TheHarvardStanfordInitiativeonPovertyandInequality

AnElfenworksFoundationProposal DavidGrusky,StanfordUniversity BruceWestern,HarvardUniversity October1,2008

 WeproposeapackageofactivitiesjoiningHarvardandStanfordinauniquecoordinatedeffort tostimulatepublicconversationandpromotenewpolicyinitiativestoreducepovertyand expandopportunity.Thisinitiativewouldjointogethertwoofthemostpowerfuluniversitiesin theworldinaconcertedefforttotakeononeofthemostpressingproblemsofourtime.The boldmessage:thattheusualrivalriesmustbesuspendedonbehalfofahighermissionandthat StanfordandHarvardarepreparedtoassumecenterstageindevelopingandevaluating nationalpolicyonpovertyandinequality. Themomentforundertakingsuchaninitiativecouldnotbemoreurgentinlightofourfaltering economyandgrowingunemployment,thespectacularriseininequality,andanemerging interestamongpoliticalandintellectualopinionleadersinforgingnewpovertyandinequality policythataddressestheseharshrealities.TheHarvardStanfordInitiativewilltapthevast intellectualresourcesofbothinstitutions,offertranscontinentalreach,andleveragethe combinedconveningpowerofbothinstitutionstoofferanationalstagefornotonlystudying theproblemsofpoverty,socialmobility,andopportunityinAmericabutalsoinfluencinghow thoseproblemsareattackedandsolved.TheInitiativewouldjoinStanfordsCenterforthe StudyofPovertyandInequalitytoHarvardsMultidisciplinaryPrograminInequalityandSocial Policy. Wehopetoencourageawiderangingdialoguethatextendsbeyondthegapbetweenrichand poortoincludetheproblemsofeconomicinsecurity,thechallengeofsocialcohesioninan increasinglydiversesociety,andultimately,thequalityofAmericandemocracy.TheInitiative willsupportfourinterrelatedprograms:nationaltaskforcestoinvestigatepressingproblems pertainingtoAmericanpovertyandsocialinequality,asocialpolicylaboratorythatpromotes sciencebasedevaluationsandpolicyinnovationsthatexpandeconomicopportunityandsocial mobility,aprogramofgraduateandundergraduateinternshipsthatsupportthenationaltask forcesandthesocialpolicylaboratorywhilealsotrainingnewpolicymakers,andaseriesof executiveroundtablestofosterexchangesbetweenresearchers,policymakers,andopinion leaders.

TaskForces ThecoreactivityoftheInitiativewillbetoconvenethematictaskforcesthattakeonpressing nationalproblemsthatarebestaddressedandsolvedthroughconcertedstudy,research,and analysis.ThetaskforceswillconsistofleadingscholarsfromHarvard,Stanford,andother universitiesandinstituteswhowillworktogetheronshorttermandlongtermprojects addressingthechallengesofpovertyandinequality. Weexpectthetaskforcestoconvenemeetings,organizepublicevents,initiateresearch,and, mostimportantly,todeliver,disseminate,andimplementreportsandassociatedpolicy recommendations.Thetaskforceswillbechargedwithdevelopingpolicythatisresolutely sciencebasedandwillaccordinglyfunctionsimilarlytoNationalAcademyofSciencepanelsby providingauthoritativeanalysesofthestateofscientificresearch,conductingnewresearch, anddrawingouttheimplicationsofsuchresearchforpolicy.WhiletheNationalAcademies haveconvenedmanysuperbsocialsciencepanels,thereisnostandingcommitteechargedwith adirectfocusonpovertyandinequality.TheHarvardStanfordInitiativewillfillthisgapbutwill gofurtherbyengagingthepolicyprocessinadirectwayandbyenlistingstudentsand policymakersinrelatedactivities.Thetaskforceswillframeresearchonpovertyandinequality