ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT POLICY

Protecting Fish Doesn’t Have to Mean Neglecting People

More than 190 countries aim to protect a third of the world's oceans through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030. However, a new analysis co-led by Alex Pfaff suggests MPAs can harm coastal communities reliant on fishing. Researchers compiled data from 216 MPAs across 43 countries, finding no-take MPAs most effective in restoring fish populations but potentially detrimental to coastal livelihoods. Multiple-use MPAs regulating fishing offer a balanced solution. Adequate staffing and sustainable regulations are crucial for MPA success. Context-specific management, considering local needs, is vital. The study underscores the importance of tailored conservation strategies to protect marine ecosystems while supporting coastal communities. Learn more about this analysis.

(Photo: Hà Nguyễn via Unsplash)

HEALTH POLICY

Common Medication Could Save 500,000 Children Per Year. So Why Aren't Doctors Prescribing It?

Diarrhea is a leading cause of child mortality in India, but a solution already exists. A study co-authored by Manoj Mohanan highlights the underutilization of oral rehydration salts (ORS) in treating diarrheal disease, a major cause of child deaths. The research, conducted in India, reveals that healthcare providers often fail to prescribe ORS due to misconceptions about patient preferences, despite its effectiveness and affordability. Factors such as stockouts and profit incentives play minor roles compared to provider biases. Encouraging patients to express a preference for ORS and educating providers about patient preferences could significantly improve ORS utilization and combat antibiotic overuse, addressing a critical global health issue. Learn more about this study. 

(Photo: cottonbro studio via Pexels)

SOCIAL POLICY

Informed Policy to Combat Child Housing Instability

The U.S. has a growing housing crisis, and children are often those who suffer the most. The North Carolina Early Childhood Action Plan aims to ensure children's long-term health and development by improving access to safe housing and quality early childhood education (ECE). This policy brief, co-authored by Beth Gifford, outlines recommendations for integrating housing and ECE services, addressing challenges like housing instability exacerbated by the pandemic. It identifies gaps in serving young children in housing programs, limited cross-sector communication, and low enrollment in ECE programs among homeless children. Recommendations include enhancing shelter services, increasing ECE enrollment, improving access to subsidies, and fostering collaboration between housing and ECE providers to support children's well-being. Read the report. 

(Photo: Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy)

MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY

How Good Media Policy Can Help Local News, and Democracy

Local news is disappearing, and democracy could be one of the casualties. This research volume, co-edited by Phil Napoli, explores the market failure of local news and provides an extensive analysis of how policy interventions can address the crisis in traditional local journalism. The research project is organized into four parts: policy, supply, demand and adaptation. The contributors examine the changes and effects of information supply within local environments, the shifts in information-seeking patterns and the demand for news. The final section deals with adaptation, exploring how policy and the media industry can and should change in response to recent trends and historical legacies of supply and demand for reliable, timely and local information. The research study offers meaningful solutions to the challenge of meeting communities' information needs and identifies problems that have deepened since the publication of the FCC Information Needs Report. The volume is a starting point for answering questions about the ways that public policy, and more specifically media policy, should respond to the crisis in local news. Learn more about this volume.

(Photo: Generated by MS Image Creator)

The Duke Global Policy Program in Madrid, led by Professors David Hoffman and Ken Rogerson, is an exciting new opportunity for students interested in European Union and Latin American technology policy. It will focus on the unique relationship between the European Union and Latin America, with a detailed exploration of tech policy in each region. The program involves a 4-week hybrid class, including 1 week in Madrid, followed by internships with leading tech, consulting and public policy institutions. Learn more.

Researchers and journalists covering the battle against misinformation have a powerful new tool in their arsenal — a groundbreaking collection of fact-checking data that covers tens of thousands of harmful political claims and online hoaxes. Read more from Duke Reporter's Lab. 

During Duke's Centennial, the university is featuring 100 Duke "Trailblazers" who have enriched the community through their innovative leadership and research. Lisa Gennetian was highlighted for her work on policy solutions to child poverty. Read more about her impact.

Professor Bruce Jentleson recently shared his foreign policy expertise and experience with a group that included congressional members and staffers. The American Historical Association hosted the congressional briefing offering historical perspectives on the role and impact of sanctions as an instrument of international relations. Learn more and watch the briefing.

On July 1, Christina Gibson-Davis will become Associate Dean for Academic Programs at Sanford. Gibson-Davis has been a faculty member at Duke University since 2002. The associate dean oversees the academic programs of the school, including the undergraduate public policy major, the Master of Public Policy, the Master of International Development Policy, the Master of Public Affairs, the Master of National Security Policy and the Ph.D. in Public Policy. Read the announcement. 

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