Kathleen Bolter, PhD
@kathleenbolter.bsky.social
Political scientist & data viz creator passionate about simplifying complex ideas for leaders & policymakers. I study place-based policy, labor markets, & workforce development.
Portfolio: https://kathleenbolter.com
Portfolio: https://kathleenbolter.com
Not every benefit/cost estimate gives you roughly the proportions of a pencil to visualize. But, the large benefits to Michigan residents in the form of increased earnings by enabling parents to work are a win/win for the populace and design!
February 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Not every benefit/cost estimate gives you roughly the proportions of a pencil to visualize. But, the large benefits to Michigan residents in the form of increased earnings by enabling parents to work are a win/win for the populace and design!
The data show, on average, that each move in this chain is a move “up” to a higher-income neighborhood. Nearly all the effects of these moves occur within five years of a new unit being built, primarily benefiting residents already living in the city where the new construction takes place. (10/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The data show, on average, that each move in this chain is a move “up” to a higher-income neighborhood. Nearly all the effects of these moves occur within five years of a new unit being built, primarily benefiting residents already living in the city where the new construction takes place. (10/10)
Finally, the lowest-income family may or may not be able to move to the low income neighborhood. It is possible the chain reaction ends here if housing is still unaffordable for these families. (9/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Finally, the lowest-income family may or may not be able to move to the low income neighborhood. It is possible the chain reaction ends here if housing is still unaffordable for these families. (9/10)
In turn, the low-income family can afford this neighborhood and moves into the unit previously occupied by the middle-income family. (8/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
In turn, the low-income family can afford this neighborhood and moves into the unit previously occupied by the middle-income family. (8/10)
As that neighborhood is affordable for the middle-income family, they also move, leaving their apartment vacant. (7/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
As that neighborhood is affordable for the middle-income family, they also move, leaving their apartment vacant. (7/10)
This unit is in a neighborhood affordable for the high-income family, so they move into the now-vacant unit, leaving their previous apartment. (6/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This unit is in a neighborhood affordable for the high-income family, so they move into the now-vacant unit, leaving their previous apartment. (6/10)
The highest-income family moves out of their current apartment into the new unit, leaving the previous unit vacant. (5/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The highest-income family moves out of their current apartment into the new unit, leaving the previous unit vacant. (5/10)
A new apartment building is built in a neighborhood affordable for the highest-income family. (4/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
A new apartment building is built in a neighborhood affordable for the highest-income family. (4/10)
Imagine each of our families starts by living in these neighborhoods. (3/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Imagine each of our families starts by living in these neighborhoods. (3/10)
When there are not enough homes for higher-income families, those families compete for homes in which middle- and lower-income families would normally live.
But when new construction happens, this benefits both higher-income and lower-income families. . .(2/10)
But when new construction happens, this benefits both higher-income and lower-income families. . .(2/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
When there are not enough homes for higher-income families, those families compete for homes in which middle- and lower-income families would normally live.
But when new construction happens, this benefits both higher-income and lower-income families. . .(2/10)
But when new construction happens, this benefits both higher-income and lower-income families. . .(2/10)
Housing is a complex ecosystem and my latest explainer for @upjohninstitute.bsky.social illustrates (quite literally) why we need to build more of it.
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
An excerpt from the report, here's a cartoon explaining the chain reaction driving this argument. . .(1/10)
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
An excerpt from the report, here's a cartoon explaining the chain reaction driving this argument. . .(1/10)
February 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Housing is a complex ecosystem and my latest explainer for @upjohninstitute.bsky.social illustrates (quite literally) why we need to build more of it.
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
An excerpt from the report, here's a cartoon explaining the chain reaction driving this argument. . .(1/10)
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
An excerpt from the report, here's a cartoon explaining the chain reaction driving this argument. . .(1/10)
Since this was blowing up my group chats, I was just curious how the rest of the internet felt...
January 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Since this was blowing up my group chats, I was just curious how the rest of the internet felt...
I don’t know why we don’t talk more about this?
The federal government built a social welfare state seemingly overnight and then let everything sunset.