inawaythatwilldevelopandinformpolicyaswellasfosterpubliccommunicationand outreachbypromotingdialoguewithelectedofficials,communityleaders,andopinionmakers. Thetaskforcetopicswillbeselectedbyaninternaladvisoryboardconsistingofasmallnumber offacultyfrombothinstitutions.Wewillalsodevelopinformaltiestopolicymakers,political leaders(ofbothparties),lobbyists,foundations,andotheropinionleaderstoassistin disseminatingresults,tofacilitateadvanceleaksofourfindingsandrecommendations,to securesupplementaryfundingfortaskforcetopicsthatrequiresubstantialsupporting research,andtobuildrelationswithsympatheticcongressionalleaders. Thesuccessofthisinitiativeultimatelystandsorfallsonthewisechoiceoftopics.The problemsthatareselectedmustofcoursebeespeciallypressingandofferthepotentialfor policyinitiativeswithbroadandsubstantialbenefitstothecountry.Inpractice,thiswillnotjust requiretakingonproblemsforwhichtherelevantscienceis(orcouldbe)developed,butalso onesthatcanyieldsolutionsthatattracttherequisitepoliticalsupport.Althoughwedontwant toprejudgeanydecisionsinthisregard,alistofpotentialtopicsmightincludeviolenceand urbaninequality,povertyandmobilityamongnewimmigrants,theeconomicinsecurityof Americanfamilies,opportunitiesforcollegeattendanceamongthepoor,healthcareaccessfor thepoorunduninsured,housingpolicyandtheriseofnewformsofhomelessness,unplanned pregnanciesandpoverty,andpoliticalparticipationandpoliticalinfluenceamongrichand poor.Thesetopics,whichareelaboratedbelow,wouldrangebeyondanarrowfocuson economicproblemstoincludethesocialandpoliticaldimensionsofinequality. Urbanviolence:Despiteadeclineincrimesincetheearly1990s,seriousviolenceremainsa significantprobleminpoorurbanneighborhoods,anditmaywellgainnewimpetusaslarge numbersofrecentlyincarceratedmennowreturntohighcrimecommunities.Thepurposeofa 2

taskforceonurbanviolencewouldbetoreexaminethecurrentbalancebetweenpunitive criminaljusticeandpublicsafety.Atpresent,thediscussionofurbanviolenceismiredin narrowgaugeconsiderationsofpolicingandimprisonment,whereasataskforcecouldrefocus thediscussiononhowthecriminaljusticesystemmightberefashionedtodelivereconomic securityandsocialintegration. Housingandthepoor:Theongoinghousingandfinancialcrisiswillalmostsurelyreduce opportunitiesforhomeownershipamongthepoor,nearpoor,andworkingpoor.Inthe understandablerushtofindshorttermfinancialfixes,suchconcreteproblemshavebeenall butignored,andahousingdisasterforthepoorandnearpoorislooming.Thejobofforginga comprehensivehousingpolicy,onethataddresseshowthepoorandnearpoorwillbehoused intheabsenceofaffordablemortgages,iswellsuitedtoataskforceformat. Immigrationandthelabormarket:Althoughtherehasbeenmuchdebateabouthowtobetter incorporatepoorimmigrants,thisdebatehasbeendeeplypoliticizedandevidencebasedpolicy proposalshavebeennotablyabsent.Thepurposeofataskforceonthistopicwouldbeto recastsuchhighlypoliticizeddiscussionintoadispassionateassessmentoftheproblemsand howtheymightbesolved,drawingonwhatweknowaboutthestructureoftheimmigrant populationandthewaysinwhichimmigrantshaveinthepast(andinothercountries)been successfullyintegratedintothelabormarket. Economicinsecurity:Thedramaticdevelopmentofthelast35yearshasbeentheshearing