Policy & the Economy
![person reaching through a computer screen to peel the face off of a politician in a deepfake advertisement](/imager/clientcontent/409002/Full_0624_deepfakes_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/409002/Full_0624_deepfakes_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/409002/Full_0624_deepfakes_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
July 1, 2024
How to Spot Political Deepfakes
AI literacy—and a healthy dose of human intuition—can take us pretty far.
Matthew Groh
![river flowing through ziggurats](/imager/clientcontent/411564/Full_0624_rivers_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/411564/Full_0624_rivers_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/411564/Full_0624_rivers_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
June 3, 2024
Why Did Early Governments Emerge?
Was it about cooperation—or exploitation? A new study turns to archeology for answers.
Robert C. Allen, Mattia C. Bertazzini and Leander Heldring
![online users reading extreme content in vortex](/imager/clientcontent/234373/Social-media-and-xenophobia_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/234373/Social-media-and-xenophobia_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/234373/Social-media-and-xenophobia_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
March 1, 2024
How Trolls Poison Political Discussions for Everyone Else
Online political debate isn’t inherently toxic, a new study of Reddit commenters finds. Instead, it becomes toxic because of the kind of commenters who opt in.
Michalis Mamakos and Eli J. Finkel
![US electoral college map](/imager/clientcontent/372938/Full_1023_electoral_college_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/372938/Full_1023_electoral_college_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/372938/Full_1023_electoral_college_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
October 2, 2023
How the Electoral College May Curb Election Fraud
This distinctive aspect of American democracy has come under increased scrutiny. But the very quality that most vexes its critics comes with an underrecognized upside.
Georgy Egorov and Konstantin Sonin
![two political candidates back to back at podiums. one saying Justice the other saying honor.](/imager/clientcontent/363096/Full_0823_candidate_moral_language_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/363096/Full_0823_candidate_moral_language_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/363096/Full_0823_candidate_moral_language_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
September 28, 2023
It’s Election Season. Here Comes the Morally Charged Language.
In the U.S., presidential candidates across the political spectrum lean on value-laden rhetoric—but emphasize different values.
Kobi Hackenburg, William Brady and Manos Tsakiris
![an older woman tweets and a flock of birds flies from her phone toward a person reading the tweet](/imager/clientcontent/334845/Full_0123_twitter_outrage_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/334845/Full_0123_twitter_outrage_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/334845/Full_0123_twitter_outrage_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
April 10, 2023
Are People on Social Media Actually That Outraged?
One reason we think Twitter is such a polarized place: we’re bad at inferring how angry people are from their posts.
William Brady and and coauthors
![People split at a fork in the road with road signs pointing to "What If?" in each direction](/imager/clientcontent/335671/Full_0123_counterfactual_thinking_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/335671/Full_0123_counterfactual_thinking_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/335671/Full_0123_counterfactual_thinking_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
January 1, 2023
Partisanship Doesn’t Just Color Our View of Facts—It Alters How We Think about Hypotheticals
New research sheds light on how polarization can shape our counterfactual thinking.
Kai Epstude, Daniel J. Effron and Neal J. Roese
![people building a bridge, with blue bricks from the left side and red bricks from the right side](/imager/clientcontent/331131/Full_1222_Political_divides_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/331131/Full_1222_Political_divides_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/331131/Full_1222_Political_divides_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
December 1, 2022
4 Science-Backed Strategies to Curb Partisan Animosity
Vilification of the other side is at a fever pitch. But research suggests ways to bridge the gap.
Eli J. Finkel and and coauthors
![Voting machine in a spider web](/imager/clientcontent/326956/Full_1022_Conspiracy_election_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/326956/Full_1022_Conspiracy_election_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/326956/Full_1022_Conspiracy_election_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
October 28, 2022
Why Are So Many Politicians Embracing Conspiracy Theories?
Conspiratorial thinking has always been attractive in times of uncertainty—but it’s become more mainstream. An expert explains why, and whether anything can be done.
Cynthia S. Wang
![four people stand in a circle, with one speaking and the others reflecting on their statement.](/imager/clientcontent/304911/Full_0422_Unpopular_statements_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/304911/Full_0422_Unpopular_statements_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/304911/Full_0422_Unpopular_statements_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
October 1, 2022
How We Justify Our Unpopular Opinions
The tactic makes controversial views more palatable to others—and has implications for the rampant spread of fake news.
