News

Annually, Penn researchers present Papers and Posters, Moderate Talks, act as Discussants, and more at the Population Association of America's Annual Meeting.

See the complete detailed Penn@PAA list of events HERE

Dorothy Roberts is featured in Harvard Law Bullentin for her work challenging systems of injustice, particularly in child welfare, reproductive rights, and criminal justice. Awarded a 2024 MacArthur Fellowship, she continues to advocate for radical social change and family support.

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Jesús Fernández-Villaverde discusses the impact of the declining U.S. birth rate in a Newsweek article, warning that it could significantly slow GDP growth and strain social programs.

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Mark Pauly, writing for Penn LDI, cautions that proposed Medicaid cuts could unfairly impact low-income and vulnerable groups. He advocates for wealthier states to contribute more to the program to help preserve equitable access to care.

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In an interview with Stroke, Kevin Volpp explores how integrating food and nutrition into healthcare can improve outcomes, reduce costs, and promote equity through innovative, patient-centered approaches.

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A new study co-authored by Duncan Watts, reported by Annenberg, outlines how social media platforms can be intentionally designed to promote kindness, cooperation, and community support online.

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"Can Social Media Be Less Toxic?" Annenberg, H Reissman, March 27, 2025. 

Kevin Volpp, Angela Lee Duckworth, and Aaron Richtermann, in their research reported by CHIBE, highlight techniques such as gamification, incentives, and text-based nudges to help patients make healthier choices.

PSC and PARC Associates Aaron Richterman, Atheendar Venkataramani, and Alison Buttenheim co-authored a study, reported by Penn LDI, evaluating the B-OK tool's effectiveness in improving HIV More »

OMNIA highlights study co-authored by Pilar Gonalons-Pons which examines the high cost of childcare in the U.S. disproportionately reduces income for less-educated women, worsening family income inequality—an effect largely absent in countries with robust childcare support systems.

Penn Today reports that Angela Duckworth and Penn’s Behavior Change for Good Initiative found that simple, low-cost behavioral nudges for teachers can modestly boost student math progress.

A study led by Dolores Albarracín and reported by the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that people tend to share flattering feedback to boost others’ self-image—except when they dislike them or are prompted to prioritize accuracy.

Penn Today features Hanming Fang's study revealing that high-speed rail expansion in China significantly boosted electric vehicle sales, highlighting a model for cleaner, more equitable transportation.

Lance Freeman is featured in Penn Today for his groundbreaking work on urban equity, gentrification, and neighborhood dynamics. Drawing from personal experience and data-driven research, he aims to shape more just and inclusive cities.

Dennis Culhane co-authored a study for the National Alliance to End Homelessness on the cost and policy barriers to fully implementing Housing First for sheltered homelessness.

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Penn Today highlights Dolores Albarracín's receipt of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Social Sciences for her impactful research on attitude change and persuasive messaging.

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The Russell Sage Foundation awarded a grant to Rebecca Anna Schut for her research on how demographic shifts influence U.S. state immigration policies from 1990 to 2025. 

Diana Montoya-Williams co-authors an article discussing the impact of the Dobbs decision on pregnancy and pediatric care. The article highlights five key changes, including reduced abortion access, less availability of critical surgeries, and increased healthcare costs for infants with congenital anomalies, reports Penn LDI. 

Iliana V. Kohler and Hans-Peter Kohler co-authored a study exploring the use of dried plasma spot technology to measure Alzheimer's disease prevalence in Malawi's aging population, addressing global health disparities.

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Olivia Mitchell discusses common retirement regrets and the need for increased savings due to the impending insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund on Decoding Retirement, as reported by Yahoo Finance.

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Rachel Werner co-authored an issue brief in Penn LDI, offering recommendations to enhance Community Health Centers' participation in value-based payment models and align these efforts with health equity goals.

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“The shelters are not a solution,” Dennis Culhane told Cal Matters, “We have every reason to believe that if we scaled up income support and provided rental assistance, we would probably see the homeless numbers cut in half.”

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Lourii Manovskii's research on local labor market dynamics and unemployment variability was featured in the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

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"The government should restore all the data that had been previously collected and make it available," says Irma Elo. She describes the federal statistical system, which collects population-level census and health data, as "the only independent source of data that we have."

Eric Bressman and Kevin Volpp co-authored a study highlighted in Penn LDI, which examined the effectiveness of BP Pal, a text message-based hypertension management program, revealing high patient engagement but underscoring the need for rigorous te More »

In Penn IUR, Lance Freeman discusses the need for updated comprehensive plans and streamlined approval processes to address the housing shortage and expand affordable housing supply.

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Greg Ridgeway co-founded the Data-Driven Discovery Initiative (DDDI) at Penn to foster collaboration among the university's data scientists. The initiative focuses on breaking down silos and advancing interdisciplinary connections in data science across various fields, as reported by OMNIA.

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A study co-authored by Nazar Khalid, along with PSC Associates Emily Hannum and Jere Behrman, explores how flooding in India exacerbates learning gaps for marginalized children, underscoring climate change’s unequal impact, as reported by OMINA.

Penn Today highlights Michel Guillot's study, which reveals that life expectancy in Gaza has dropped by 46.3% since October 2023, from 75.5 to 40.5 years. The decline is more pronounced in men, and the study cautions that mortality estimates may be underestimated due to incomplete identification and the indirect effects of the war.

Penn LDI features a study on birth certificate data, co-authored by Diana Montoya-Williams, highlighting how refining racial and ethnic categorizations can enhance equity in prete More »

Kevin Volpp Receives AHA’s 2025 Edward S. Cooper Award for Transformative Contributions to Behavioral Economics and Community Health, Reports CHIBE.

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"Dr. Kevin Volpp Receives AHA’s 2025 Edward S. Cooper Award," CHIBE, January 16, 2025.

Penn LDI highlights research by Molly Candon and PSC research associates Rachel Werner and David Mandell, revealing that increased insurance coverage for acupuncture from 2010 to 2019 led t More »

Penn Carey Law highlights Dorothy Roberts' Penn Carey Law course on reproductive justice, exploring legal, ethical, and constitutional issues beyond abortion access, including parenting, contraception, and freedom.

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Dennis Culhane in an interview with The Signal addresses the troubling increase in homelessness across the U.S., focusing on the sharp rise in homelessness among immigrants.

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"Mother of Exiles," The Signal, D Culhane and G Jönsson, January 7, 2025.

Read the PSC 2024 Year In Review annual newsletter and discover all the highlights of the Population Studies Center's work from the past year. Sections include: a letter from PSC Directors Emilio A. More »