awayofinstitutionsthatonceprotectedworkersfromeconomicinsecurity(e.g.,unions, minimumwage,unemploymentinsurance).Thechallengethatemergesinthiscontextisthatof buildingnewsecurityprovidinginstitutions(orreformingexistingones)thatraiseproductivity, increaseemployment,andprovideprotectionagainstthemostcostlyformsofpoverty.Given thecurrenteconomiccrisis,wecanbesurethatmajorlabormarketreformsofsomesortwill beproposed,andtheroleofataskforcewouldbetoensurethatsuchreformsare comprehensiveratherthanpiecemealandsciencebasedratherthanpartisanandideological. Educationandthepoor:ItiswellknownthattheU.S.economyincreasinglyrequiresahighly educatedlaborforce,yetthemarkethasprovenunabletomeetthisneed,inlargepart becausepoorchildrencontinuetobeeducatedinshockinglypoorprimaryandsecondary schoolsandareaccordinglyillpreparedforcollegeeducation.Thissupplysidebottleneck preservesmassivedifferentialsinpaybetweeneducatedanduneducatedlaborandgenerates muchpoverty,crime,andincarcerationamongthosewhoarelockedoutofhighereducation anditsrewards.Hereagain,thedebateabouthowtoequalizeopportunitiesforeducationhas beendeeplyideological,andthereisapressingneedforanonpartisantaskforcethatcan deliveracomprehensive,evidencebasedreformpackagebasedonwhatworksandwhat doesnt. Democratizingpoliticalparticipation:TheAmericanexperimentwithdemocracyisfoundering becausethepoorhaveaweakenedvoice.Althoughaformalpoliticalequalityofcourseobtains (intheformofonevoteperperson),inpracticethatformalequalityconcealsmuchinequality 3

achievedthroughlobbying,influencebuying,cronyism,votesuppression,incarceration,and thelike.Ifataskforceaddressingthisproblemwerecommissioned,itcouldlayoutthe contoursofcontemporarydecisionmakingandinfluencewieldinganddevelopsimple institutionalreformsthatwouldallowouroriginaldemocraticconceptiontobebetterrealized. Unplannedpregnancies:NearlyonehalfofallpregnanciesintheU.S.,andthreequartersof pregnanciestounmarriedwomenareunintended,withmostoftheseoccurringtolowincome womenwithoutacollegedegree.Theadverseeffectsonchildrenwhentheirownbirthwas unplannedhavebeenshowntobesubstantial.Theteenbirthratehasdeclinedinrecentyears, butunplannedpregnanciestoyoungadultsremaincommon,withthemainproximatecause beinginconsistentcontraception.Whileideologicaldebatesrageaboutwhetherorwhattype ofsexeducationshouldbeprovided,welacksolid,nonpartisanevidenceaboutwhatkeeps couplesfromcontraceptingwhenpregnancyisnotwanted.Ataskforcecouldconductand reviewresearchthatwouldleadtoworkableinterventionsthatdecreaseunplanned pregnancies. Healthcarereform:Thehealthneedsofthepoorcurrentlygounmetorareaddressedinways thatarenotcosteffective(e.g.,emergencyrooms)andthatreducetheproductivityofthepoor andthegrossnationalproductofthecountry.Itisnotthepooralonethatsufferfromour undevelopedhealthcaresystem.Thenonpooralsopaythroughhighertaxes,economic inefficiencies,andaloweredgrossnationalproduct.Becausehealthcarereformisagain viewedthroughahighlypartisanandideologicalprism,thepurposeofagoldribbon,expert taskforceonhealthcareandthepoorwouldbetorecasttheproblemsinnonpartisanterms andshowhowsimpletechnicalandadministrativereformsmightaddressthem. Theforegoingareofcoursemerelyexamplesofthetypesoftopicsthatmightbetakenon.The maintaskoftheinternaladvisoryboardwillbetocullthroughthemanysuchpossibletopics andfindthosethataremostlikelytobenefitfromataskforceinitiative.

