News

Financial Benefits of Political Party Affiliation Studied

By Ann Starkey, November 18 2009

A study published this month by Andrew Eggers, an IQSS graduate student affiliate, and Jens Hainmueller, an IQSS visiting scholar from MIT, demonstrates the financial benefits of serving in Parliament in the United Kingdom.

Improved Beta Version of the Scholars' Web Sites Project Recently Launched

By Emily Ware, November 13 2009

IQSS proudly announces the launch of the beta version of the Scholars’ Web Sites Project.  This IQSS-sponsored project represents a paradigm shift in how the personal web sites of academic scholars are created and maintained.

Top 10 Reasons Gary King was Made a University Professor

By Ann Starkey, November 10 2009

Our top ten reasons why Gary King was made a University Professor, as delivered by Matt Cox at the IQSS party for Gary on Monday, November 9, 2009:

10. His social experimentation knows no bounds. Not only does he have the most tweets per day of any Harvard senior faculty, he also re-follows all the Twitter spam bots--"just in case."

Three Degrees of Influence

By Ann Starkey, November 4 2009

In Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, IQSS Faculty Associate Nicholas Christakis and coauthor James Fowler describe research into the ways in which our social networks influence us.

Facilitating Efficient Land Assembly

Submitted by Scott Duke Kominers on October 28, 2009 - 12:33pm

E. Glen Weyl and Scott Duke Kominers have developed a rigorous model of the "holdout problem" which encompasses land takings and a host of other applications such as corporate acquisitions, mutual relations between firms, and patent pool formation.

New Study Shows Approval Ratings for Lawmakers Jump by 18% on Average with Internet Town Hall Meetings

By Emily Ware, October 26 2009

David Lazer, Director of the Program on Networked Governance and IQSS Faculty Affiliate, is the lead author of a recent study on the effectiveness of Internet town hall meetings.

World Bank's SIEF Initiative Makes Use of IQSS Talent

By Ann Starkey, October 23 2009

The World Bank's SIEF initiative trains ministries of education, health, and finance for governments across the world on how to incorporate randomized evaluations as an organic part of their policies. IQSS grad student Plamen Nikolov serves as a staff member.

IQSS Forms New Research Computing for the Social Sciences Group

By Ann Starkey, October 8 2009

FAS Dean Mike Smith announced on Tuesday, October 6, a plan to consolidate research computing functions within the Division of Social Sciences into a single entity, to be maintained under the auspice of IQSS. The new Research Computing for the Social Sciences (RCSS) group ultimately reports to the Dean of the Division of Social Science via Gary King, Director of IQSS.

Applying Economic Theory to the Spread of HIV

Submitted by Plamen Nikolov on October 7, 2009 - 11:05am

AIDS is first and foremost a public health problem, but it is a problem with deep economic roots. Economists have a vital role to play in helping public health officials and policymakers understand the AIDS epidemic and design efficient policies to limit its impact.

Visiting Scholar Laub Nominated to Director, National Institute of Justice

By Ann Starkey, October 5 2009

President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the several individuals to key administration posts on Friday, October 2. John Laub, a Visiting Scholar at IQSS, was nominated to the position of Director, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a part of the U.S. Department of Justice.