The Public Policy Center conducts externally funded, academically rigorous and engaged policy-relevant research.
The Crime and Justice Policy Research Program conducts research on the causes and consequences of crime, interpersonal violence, and antisocial behavior. The program also considers the implementation and implications of public policies designed to prevent and control criminal offending.
The Environmental Policy Program considers issues such as water use, pollution and climate change. These challenges are considered from an economic, legal, or policy perspective.
The Health Policy Research Program investigates the effects of policy initiatives and government activities on cost of, access to, and quality of health care systems and their effects on consumers, health care providers, policymakers and businesses across Iowa and the nation.
The Politics and Policy Program conducts research on local, state, national and international government and politics, and how these politics affect the creation of public policy. We also consider whether and to what extent governments “work” and the implications of government design.
The Social and Education Policy Research Program conducts research on education policy, poverty and inequality, housing and regional development, tax policy, and family and child policy.
Transportation & Vehicle Safety Research program works to improve technology design through a better understanding of human behavior. The challenge is to match user needs with the optimal solutions—technological or otherwise.