LaboratoryforSocialPolicyEvaluationandInnovation WealsoproposetoestablishaLaboratoryforSocialPolicyEvaluationandInnovation.The Laboratorywillhaveadualmission:toevaluateexistingpovertyandinequalityinterventions; andtodevelopinnovative,theoryguidedproposalsintendedtotakepolicyinnewandmore promisingdirections. Thefirstmissionaddressestheproblemofrapidlyproliferatingprogramevaluationsinanti povertypolicyoverthelastdecadeandtheconsequentdifficultyincharacterizingthecurrent stateofknowledge.Wewilltakeonthatproblembycommissioningeffortstosummarizeand consolidatepolicyknowledgeinasystematicandaccessibleway.Becausethefieldofpolicy evaluationisdominatedbyspecializedexpertswhooftenaredisconnectedfrompublic debates,theLaboratorywillfocusoncommissioningandpublishingevaluationstudiesthatare notjustofthehighestscholarlyqualitybutalsoarewrittenandpositionedinwaysthatallow forwidespreadpublicdistributionandimpact.Thesestudiesinvariablywillbepublishedas booksandarticles(inPathwaysandothervenues),butinmanycasesmultimediaproductions alsooffergreatpotential.Althoughwehaventbudgetedforthecostsofdevelopingand disseminatingmultimediaproductions,wehopethatspinoffgrantsmightmakesuchefforts possible. Thesecondmissiondevelopinginnovativenewpolicyproposalsismotivatedbytheoften limitedscopeandadhoccharacterofconventionalpovertyandinequalityinterventions.Ifthe firstmissionrespondstotheneedforgoldstandardevaluationsofexistingpolicy,thesecond missionrecognizesthatinsomedomainsexistingpolicyisexceedinglyweakandthat developingnewpolicy,ratherthanevaluatingexistingpolicy,isthemorepressingneed.We suspectthatmanyofthenewproposalsincubatedinourlaboratorymaynotbesuitablefor immediateimplementationbutwillshapepublicconversation,identifyoverlookedpolicy problems,andofferpromisingnewdirectionsforpolicydevelopment.Theobjectivewouldnot betoofferincrementalchangestotheexistinglandscape,buttolaunchnewideasinpolicy debatesandtochallengeanyconventionalwisdomthatisnotsciencebased.Thelaboratory willoperatebycommissioningpolicyproposals,ofteninareasrelatedtothetaskforcethemes, fromresearcherswithdeepsubstantiveknowledgeofparticularfields.Theproposalswouldbe authoredbyscholarsfromthroughoutthecountry.Althoughtheresearchersthemselvesmay nothavepublicpolicybackgrounds,becauseoftheirstrongsubstantiveexpertisetheymaylay outnewpolicydirectionsthatdivergefromentrenchedperspectivesandchallengetheir constituencies.TheLaboratorywould,withasmuchfanfareandpublicityaspossible,release booksandarticles(oftenpublishedinPathways)anddistributethemtoelectedofficials, policymakers,opinionleaders,andthegeneralpublic. TheproblemstakenonbytheLaboratorywillagainbeselectedbyourinternaladvisoryboard consistingofasmallnumberoffacultyfrombothinstitutions.Thisboardwillthereforebe chargedwithchoosinginitiativesthatarecrucialtothefateofthepovertystrickenandthe country.Again,weshouldntprejudgethedecisionsthatwouldbemadebythisboard,but possibletopicsincludeprogramsforprisonersreenteringcommunities,newformsofpublic 5

decisionmakinganddeliberationtoexpandpoliticalvoiceandparticipation,asocialinsurance schemeforthenewhighturnoverAmericanlabormarket,aproposaltoexpandtheEarned IncomeTaxCredit,acomprehensiveevaluationoftheHarlemChildrensZone(whichistobethe centerpieceofObamaspovertyinitiative),andthedevelopmentofsavingsplansforthepoverty stricken.

