Social Sciences

Explore faculty and student work in economics, sociology, political science, anthropology, and other disciplines shaping our understanding of society.

America’s National Parks Are a $56 Billion Economic Engine

Harvard’s Linda Bilmes on measuring the economic value of public lands

by Olivia Farrar

Excerpt from "Slow Medicine: The Way to Healing," by Victoria Sweet, M.D.

A doctor’s take on the destruction of medicine

FAS’s Inequality Initiative

The initative includes interdisciplinary conversation, annual symposia, and a postdoc program. 

by Marina N. Bolotnikova

Cashing Out For Happiness

Research from HBS shows that by buying themselves out of negative experiences, people gain time for happiness-inducing activities like learning a language, or socializing.

by Oset Babür

How some colleges help first-generation and low-income students succeed

How some colleges help first-generation and low-income students succeed

by John S. Rosenberg

Market forces have made American higher education radically unequal

How market forces have made American higher education radically unequal

by Charles T. Clot...

The Legal Services Corporation tackles the “justice gap”

America’s unfulfilled promise of “equal justice under law”

by Lincoln Caplan

Harvard FAS debt deal and inequality initiative

The dean’s annual report provides financial details on House renewal, the faculty census, and a new inequality initiative.

by John S. Rosenberg

Harvard summit on academic inclusion

A Harvard conference on diversity and academic inclusion

by John S. Rosenberg

2017 Radcliffe symposium on health care

A Radcliffe Institute symposium examines the recent policies—and politics—of the U.S. health system.

by Lydialyle Gibson

Ricardo Hausmann and colleagues develop a predictive tool for urban leaders

The combination of certain factors can determine whether a city is plagued with disease, or is a hub for innovation. 

by Oset Babür