Written by: Matt Grossmann
Primary Source: Michigan Policy Wonk Blog, April 25, 2016
Our weekly round-up of policy-relevant reads and IPPSR-connected research (inspired by John Kingdon (link is external)).
Problems:
- Why the charter school debate has moved beyond ‘better’ or ‘worse.’ (link is external) (link is external)Josh Cowen, IPPSR Affiliate, authored this article at The Conversation.
- The power of a name: MSU economist examines names of black men in 19th, 20th centuries (link is external). IPPSR Affiliate Lisa Cook on Michigan Radio.
- ‘Progress can’t come too quickly’ on new $2.1B bridge to Canada (link is external). Coverage of last week’s IPPSR Public Policy Forum.
Policy:
- Grassroots tactics could improve global environmental policies. (link is external) A new study led by IPPSR Affiliate Meredith Gore focuses on understanding local perception of policies.
- Court says protected area does not extend below parks. (link is external) A new post on Michigan voting on oil and gas drilling by Faculty Affiliate Eric Freedman.
- The dangerous politics of hard promises (link is external). Vox highlights IPPSR Director Matt Grossmann’s work on party asymmetry.
Politics:
- The Rules of Real World Games & the RNC. (link is external) New blog post by IPPSR Affiliated Faculty Bill Dutton.
- Gov. Rick Snyder’s approval rating plummets after Flint water crisis (link is external). IPPSR State of the State Survey results highlighted, including an interview with Director Charles Ballard.
- Bernie Sanders needs superdelegate support to win. There is no sign he’ll get it. (link is external) IPPSR Director Matt Grossmann authored this guest piece on Vox.
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Matt Grossmann serves as the Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and Associate Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University. His research spans national and state policymaking, election campaigns, interest groups, and political parties. His current work explores key differences between major political parties and economic inequality in policy influence. He is the author of Artists of the Possible: Governing Networks and American Policy Change Since 1945, published by Oxford University Press in 2014 and The Not-So-Special Interests: Interest Groups, Public Representation, and American Governance, published by Stanford University Press in 2012. He is author of numerous journal articles on such topics as policy change, political party networks, the legislative process and public opinion. His research appears in the Journal of Politics, Policy Studies Journal, Perspectives on Politics, American Politics Research and other publications. He also writes for blogs and popular media. His roots are also deep in practical politics, especially in candidate training, policy and survey research. His experience includes work at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government, the Institute of Governmental Studies, the Center for Voting and Democracy and the Center for Democracy and Technology. A member of MSU’s faculty since 2007, he is founder and director of the Michigan Policy Network and served as liaison to MSU’s Washington Semester Program. He received his bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College, his master’s in political science in 2002 and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2007. He became IPPSR director in January 2016.

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