Publications
The Hamilton Project produces and commissions policy proposals and analyses to promote broad-based economic growth by embracing a significant role for well-designed government policies and public investment.
Posts
The Hamilton Project: 2025 in figures
These nine data visualizations illustrate The Hamilton Project's work in 2025 on key economic policy challenges and developments.
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Posts
Learning curves: Post-COVID learning trajectories differ by the grade a student was in when the pandemic hit
Education
Policy Proposals
Artificial intelligence and algorithmic exclusion
Technology & Innovation
Posts
Event recap—Addressing threats to the SNAP program
Economic Security & Inequality
Social Insurance
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Fixing the federal student loan programs
The payoff to a college education has increased dramatically over the last two decades. At the same time, the cost of a college education has increased steeply…
An education strategy to promote opportunity, prosperity, and growth
To better secure the benefits of education, this paper outlines an evidence-based education strategy that emphasizes new investments in some areas (such as ear…
College grants on a postcard: A proposal for simple and predictable federal student aid
This paper analyzes the federal student aid system and finds that the level of complexity makes it ineffective at increasing college enrollment. The paper then…
Success by Ten: Intervening early, often, and effectively in the education of young children
The absence of a quality early education for many disadvantaged children represents an extraordinary waste of human potential. This paper outlines a model for …
Investing in the best and brightest: Increased fellowship support for American scientists and engineers
Richard Freeman discusses the National Science Foundation fellowship policy. He argues that current U.S. NSF fellowship policy gives less of an incentive for s…
Identifying effective teachers using performance on the job
This paper outlines a program of federal support to help states measure the effectiveness of individual teachers. Teachers who receive good evaluations would b…
Summer Opportunity Scholarships (SOS): A proposal to narrow the skills gap
Even in early grades, a large skill gap exists between students from economically advantaged and disadvantaged families. This paper outlines a program based on…
