In college towns, such as Tallahassee, there are longstanding critiques of the separation of “town and gown.” Town and gown refers to the two distinct communities that make up college towns: the community cultivated by and through the university (gown), and the residents of the city itself (town). Most students and faculty come from elsewhere,…
Relief Packages Needed to Prevent Hundreds of Thousands Falling into Poverty
This post first appeared on Tallahassee Democrat. The Senate began its month-long recess on August 13 without a completed deal on legislation that could help the millions of Americans still struggling with the economic effects of the pandemic. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida’s unemployment rate was 11.3% in July, more than four…
How “Chilly” Climates for LGBTQ+ Students Deepen Inequalities on Campus
When someone brings up “chilly” campus climates, it might draw forth images of female students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classrooms. In fact, a long history of scholarly research traces the ways STEM fields have been unwelcoming toward women students, faculty, and workers. This chilly environment translates into lower pay than male counterparts,…
Ph.D. Spotlight: Weathering the Storm: An Examination of Fetal Loss, Maternal Age, and Norms of Race and Sexuality.
Dr. Latinsky’s dissertation tests if fetal loss can be applied as an extension of prior literature on the weathering hypothesis. To do so, this study extends upon the weathering hypothesis: the observation that black people experience substantially higher levels of stress than their white counterparts in the United States, that this gap only increases as…
Ph.D. Spotlight: On Geography, Institutions, Human Capital, and Economic Development.
Dr. Montesinos-Yufa’s dissertation takes a look at the three main hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the fundamental causes of growth and economic development. Chapter 2 of this dissertation explores the hypothesis that geographic conditions associated with climate and time impact development advisedly, and how this impact, if any, may have changed over time….
Research Spotlight: Finding bright spots of hope for Caribbean coral reefs
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the planet. They are home to an incredible variety of marine life, including many beautiful and brightly colored fish, corals and other organisms, making them popular destinations for snorkelers and SCUBA divers. But coral reefs are not just a pretty place for tourists to…
Once lockdown was over, Germans on lower incomes went out while others stayed at home
This piece first appeared on LSE School of Public Policy. During the lockdown, Germans of all income levels stayed at home. But what happened once it was lifted? Amanda Driscoll (Florida State University), Jay Krehbiel (West Virginia University) and Michael Nelson (The Pennsylvania State University) discuss a study that finds people on lower incomes are much more likely to…
Ph.D. Spotlight: Essays on Sovereign Debt and Partial Default
Dr. Feng’s dissertation involves the study of sovereign debt flows with an emphasis on the determinants and characteristics of sovereign default in emerging markets. The topic of sovereign debt flow is explored through three distinct chapters. Chapter One, entitled “World commodity prices, money, and foreign exchange in emerging markets: New evidence,” investigates countries’ monetary responses…
When men and women working long hours is the norm, women’s careers stall
This piece first appeared on LSE Business Review. Women remain remarkably underrepresented in the partner ranks in professional service firms—as lawyers, accountants, and consultants—despite having gained parity with men at the associate level long ago. This stalled advancement is surprising in light of companies’ efforts to improve the situation, often by means of well- intentioned…
Welcome Back!
To the returning and new students, staff, and faculty of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP), welcome to what I’m going to call The Year Like No Other. I am pleased and honored that you have chosen to be a part of COSSPP at what I believe to be an important moment…
