Research & Ideas
Discover Harvard research, scholarship, and ideas shaping the world—from science and technology to policy, education, and the humanities.
Jason Furman: Capitalism Is Working. It Could Work Better.
On Open to Debate, the Harvard economist defended free market competition—with meaningful government involvement.
Critique and Joy
Kevin Young’s anthology of African American poetry, from Phillis Wheatley to hip hop
by Elisa New
The Context: Life on the Mesopotamian Marshes—and the Specter of Drought
Past work on water and human intervention
by Jacob Sweet
Under Review: Tony Saich on Chinese Communism at 100
The first century of the Chinese Communist Party—and what impends
Namwali Serpell
The professor of English is also a novelist and a critic.
Harvard Returns to Normal This Fall
University leaders announce that full, in-person operations will resume, with continuing public-health protocols.
Secretaries’ role in history of information
From a huge new book on the history of information, an excerpt on the role of secretaries
Why Petitioning is Vital for Democracies
Petitioning campaigns are a vital complement to democratic voting.
Financial and mental health are linked
Around the globe, Vikram Patel finds, improvements in financial or mental health support both.
Musician and professor Braxton Shelley
A gospel scholar shapes music theory.
by Jacob Sweet
Humanities and democratic discourse belong together
Active citizens are humanists.
by Doris Sommer