Douglas N. Harris

@douglasharris9.bsky.social

Tulane, Professor and Chair, Department of Economics.
Director, REACH Center
Director, State of the Nation Project
Editor, AEFP LIve Handbook of Education Policy Research

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Doug Harris may refer to:Doug Harris (athlete) (1919–1996), New Zealand runner Doug Harris (cricketer), Australian cricketer Doug Harris (Neighbours), a fictional character on Australian soap opera Neighbours Douglas Harris, Canadian former field hockey player .. more

Education 78%

Political science 6%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Douglas N. Harris

Dana Goldstein @danagoldstein.bsky.social · 14d

A few months ago, I started to hear from history teachers that the curriculum materials they’d used for years were being pulled from the market, or they were not being allowed to use them because of political pressures. My investigation of this trend published today: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...

How Politics Is Changing the Way History Is Taught

www.nytimes.com

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · 19d

Thanks so much. And @annenberginstitute.bsky.social created a great summary, too.

Annenberg Institute @annenberginstitute.bsky.social · 19d

📢 #EdWorkingPapers: Universal school vouchers are reshaping the private school market.

🔍 Using national data, @douglasharris9.bsky.social & Gabriel Olivier find vouchers boosted private school enrollment by 3–4% and raised tuition 5–10%.

📄 Full paper here: edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1293

Reposted by Douglas N. Harris

Annenberg Institute @annenberginstitute.bsky.social · 19d

Reposted by Joshua Goodman, C. Kirabo Jackson

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Oct 8

I'm truly honored by this. APPAM is a terrific organization and I'm indebted to many of its outstanding members who are having their own impact on policy analysis and management. Thanks so much to everyone.

APPAM @appam.bsky.social · Oct 7

We congratulate the 2025 Policy Field Distinguished Contribution Award winner, Douglas N. Harris from Tulane University. This award honors a person who has made significant & long-term contributions to public policy analysis & management as a field. Learn more: https://ow.ly/oAg950X77Cy

Reposted by Joshua Goodman, Douglas N. Harris

APPAM @appam.bsky.social · Oct 7

Reposted by Douglas N. Harris

Jonathan Haidt @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social · Sep 26

Chart from "The Anxious Generation." How do we reverse this? We get young people to stop spending 5-9 hours a day on social media and video games, and we get them back to real life.

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Sep 26

Nice article, Matt. This was exactly what we (espec Huriya Jabbar) found in New Orleans with charters. Many competitive responses were superficial (at least non-academic).

It's WSJ's loss having you leave but will be glad to have you (hopefully) report more on research again @chalkbeat.org

Reposted by Adam Gamoran, Douglas N. Harris

Zahava Stadler @zahavastadler.bsky.social · Sep 12

Really valuable work by @douglasharris9.bsky.social and Gabriel Oliver on how #schoolvouchers are transforming the private school landscape (even as #publiced advocates are largely focused on how they affect public school systems). www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/u...

Voucher Push Is Reshaping Private School Education, Study Finds

www.nytimes.com

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Sep 12

Many thanks, Larry. This is one of a series we're doing on vouchers, nationally.

Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · Sep 12

Great work, @douglasharris9.bsky.social ——- Voucher Push Is Reshaping Private School Education, Study Finds www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/u... gift link

Dr. Harris, the lead author of the paper, argued that spending taxpayer dollars on private education and home-schooling upends several core traditions of American public education, including public governance and the separation of church and state.

Because private school enrollment increased by about 35,000 students in states that adopted universal education savings accounts — while an additional half-a-million students used vouchers across the country — the data suggest that the “lion’s share” of voucher recipients were already attending private schools before the new accounts became available, Dr. Harris said.
The new research echoes data from Arizona, which began providing universal access to education savings accounts in 2022. Initially, the vast majority of recipients were already enrolled in private school, but that share decreased over time, and is now down to about 45 percent of new participants in the program. Still, uptake has been highest in some of the state’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Reposted by Douglas N. Harris

Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · Sep 12

Great work, @douglasharris9.bsky.social ——- Voucher Push Is Reshaping Private School Education, Study Finds www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/u... gift link

Reposted by Adam Gamoran

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Aug 26

JOB ALERT. Looking for an Assoc Dir for Comms, Fin, and Ops at Tulane to help lead all of my major initiatives: ERA-NOLA, REACH Center, AEFP Live Handbook, and State of the Nation Project. Exciting possibilities. Leadership exp a must. Remote work possible. Apply: lnkd.in/gzyUk3fz

Tulane Staff Positions

lnkd.in

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Aug 18

This is a big problem. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

A Nation of Lawyers Confronts China’s Engineering State

As the Chinese economy surges forward, the U.S. has lost its capacity for physical improvement.

www.theatlantic.com

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Aug 17

One of our favorite bars/restaurants in #NewOrleans is closing in part because of Trump's tariffs--that's right from the owner's mouth.

I'm not going to say which place to avoid having wrath brought down on them before they close.

This is what aimless #tariffs do to the #economy

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Aug 3

Someone I'm close to lives in Latin America w/ his wife & kids. They were planning to move to the U.S. for all our opportunities. Now they are too afraid to come.

Some would say preference skilled workers. OK, 1 is an engineer, 1 a small business owner.

This is what we've wrought.

