John N. Friedman

John N. Friedman is an associate professor of economics and international affairs and public policy. His research brings together theory and data, harnessing the power of large administrative datasets to yield policy-relevant insights on a wide range of topics, including taxation, healthcare, and education quality. His work has appeared in top academic journals as well as in major media outlets. His most well-known papers estimate the long-term effects of teachers on student outcomes such as college attendance and earnings; in just one year, a great teacher can raise the lifetime earnings of a single class of students by nearly $1.5 million. This work was cited by President Obama in his 2012 State of the Union Address. Friedman has also worked as special assistant to the President for economic policy at the National Economic Council in the White House from 2013-2014. He holds a PhD in economics, an AM in statistics, and a BA in economics, all from Harvard University. He is a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

College-Admissions Hysteria Is Not the Norm (research by John Friedman cited)

April 11, 2019 The Atlantic

Research by Professor John Friedman's think tank, Opportunity Insights, is cited in an article on the recent college admissions scandal. "Research published by Opportunity Insights ... has found that roughly three dozen of the country’s “elite” colleges enroll more students from households in the top 1 percent of the income scale than they do students from the bottom 60 percent of that scale."

Explore Watson: The Power of Data to Improve Economic Opportunities for All Americans

January 22, 2019

Top Economists, Brown MPA Grads Collaborate on the Opportunity Atlas

Executive Suite: Shawmut; Opportunity Atlas (interview with John Friedman)

January 11, 2019 WPRI

Associate Professor of Economics John Friedman, sat down with WPRI's Ted Nesi to discuss the interactive mapping tool he co-created called the Opportunity Atlas.

Gates Foundation announces $15M commitment to map neighborhoods that help kids out of poverty

October 4, 2018 Geekwire

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will commit $15 million to get the new initiative Opportunity Insights, co-founded by associate professor of economics John Friedman, off the ground. This week, the organization, in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, published comprehensive nationwide data and maps that predict the likelihood that kids will escape poverty based on where they live.

Detailed New National Maps Show How Neighborhoods Shape Children for Life (research by John Friedman mentioned)

October 1, 2018 The New York Times

In collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau, Opportunity Insights, a research and policy institute formed by economists from Harvard and Brown Universities, including Associate Professor John Friedman, released an interactive mapping tool called "The Opportunity Atlas." The Opportunity Atlas helps predict how neighborhoods influence the trajectories of the children who grow up there.

Las Vegas high-speed rail venture gets new owner (comments by John Friedman)

September 18, 2018 Wall Street Journal

Associate Professor of Economics John Friedman offered commentary on Brightline's expected acquisition of a private rail project on the Las Vegas Strip. "...Friedman concluded Brightline would be unable to service its debt burden on the Miami train system, in a study funded by a citizens group opposed to the rail line."

Ohio can save the American dream, repel robot revolution with better job skills, mayors are told (comments by John Friedman)

September 12, 2018 Cleveland Plain Dealer

Economist John Friedman said the dream of faring better than one's parents has been dwindling every year since the 1960s. "Friedman is working with Ohio State and more than 300 other colleges nationwide to find out what's helping people advance and holding them back."

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