ANN ARBOR—Fifty years of economic change have taken a heavy toll on some Americans, especially those with less education who not only have been left behind but are sicker and living shorter lives, according to new research. The study published in Epidemiology and led by Arline Geronimus, professor at the University of Michigan School of… Continue reading 50 years of US economic change linked to poorer health, shorter lives for less-educated Americans
Project: Population Studies Center
Off the road: 1 in 4 seniors quit driving due to sight issues
Research indicates an urgent need for updated vision screening policies and safer infrastructure to protect aging drivers ANN ARBOR—Older drivers with vision impairment are dramatically more likely to stop driving or avoid challenging road conditions—with severe cases four times more likely to give up driving altogether, a national University of Michigan study finds. Driving is… Continue reading Off the road: 1 in 4 seniors quit driving due to sight issues
Yang finds unintended consequences of an early education program in the Philippines
A major policy change in early education in the Philippines led to an unexpected drop in test scores and academic achievement—revealing the challenges that even well-intentioned reforms can have and the importance of wisely investing in the first years of learning. The “natural experiment” came about in 2012, when the Philippine government introduced the Mother… Continue reading Yang finds unintended consequences of an early education program in the Philippines
From Epic to Elections: How a TV Series Transformed India’s Cultural and Political Landscape
Economists use variations in TV signal strength to demonstrate long-term impacts of the smash 80s series, ‘Ramayan.’ The TV series “Ramayan,” based on the Hindu epic, reshaped the public sphere in India when it aired in the 1980s. When it ran on Sunday mornings, “streets would be deserted, shops would be closed and people would… Continue reading From Epic to Elections: How a TV Series Transformed India’s Cultural and Political Landscape
Unpaid caregivers find moments of joy in daily life
ANN ARBOR—Debunking the myth that unpaid caregivers are sacrificing most of their time and joy, a University of Michigan study found that caregivers spend most of the day engaged in other pleasant activities. Whether through religious practices, physical activity or other fulfilling pursuits, the study shows that these activities offer meaningful moments of joy that can offset… Continue reading Unpaid caregivers find moments of joy in daily life
Transportation insecurity in Detroit and beyond
Alexandra Murphy discusses why 36% of Detroiters have trouble getting where they need to go and how a new tool could guide better transportation solutions ANN ARBOR—More than a third of Detroit residents (36%) can’t get from place to place in a safe or timely manner. This is the main finding of a new study led by Alexandra… Continue reading Transportation insecurity in Detroit and beyond
Digital lifeline: High-speed internet linked to drop in COVID-19 death rates
The mortality rate from COVID-19 was about 50% lower in U.S. counties with higher internet access in the summer and early fall of 2020. A new University of Michigan study found that broadband connection was a key factor in reducing mortality and incidence during the early months of the pandemic. The average county with high… Continue reading Digital lifeline: High-speed internet linked to drop in COVID-19 death rates
Declining Fertility Rates Key to Narrowing U.S. Gender Pay Gap, Study Finds
A new study revealed that a decline in the number of children among U.S. employees has played a significant role in reducing the gender pay gap. Stone Center for Inequality Dynamics Director Alexandra Killewald and Harvard University PhD Candidate in Sociology Nino José Cricco published their findings in Social Forces in November. “Having children leads to wage losses for… Continue reading Declining Fertility Rates Key to Narrowing U.S. Gender Pay Gap, Study Finds
Multi-generational data to reveal effects of persistent disadvantage on young children’s health
ANN ARBOR – Emily Treleaven, an affiliate of the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, has received R01 funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to assess how persistent, intergenerational social and economic disadvantages shape disparities in health, infections, and healthcare… Continue reading Multi-generational data to reveal effects of persistent disadvantage on young children’s health
Gamarel awarded Sexual & Gender Minority Mid-Career Investigator Award
Kristi Gamarel, John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, and associate professor of health behavior and health equity in the School of Public Health; and research associate professor in the Institute for Social Research’s Population Studies Center, has been awarded the 2024 National Institutes of Health Sexual & Gender Minority Mid-Career… Continue reading Gamarel awarded Sexual & Gender Minority Mid-Career Investigator Award