Research Briefs

Browse all policy and issue briefs by faculty at American University's School of Public Affairs.


Policy Briefs

professional at desk

Policy Analysis ·

Safeguarding the US Federal Government Workforce

Policy Brief: Lessons from the 2025 assault on the bureaucracy.
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Derek Hyra, David Schwegman, and Chris Alvarez Campbell

Public Finance and Budget ·

How Rent-Control Intensity Relates to Tenant Outcomes in California Cities, 2010–2019

Policy Brief: Rising rents and growing housing cost burdens in high-cost metropolitan regions have intensified policy interest in rent regulation.
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Erdal Tekin

Health Policy & Management ·

Abortion Access, Economic Hardship, and Crime: Unintended Consequences of Restrictive Policies

Policy Brief: abortion policies, typically debated on moral and legal grounds, have broader economic and social consequences.
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Keunyoung Lee

Public Management and Leadership ·

Employee Turnover Effects of the 2018–2019 United States Federal Government Shutdown

Policy Brief: As U.S. federal government shutdowns have increased in frequency and length, their related dysfunction may impact the federal government's ability to retain talent
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rainforest waterfall

Environmental Policy ·

Climate-Change Vulnerability and Climate Migration: Evidence from Guatemala

Policy Brief: As extreme weather events have grown more frequent and severe, climate migration has become more commonplace. But to what extent does climate change vulnerability impact people’s decision to relocate?
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FBI building corner

Homeland Security Policy ·

The Potential Policy Impacts of Classifying Cartels as FTOs

Policy Brief: These experts argue that, despite the horrific nature of cartel violence, designating them as terrorist groups was redundant and ineffective.
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person holding puppy

Social Policy ·

Exploring the Link Between Animal Cruelty and Intimate Partner and Family Violence

Policy Brief: Researchers use FBI Data to reveal how animal cruelty and domestic violence intersect, and why recognizing this link matters more than ever.
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hands together

Health Policy & Management ·

Gender-, Race-, and Ethnicity-Based Discrimination in Mental Health Care

Policy Brief: Racial and sexual minorities may face discrimination in accessing health care, particularly mental health resources, since mental health providers have more discretion over accepting patients.
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preschoolers doing arts and crafts

Social Policy ·

Beyond the Classroom: The Case for Public Preschool

Policy Brief: Public preschool may shape more than just the children who attend. New research asks whether the benefits of early education extend beyond the classroom into the broader community.
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Issue Briefs

Jessica Waters and Madelyn Adams

Health Policy & Management ·

Pregnancy Exclusions in Advance Directives: A Post-Dobbs Equal Protection Argument

Issue Brief: In a forthcoming article, SPA Senior Scholar in Residence Jessica Waters and alumna Madelyn Adams (MPA, ‘25) propose an additional equal protection argument to bolster existing arguments against pregnancy exclusions.
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