HarvardStanfordFellows TheInitiativewillenlistthebroaderuniversitycommunitybyestablishingstudentinternships calledHarvardStanfordFellowsthatplacegraduatesandundergraduatesfromthetwo institutionsinresearchandservicepositionsinfieldsrelatedtotheworkofthetaskforcesand policylaboratory.Thefellowswillbeintegratedintotheworkofthetaskforcesorpolicy laboratorybyreportingbacktheirexperiencesandtherebyofferingauniqueviewfromthe field.If,forexample,theLaboratorysoughttoevaluatetheHarlemChildrensZone,the scholarsinvolvedinthiseffortmightchoosetousegraduateandundergraduatestudentsfrom thetwoinstitutionstocarryoutsystematicethnographicandquantitativeanalysesofhow childrenhavefaredunderthatinitiative. Thetwoprongedbenefit,then,oftheFellowsprogramisthat(a)itprovidesthecruciallabor powerneededtoundertakesystematicevaluationsandanalyses,and(b)itexpandsgraduate andundergraduateresearchopportunitiesandincreasesstudentcontactwithseniorfaculty frombothinstitutions.Becausestudentsonlyrarelyhaveopportunitiestobecomeinvolvedin suchhighprofileventures,itwillbepossibletobeextremelyselectiveandthusrecruit unusuallyableandskilledstudents,oneswhowillproveinvaluabletothetaskforceand laboratoryscholars. ExecutiveRoundtableSeries TheInitiativewillconveneexecutiveroundtablesthatpublicizeanddisseminatethefindings fromthenationaltaskforcesandthepolicylaboratory.Thesewillbesmallcloseddoor meetingsthatputpolicymakers,communityrepresentatives,keymediafigures,and researcherstogethertoshareinformation,exchangeperspectives,anddiscusspolicyproposals. Theroundtableswillgiveresearchersopportunitiestohearvoicesfromthefieldasdifferent publicactorssharetheirexperiencesandengagewiththeresearchcommunity.The researchers,eitherauthorsofLaboratorypolicyproposalsorleadersofthenationaltaskforces, willhavetheopportunitytotesttheirideaswiththoseingovernmentandnonprofit organizations.ThecollaborativecharacteroftheInitiativeagainincreasesitsdrawingpower andgeneratesapowerfulandcaptivatingnationalstage. Theobjective,then,oftheroundtablesistwofold:themeetingsare,firstandforemost,aforum forstrategizingabouthowthepolicyrecommendationsmightbeimplementedandpublicized; butsecondlytheyalsobecomemediaeventsinthemselvesandhenceaprominentstartforthe nationalrollout.Wearecommittedtomarketingthetaskforceandlaboratoryresultsina exceedinglyprominentway,notjusttopolicy,foundation,andopinionleadersaswellasthe mediaelite,butalsotoageneralpublicthat,increasingly,canbereacheddirectly(viawebsites, videos,andblogs).

