Work by Fletcher, Barcellos cited in President Biden’s Economic Report

As a testament to the quality of research taking place at La Follette and its direct impact on policymaking at the highest levels, La Follette faculty members Jason Fletcher and Silvia Barcellos were cited in the Economic Report of the President that was delivered to congress on January 10.

Portrait of Jason Fletcher, Professor of Public Affairs
Jason Fletcher

Fletcher’s 2022 working paper, “The Long Run Impacts of Court-Ordered Desegregation,” was featured in the report’s chapter, “The K-12 Education System: Economic Impacts and Opportunities for Innovation.”

Fletcher and his research team found that Black Americans who were young when school desegregation was implemented in their county of birth experienced large improvements in economic outcomes as adults compared to Black Americans who were older when a court order was locally implemented.

This study provided the most comprehensive national assessment to date on the impacts of court-ordered desegregation and strongly indicated that these policies were highly effective at improving the long-term socioeconomic outcomes for many Black students who experienced integrated schools.

“It is an honor to be cited in President Biden’s economic report that could potentially lead to policy improvements,” Fletcher said. “My hope with all my work is that it helps inform evidence-based policymaking and ultimately improves public health and socioeconomic conditions.”

The research cited in the economic report is part of a broader research agenda Fletcher is currently working on that uses extensive data from the 20th century to connect exposures to specific laws, programs, or policies to long-term health outcomes. This research will be synthesized into a book documenting how early life conditions and policies shape longevity in the United States.

Portrait of Silvia Barcellos
Silvia Barcellos

Barcellos’ 2015 paper, “The Effects of Medicare on Medical Expenditure Risk and Financial Strain,” was featured in the report’s chapter, “Expanding and Strengthening U.S. Health Insurance Coverage.” One of La Follette’s newest faculty members who joined the faculty in fall 2024, Barcellos brings a highly regarded and impactful research agenda to the school.

“I was drawn to La Follette largely due to its commitment to putting policy research into practice at all levels of government,” Barcellos said. “I share this commitment, so it is gratifying to see some of my work referenced at the federal level in such a potentially impactful way.”

Barcellos and Fletcher are both core faculty members in the La Follette School’s Initiative in Social Genomics, which integrates social science and genetic research to study how genes are linked with human behavior and socio-economic outcomes, how genes and environments interact, and how social conditions can influence humans all the way down to the molecular level.

It is one of the world’s largest and most innovative collaboratives in the emerging field rapidly expanding the capabilities of social science research.


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