Maybe we should acknowledge that people kinda liked having that safety net? And building this back should be a major policy goal.
The federal government built a social welfare state seemingly overnight and then let everything sunset.
Maybe we should acknowledge that people kinda liked having that safety net? And building this back should be a major policy goal.
January 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I don’t know why we don’t talk more about this?
The federal government built a social welfare state seemingly overnight and then let everything sunset.
Maybe we should acknowledge that people kinda liked having that safety net? And building this back should be a major policy goal.
The federal government built a social welfare state seemingly overnight and then let everything sunset.
Maybe we should acknowledge that people kinda liked having that safety net? And building this back should be a major policy goal.
I am fully committing to this! Waffles for dinner ya’ll!
January 16, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I am fully committing to this! Waffles for dinner ya’ll!
These lessons come from our report "Five Key Lessons for Five Core Groups Shaping Place-based Policy"
If you'd like to read more and see our five key lessons for business leaders, conveners, funders, and researchers you can download the full report:
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
If you'd like to read more and see our five key lessons for business leaders, conveners, funders, and researchers you can download the full report:
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
January 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
These lessons come from our report "Five Key Lessons for Five Core Groups Shaping Place-based Policy"
If you'd like to read more and see our five key lessons for business leaders, conveners, funders, and researchers you can download the full report:
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
If you'd like to read more and see our five key lessons for business leaders, conveners, funders, and researchers you can download the full report:
research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
If California were a country it would be the 6th largest economy in the world. It subsidizes many other states.
Also, a little bit older, but I think clearer map illustrating the imbalance.
Also, a little bit older, but I think clearer map illustrating the imbalance.
January 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
If California were a country it would be the 6th largest economy in the world. It subsidizes many other states.
Also, a little bit older, but I think clearer map illustrating the imbalance.
Also, a little bit older, but I think clearer map illustrating the imbalance.
It’s really hard to communicate complex concepts to a general audience. And real world consequences for not being able to do so.
January 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It’s really hard to communicate complex concepts to a general audience. And real world consequences for not being able to do so.
I’ll just leave this map here for some additional context. . .
January 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I’ll just leave this map here for some additional context. . .
To learn more, and see our recommendations for other core groups you can read our latest convening report here: research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
January 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
To learn more, and see our recommendations for other core groups you can read our latest convening report here: research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcont...
I'm really excited to use a hex map in my next project to prevent "large state visual distortion," but also a little annoyed at how disorganized the U.S. states are east of the Mississippi.
Michigan's position in this line-up is particularly egregious!
Michigan's position in this line-up is particularly egregious!
January 7, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I'm really excited to use a hex map in my next project to prevent "large state visual distortion," but also a little annoyed at how disorganized the U.S. states are east of the Mississippi.
Michigan's position in this line-up is particularly egregious!
Michigan's position in this line-up is particularly egregious!
I didn’t quite get Pantone’s 2025 color of the year at first, but now that we’re a few days into the year…yeah, I totally get how it fits the vibe.
January 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I didn’t quite get Pantone’s 2025 color of the year at first, but now that we’re a few days into the year…yeah, I totally get how it fits the vibe.
I like that they did an infographic for this data, but would have preferred to see some design elements that show that these are negative consequences. For example, some downward arrows or minus signs would have helped ground the numbers without requiring a reading of the descriptions.
January 5, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I like that they did an infographic for this data, but would have preferred to see some design elements that show that these are negative consequences. For example, some downward arrows or minus signs would have helped ground the numbers without requiring a reading of the descriptions.
I just love this example of visual hierarchy in design!
January 3, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I just love this example of visual hierarchy in design!
It could all be purely correlational, but it is really interesting to see this electoral cleavage getting even stronger in the future. (4/5)
January 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
It could all be purely correlational, but it is really interesting to see this electoral cleavage getting even stronger in the future. (4/5)
While at the same time women outpace men in bachelor’s degree attainment. (3/5)
January 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
While at the same time women outpace men in bachelor’s degree attainment. (3/5)