Media Coverage
View coverage of The People Lab’s work.
Featured Media
Interest in government careers dipped after 2025 federal workforce purge, Harvard research finds
The Ripple Effect Of Musk’s Government Purge
Stigma may affect both how people use social safety net benefits and the way programs are designed
All Media
Interest in government careers dipped after 2025 federal workforce purge, Harvard research finds
Following the Trump administration’s federal workforce purge in 2025, Americans’ interest in public sector careers has declined, a Harvard survey found. The survey also showed Americans’ perception of public employees differs based on political affiliation.
What do a firefighter, an ICE agent, and a librarian have in common?
Governments are run by people—from postal workers to election officials to firefighters. Depending on what we call these workers, and where we stand politically, we have different beliefs about their warmth, their integrity, or how competent or innovative we think they are.
Stigma may affect both how people use social safety net benefits and the way programs are designed
Does stigma affect participation in social safety nets? Policymakers and academics have long debated the role of stigma in the social safety net and ways to both improve benefits programs and their use by people who most need them.
Rebuilding state capacity for inclusive economic transformation
Don Moynihan, Jennifer Pahlka, and Elizabeth Linos discuss how governments can best serve their people.
Kennedy School Funds $20,000 Grants to Investigate Early Impacts of Trump Administration
Six Harvard Kennedy School projects received grants of up to $20,000 to research the effects of the second Trump administration on public opinion and democratic institutions. HKS professor Elizabeth Linos will track the misconceptions about public servants and whether they have impacted support or interest in public service.
Simple outreach can help low-income households claim benefits
One question for researchers and policymakers is whether more complex—and more expensive—outreach approaches are more effective than simple, light-touch nudges in getting families to take up benefits.