Leonardo Bursztyn, Georgy Egorov, Ingar K. Haaland, Aakaash Rao and Christopher Roth
![group of people protest in shadow of a statue to earlier protestors.](/imager/clientcontent/323769/Full_1022_protest_legacy_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/323769/Full_1022_protest_legacy_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/323769/Full_1022_protest_legacy_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
October 1, 2022
When Do People Protest and When Do They Just Grumble? History Offers Clues.
A tradition of anti-government uprisings can impact communities centuries later.
Meng Miao and Jacopo Ponticelli
![a flag melding china and russia flags](/imager/clientcontent/324836/Full_0922_China_future_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/324836/Full_0922_China_future_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/324836/Full_0922_China_future_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
September 28, 2022
China’s Future Will Reflect Russia’s
China learned from Russia’s post-1991 experience and pursued its economic liberalization with more care. But it ultimately could not avoid the political implications of pro-market policies and is now following Russia down the road to autocracy—continuing a century-long pattern of mirroring its neighbor’s historical trajectory.
Nancy Qian
![two people cut a U.S. map with scissors](/imager/clientcontent/323096/Full_0922_sectarianism_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/323096/Full_0922_sectarianism_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/323096/Full_0922_sectarianism_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
September 6, 2022
One Nation, Too Divided?
Political sectarianism is rampant in the U.S. Three experts discuss whether we can remain united.
Eli J. Finkel, Cynthia S. Wang and James Druckman
![Office with manager and well-appointed subordinate cubicle sharing political affiliation](/imager/clientcontent/321791/Full_0922_political_workplace_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/321791/Full_0922_political_workplace_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/321791/Full_0922_political_workplace_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
September 1, 2022
Could Your Political Views Stymie Your Career?
From being hired to getting a promotion, new research shows you may be penalized for disagreeing politically with the boss.
Emanuele Colonnelli, Valdemar Pinho Neto and Edoardo Teso
![group seated around thanksgiving table with one person hiding behind turkey drumstick](/imager/clientcontent/314760/Full_0722_neutrality_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/314760/Full_0722_neutrality_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/314760/Full_0722_neutrality_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
July 8, 2022
When Political Discussions Get Heated, Is It Best to Just Stay Out of It?
Keeping your head down when hot-button topics arise could come at a cost to your reputation.
Ike Silver and Alex Shaw
![illustration of two people putting ballots into ballot boxes](/imager/clientcontent/310160/Full_0622_Democracies_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/310160/Full_0622_Democracies_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/310160/Full_0622_Democracies_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
June 8, 2022
Take 5: Democracies and How They Thrive
A look at this form of government at a time when democracy is under stress around the world.
Georgy Egorov, Ameet Morjaria, Sandeep Baliga, Nancy Qian and and coauthors
![Political advertisements on television next to polling place](/imager/clientcontent/286515/1121_full_still_political_ads_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/286515/1121_full_still_political_ads_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/286515/1121_full_still_political_ads_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
November 1, 2021
How Much Do Campaign Ads Matter?
Tone is key, according to new research, which found that a change in TV ad strategy could have altered the results of the 2000 presidential election.
Brett Gordon, Mitchell J. Lovett, Bowen Luo and James Reeder
![Donkey and elephant write on computers](/imager/clientcontent/264866/Full_0621_Government_Employees_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/264866/Full_0621_Government_Employees_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/264866/Full_0621_Government_Employees_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
June 1, 2021
Civil Servants Often Work for Administrations They Disagree with Politically. How Does This Affect Their Job Performance?
While the benefits of insulating career bureaucrats are clear, new research explores whether there are downsides, too.
Jörg L. Spenkuch, Edoardo Teso and Guo Xu
![Politician and businessman congratulate each other at party.](/imager/clientcontent/254385/Full_0221_Political_Influence_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/254385/Full_0221_Political_Influence_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/254385/Full_0221_Political_Influence_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
February 1, 2021
Do Powerful Politicians Play Favorites with Their Corporate Friends?
A new study examines the power of public scrutiny to keep high-ranking officials in check.
Quoc-anh Do, Yen-Teik Lee, Bang D. Nguyen and Kieu-Trang Nguyen
![people engage in conflict with swords](/imager/clientcontent/7890/Full_1120_political_sectarianism_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/7890/Full_1120_political_sectarianism_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/7890/Full_1120_political_sectarianism_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
October 29, 2020
The Political Divide in America Goes Beyond Polarization and Tribalism
These days, political identity functions a lot like religious identity.
Eli J. Finkel and Cynthia S. Wang
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