AnticipatedOutcomes Thetwomainactivities,thetaskforcesandthepolicylab,willdeliverawiderangeofproducts, onlysomeofwhichwerediscussedabove.Intheend,oneofcoursehopesthatthetaskforces andpolicylaboratorywillgeneraterecommendationsthataresuccessfullyimplemented,yet wefocushereontheintermediaryoutputsthataremorestraightforwardlymeasured. Research:ThetaskforcesandpolicylaboratorywillpublishpapersinPathwaysandother magazinesandjournalsandpublishbooksinthenewStanfordUniversityPressbookseriesas wellasothervenues.Wewillalsoworkwiththecommunicationsofficeandperiodicalsatboth institutionstobringaboutthewidestpossibledisseminationofresearchresults.Wewill exploitourtiestomajorfoundationleaders,policymakers,andotheropinionleaderstosecure publicityinprominentmediaoutlets. Roundtables:Theroundtableswillbepairedwithacarefullychoreographedmediacampaignto publicizethetaskforceandLaboratoryfindingsandproposals.Whenaninitiativeisreadyfor dissemination,wewilltypicallyproceedbyfirstleakingtheresultstoopinionleaderswith influenceoverkeyfoundationsorthinktanks,thepopularmedia,thecurrentadministration, Congress,andnationalscienceorganizations.Theroundtablesthemselveswillalsobewidely publicizedandservetounveilthefindingsandrecommendations. Graduateandundergraduateeducation:Thetaskforcesandpolicylaboratorywillprovideon thejobtrainingfortopgraduateandundergraduatestudentsatHarvardandStanford.The opportunitytobeinvolvedindomesticpolicyevaluationatthehighestlevelswilldrawsomeof ourmostcapablestudentsintothepovertyandinequalityfieldandprovidethemwithunique training.Thecadreofstudentscomingoutofthisprogramwill,wesuspect,bepoisedtomake substantialadditionalcontributionsintheyearsahead. Policy:Themainoutcomeofinterestisofcoursetheanticipatedpolicyeffect.Theprevailing viewintheUnitedStatesisthatuniversitiesproducebasicresearchwhilelobbyists,lawyers, andstaffersareresponsibleforpolicy.Thisformulaisadistinctivelyandidiosyncratically Americanone.AlthoughsomeacademicsintheUnitedStatesbecomepoliticiansandadvisors topoliticians,therearerelativelyfewinstitutionalchannelsinthiscountrythroughwhichpolicy isinformedbycareful,nonpartisan,andscientificresearch.Theunfortunateresultisthat fundamentalpolicydecisionsintheUnitedStatesaremadeonthebasisofideologyratherthan scienceandonbehalfofspecialinterestsratherthanabroaderpublicinterest.TheHarvard StanfordInitiativewillestablishanewinstitutionalframeworkbringingthepolicyandresearch worldstogetherinamoreproductiveway.

Funding AlthoughresourcesfromTheElfenworksFoundationwouldsupportthemainworkofthetask forces,wewillalsostrivetopartnerwithotherinstitutionsandfundersthatmightsupplement theseefforts.Wehaveheld,forexample,preliminarydiscussionswiththeAmericanAcademy ofArtsandScienceonapossiblesharedinitiativeincrimeandurbaninequality.Also,theTobin Project,directedbyProfessorDavidMossatHarvardBusinessSchool,willlikelyinitiaterelated workoneconomicinsecuritythatcouldbeenhancedbyaHarvardStanfordpartner.Wewillbe pursuingothersupplementaryfundingsourcesaswell.PleasecontactElfenworksat www.elfenworks.org/contact.htmlifyouwouldliketohelpsupportthisinitiative. PreliminaryTimetable ThereismuchenthusiasmforthisinitiativewithinHarvardandStanford,andfacultyatboth institutionsarepreparedtocapitalizeonararepoliticalmomentandmoveforwardquickly. StanfordsCenterfortheStudyofPovertyandInequalityprovidesasuperbplatformonthe westcoastforthesecollaborativeendeavors,andwearehopefulthataparallelcapacitycanbe developedatHarvard. Althoughitwouldbeprematureandpresumptuoustodrawatimetablenow,insofarasan agreementisreachedquicklyitshouldbefeasibletoappointafirstsetoftaskforcesandeven someHarvardStanfordfellowsinearly2009.TheExecutiveRoundtablescouldbeginassoonas thefirstsetoftaskforcerecommendationsappear,andthePolicyLaboratorycouldlikelybegin operationinearly2009aswell. TheobjectiveistobecomeoperationalasanewU.S.administrationassumespowerand therebytakeadvantageofthehistoricopportunitytoshapepovertyandinequalitypolicy. Throughouttherolloutperiod,weanticipateacarefulpublicrelationscampaigntoexploitthe naturallyhighprofileofthisuniqueHarvardStanfordinitiative,andthetimingoftherollout mightevenbeguided,albeitjustatthemargins,bysuchconsiderations.