapnick Foundation to establish the Climate Dialogue & Innovation Initiative: Southeast Asia and the World. Learn more about this initiative. 

Sanford faculty member Frank Bruni, Eugene C. Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy and author of multiple bestselling books, will be honored with the state’s highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award.

Governor Roy Cooper will present the award to Bruni for his contributions to literature on Nov. 14 in Raleigh. Read more about the award and Bruni's career. 

Bill Adair, Pulitzer Prize winner, Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy, and founder of PolitiFact, presents an eye-opening and engaging history of political liars and a vision for how to make them stop.

A seasoned political reporter, Adair brings unmatched experience to political fact-checking. His current leadership of Duke's Reporter's Lab (part of the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy) allows him to investigate political falsehoods in detail, resulting in a book that illuminates one of the biggest crises of our time. Learn more about this book. 

In recent years, the Latino population in the United States has experienced a notable shift in health outcomes, a phenomenon that has drawn significant attention from public health experts. The Duke School of Nursing’s Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Assistant Dean, PhD Program, joined Sanford's Jay Pearson, to take a closer look at this shift. The pair presented their findings in a paper recently published in JAMA Health Forum. Read more about the collaboration with Duke's School of Nursing here.

In September's Issue of Sanford Research & Views, we featured Social Policy research that explored the ways in which peer pressure influences vaping use in adolescents. It was our most popular research highlight of the month.

Unfortunately, while we did highlight Jennifer Godwin for her excellent work, we failed to recognize Sanford researchers Ann Skinner, Megan Golonka, and Rick Hoyle, who were also co-authors of this groundbreaking research. 

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