Reposted by Christian Odendahl, Margaret Mitchell, Richard S.J. Tol , and 46 more Christian Odendahl, Margaret Mitchell, Richard S.J. Tol, Brian A. Nosek, Brian M. Lucey, Axel Bruns, Brady T. West, Jennifer A. Richeson, Pamela Samuelson, Timothy J. Bartik, Albert Weale, Stefano DellaVigna, Tomasz Mickiewicz, Andreas Ortmann, Jonathan Parker, Samuel L. Perry, Michael A. Clemens, Matthias Doepke, Jamie Morgan, Caroline Krafft, Monika Schnitzer, Victor A. Matheson, David Rothschild, Dirk Pilat, Michael W. Klein, Philip Nel, Emilio Zagheni, Peter Tulip, Tuomas Mattila, Kevin Carey, Daniel Stone, Daniel Aaron, Jussi T. Eronen, Silvia Secchi, Robert Wolfe, Aaron Sojourner, Rita Hamad, Dominique Meurs, Erol Akçay, Douglas N. Harris, Brian Keegan, Laura Hospido, Xavier Molénat, Brandon Whitcher, Jukka Savolainen, Adam Sacarny, Oliver Nachtwey, Pierre Courtioux, Antonio Fatás

Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · Aug 2

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

August 1, 2025
AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the American Economic Association on the
Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner

Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today.
The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day.
Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias.
The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity.
Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions.
We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure.

Lawrence Katz
President, American Economic Association
Katharine Abraham
President-Elect, American Economic Association
Karen Dynan
Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics
Kenneth Troske
Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

Reposted by David Levinson, Stephen P. Jenkins, Timothy J. Bartik , and 11 more David Levinson, Stephen P. Jenkins, Timothy J. Bartik, Michael A. Clemens, Jesse Rothstein, Lars Vilhuber, Guy Grossman, Joshua Goodman, Aaron Sojourner, Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, Douglas N. Harris, Michael J. Hicks, Cullen S. Hendrix, Goldie Blumenstyk

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 1

Dr. Erika McEntarfer has devoted her career to public service. She has conducted herself as BLS Commissioner with great integrity. There is no evidence whatsoever that BLS data are politically biased.

#econsky

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Aug 1

Many thanks Sean and EFP. Unfortunately, with declining enrollments, more closures are coming. Some useful lessons in the paper about how to make the best of these difficult situations. Related commentary here: www.edweek.org/leadership/o...

Reposted by Douglas N. Harris

Jonathan Haidt @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social · Jul 29

The average young person today is on course to spend 25 years of their life on their phone. (Plus more on other screens.) Most of them don't want to live this way, but feel trapped.

How about we delay giving smartphones and tablets till at least 14?

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

Embarrassing indeed. It's great to see Goldin working with the players on this; and seeing through the subterfuge & accounting games.

Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · Jul 22

Gift version of Goldin’s NYT column

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/o...

Reposted by Mark E. Schaffer, Douglas N. Harris

Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · Jul 22

Gift version of Goldin’s NYT column

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/o...

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

Each of these projects has been a team effort. Too many people to even tag. (I think 250+ people have been directly involved.) If you're one of them, thank you. It's been a real pleasure working with you. This also gives me hope that we can use data & research to help dig out of our various messes.

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

State of the Nation Project (launched in Feb.). We built a progress report for the country across a wide variety of dimensions--from the economy and education to mental and physical health. Incredible bipartisan, cross-disciplinary board repr 8 leading national think tanks. See: stateofnation.org

The State of the Nation Project: Assessing America's Progress

How's America doing? State of the Nation provides objective, data-driven reports on US progress across key areas. Explore expert insights and public opinion on national well-being.

stateofnation.org

Reposted by Gema Zamarro

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

AEFP Live Handbook (launched in March). Objective, rigorous, comprehensive, useful, & timely research abt #EducationPolicy for policymakers, journalists & researchers. 8,000+ users & 50+ chapters already w/ key conclusions abt #ECE, #Schools, & #HigherEd. Stellar editorial board. livehandbook.org

Evidence-Based Education Policy Research | Live Handbook

Explore evidence-based education policy research at our digital hub. Access data-driven insights to improve learning outcomes and shape effective policies.

livehandbook.org

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

REACH: Our IES center grant on #SchoolChoice nationwide is ending but this is just the start for REACH. With additional research funding, we're turning our attention to the rapid expansion of universal #vouchers & #ESAs. First report on that next month. See more REACH work here: reachcentered.org

Homepage | REACH

The mission of REACH is to provide objective, rigorous, and applicable research that informs and improves school choice policy design and implementation to increase opportunities and outcomes for disa...

reachcentered.org

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

ERA-New Orleans: This is the 20th anniv of #HurricaneKatrina. Hard to believe. We've released 50+ reports about the resulting school reforms. A new report last month provides an integrated summary of them all. See the anniversary report here: educationresearchalliancenola.org

Home

educationresearchalliancenola.org

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

It's been such an action-packed year for me already that I'm doing my "year end" in July. I'm especially excited about some of my new initiatives that you probably haven't heard about. (Yes, I keep adding things without subtracting much. It's an issue.) Here are some updates:

Douglas N. Harris @douglasharris9.bsky.social · Jul 22

Many thanks, Dan. Right back atcha.

Glad to re-engage. I haven't been even on Twitter for much of the past year. Did I miss anything? Anything exciting going on in the world? Sigh...

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