Nov 2024
Policy Experiment Stations to Accelerate State and Local Government Innovation
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) published this memo about strategies for building capacity and accelerating state and local government innovation.
Each year the federal government transfers approximately $1.1 trillion to state and local governments. Yet, most states and localities rarely evaluate whether these funds are actually improving their communities.
Recent research points to a powerful solution: fostering partnerships between government agencies and local universities—something we specialize in at the University of Chicago Crime Lab and the University of Chicago Education Lab.
This policy brief outlines an exciting vision for “Policy Experiment Stations.” These stations are designed to revolutionize how state and local governments leverage evidence and data to drive innovation and address critical challenges.
This memo is part of the Federation of American Scientists’ larger effort to champion bold, science-driven ideas that can help build a more prosperous, equitable, and safe future for all.
Latest Updates
Curbing gun violence in Chicago doesn’t require that we first end poverty
Crime Lab leaders Katie Hill and Jens Ludwig penned an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune highlighting the root causes of gun violence and the growing body of research showing that increased neighborhood vibrancy generates surprisingly large changes in the prevalence of gun violence, by as much as 30%.
A fighting chance
In The University of Chicago Magazine’s Fall ’25 issue, Susie Allen profiles Crime Lab Pritzker Director Jens Ludwig to discuss his book, “Unforgiving Places,” which challenges conventional wisdom on gun violence and suggests new approaches to solving the problem.
Researchers: Violence intervention and policing should complement, not compete against, each other
The Crime Lab’s Executive Director Katie Hill and Pritzker Director Jens Ludwig discuss evidence-based solutions to crime, including violence intervention and data-driven policing, in an op-ed for the Chicago Tribune.