![](https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/erik-mclean-cIOwoljvd_Q-unsplash-600x400-1.jpg)
Featured Project
Does reducing stigma increase the take-up of rental assistance?
Subtle language changes in city communications can decrease stigma surrounding the receipt of rental assistance and increase interest in and application requests for city assistance programs.
![Mailboxes with paper sticking out](https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/the-blowup-xBqM6cfgP4U-unsplash-scaled-e1698083446671-1024x831.jpg)
Featured Project
Does the presentation of information affect residents’ response to government communications?
Residents are more likely to act on government communications that use a formal tone and appearance, in part because formality acts as a signal for credibility and importance.
![People in a meeting with one person organizing sticky notes on whiteboard](https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/jason-goodman-Oalh2MojUuk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg)
Featured Project
What predicts policymakers’ decisions to adopt evidence-based strategies?
Organizational inertia may explain why only about 30% of behavioral interventions tested in field experiments end up being adopted by the city department that tested them.
All Projects
![](https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/first-responders-1-1024x681.jpg)
How can public health organizations recruit diverse talent?
We are running a “megastudy” to test over a dozen interventions aimed at recruiting nurses and nursing assistants to Denmark.
![alt=""](https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-09-09-at-4.32.07-PM-1024x553.png)
How do we attract diverse talent to government jobs?
Reframing government job ads changes who is likely to apply for a job in government.
![alt=""](https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/mars-sector-6-IgUR1iX0mqM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg)
How do public service fellowship programs impact fellows’ mindsets and career trajectories?
We are examining how participation in public sector fellowship programs affects fellows’ mindsets and career trajectories.
![](https://peoplelab.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apr18_3_660662684-1024x576.jpeg)
Does simplifying application processes improve recruitment efforts in the public sector?
We analyze factors impacting candidate persistence in a large police department’s recruitment and selection process and show that light-touch nudges can cut lengthy hiring times.
Publications
Search our database of peer-reviewed papers, policy briefs, and reports.