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MARCH 26, 2026 |
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Harvard Kennedy School | | | |
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An adult assists a child with an asthma inhaler. (Photo by Phynart Studio/Getty Images) | | |
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Education, Labor & Training |
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When parents have unstable work conditions, children are more likely to visit the ER for asthma |
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A recent paper co-authored by HKS Professor Daniel Schneider found that when parents are given unpredictable work hours—as in many retail and service jobs—their children are more likely to go to the ER for asthma symptoms, and slightly more likely to have asthma symptoms overall. The study suggests that the stress and instability associated with unpredictable work hours can make it more difficult for parents to manage their children’s chronic conditions. With about five million U.S. children affected by asthma, many from low-income families, the findings highlight how parents’ working conditions may impact children’s health.
See also: Read how adult “navigators” embedded in high-poverty schools can improve outcomes for students.
Learn more about Education, Labor & Training at HKS » | | |
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Democracy & Governance |
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Attitudes towards immigration policy |
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A 50-state survey of over 30,000 Americans conducted over December and January found that overall approval of the United States’ current immigration policy stood at 37%, with attitudes diving sharply along partisan lines. HKS Professor Matthew Baum and colleagues from Northeastern University, Rutgers University, and the University of Rochester, measured attitudes towards immigration policy. Geographically, support is higher in the Northern Plains and Mountain West and lower on the Pacific Coast, with states that have fewer personal connections to immigrants showing greater support for strict enforcement. Consensus increases on specific issues: only 31% support deporting undocumented immigrants who work, hold no criminal records, and have lived in the United States for years, and 59% of respondents support birthright citizenship nationwide.
Learn more about Democracy & Governance at HKS » | | |
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Decision Making & Negotiation |
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A behavioral scientist provides advice for better disagreements |
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HKS Professor Julia Minson studies conversational receptiveness and just published a new book on “disagreeing better.” In a recent conversation with Harvard Magazine, she shared strategies for navigating difficult conversations. Minson says the most common mistake people make going into a disagreement is trying to win. “That usually backfires,” she says. A better approach is to “say out loud that you want to learn.” The words people use when they argue is key, Minson explains: “The research shows that the same ideas land very differently depending on whether they’re wrapped in receptive language or are stated simply as a counterargument. One person’s choice of words can shift the whole exchange.”
See also: Watch Professor Minson's advice on navigating conflict with a mother-in-law.
Learn more about Decision Making & Negotiation at HKS » | | |
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What we're reading |
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The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at HKS announced that it will be awarding $2 million in grants to fund faculty-led projects that address Massachusetts’ biggest challenges. Led by faculty from across Harvard, these projects will involve collaborations with private and public leaders to design, test, and scale solutions to urgent local issues including education, housing, transportation, climate resilience, and infrastructure. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year. | | | | | |
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