The Fulcrum
Research Centers
Big Data for Democracy
Today, at a time when democracy is under threat, Tisch College has articulated a bold vision: to build robust, inclusive democracy for an increasingly multiracial society. Tisch College has one of the biggest research teams devoted to democracy in the U.S. today. We focus on understanding the challenges - and opportunities - of democracy and civic life. We use that scholarship to inform our own programming at Tufts, as well as to drive national conversations about the role of citizens, the health of democratic institutions, voting and elections, and the power of young people.
We pursue this vital scholarship through several research centers.
Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) one of the nation's leading authorities on youth voting, studies the civic education and engagement of young people in the United States - especially disadvantaged youth.
The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) offers colleges and universities an opportunity to learn their student registration and voting rates and, for interested campuses, a closer examination of their campus climate for political learning and engagement and correlations between specific student learning experiences and voting.
Cooperative Election Study
The Cooperative Election Study is the largest academic survey of the American public and a core resource for academic researchers and the public for understanding public opinion and American elections.
The Tisch College Community Research Center (TCRC) is a champion and resource for civically engaged and community-centered scholarship across all Tufts campuses. With an emphasis on community participatory and action research, TCRC advances equitable and innovative community-university research partnerships through developing resources, networks, visibility, and new opportunities for learning.
The Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) provides rigorous, timely, non-partisan research on live policy issues in Massachusetts.
Our MGGG Redistricting Lab applies advanced geometry and computing to U.S. redistricting in order to tackle a fundamental threat to our democracy: gerrymandering. Even more than that, we create the research-based tools, and provide accessible training, for communities to directly engage in the work of building more robust and inclusive electoral systems.
CivicGreen is a collaborative project among scholars and practitioners to enrich our democratic imagination and to expand our policy options for sustainable, resilient, and just responses to climate crisis in the United States in the coming decades.
The Research Group on Equity in Health, Wealth and Civic Engagement brings together researchers from across Tufts University to discuss and investigate aspects of equity and inequity in the United States and the world.
Research for Democracy News
WBUR
What was the point of Massachusetts' new tax break for renters?
Evan Horowitz, executive director of cSPA, is quoted throughout this article on the Massachusetts rental tax deduction.
City councilors weigh Wu’s proposal to temporarily increase commercial property tax rates
This article references collaborative research from cSPA that showed a downward trend in Boston commercial property values could mean a city revenue shortfall of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion over the next five years.
The polls are suggesting a huge shift in the electorate. Are they right?
Abby Kiesa of CIRCLE is quoted about the challenges of polling young voters, particularly via traditional phone surveys, saying “Even if they’re on a cell phone, they’re much less likely to answer it.”
Michelle Wu considering petitioning state for higher commercial tax rates
Evan Horowitz, director of cSPA, comments on potential legislation proposed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu that would increase property taxes on businesses.
The Hill