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Cornell Policy Review

The Cornell Policy Review is the official policy journal of Cornell University, published by the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

The Cornell Policy Review is the official public policy journal of the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy. Originally founded in the spring of 1996 as The Current, The Cornell Policy Review is published annually by Brook's MPA students who serve as both editors and contributors for the Policy Review, drawing upon their own research and professional experience. The editorial board also solicits

book reviews, interviews, and scholarly contributions from public policy students and alumni from other programs across the country. Working on The Cornell Policy Review offers Fellows a valuable foundation in research and writing, as well as first-hand experience with the rigors of scholarship at the professional level. Disclaimer: This blog constitutes a personal perspective. Neither the content of this blog, nor the links to other web sites, are screened, approved, reviewed or endorsed by Cornell University, the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, or any Cornell-affiliated entity. The text and other material contained in this blog is the opinion of the specific author and does not convey any statements of advice, opinion, or information on behalf of Cornell, Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, or the Cornell Policy Review editorial board.

12/22/2025

As cities face rising congestion and delivery demand, e-bikes have become popular as a sustainable option, but policy and infrastructure gaps limit their effectiveness.

By examining case studies in New York, Cape Town, and Shenzhen, Samantha McGovern argues that only clear regulations, coordinated infrastructure, and equitable policy frameworks can enable e-bike delivery to reduce emissions and congestion significantly.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/e-bikes-and-micro-mobility-in-urban-delivery-policy-environmental-impact-and-scalability/

12/15/2025

U.S. energy transition faces structural gridlock as electricity demand outpaces supply, undermining longtime decarbonization efforts and clean energy record.

Analyzing interactions between derived and induced demand and supply constraints, Stephen Wang and Diana Zhou propose a demand–supply framework that shows a fair transition requires coordinated policies aligning technology, behavior, and infrastructure, not just renewable energy deployment.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/diagnosing-gridlock-a-framework-for-the-u-s-energy-transition/

12/12/2025

“Powering Communities: Building Global Resilience Amidst Risks”

We are excited to announce the first special issue of the school year, and the second Energy Edition of all time.

From energy transition to urban innovation and natural resources, this edition examines global cases that address energy challenges and solutions for community resilience—a sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to making this a reality.

We also thank the Cornell Energy Club and Cornell Energy Connection for supporting our writers in engaging in critical discussions about ensuring a sustainable energy future.

Special edition articles starting next Monday, December 15th.

12/08/2025

It is widely accepted that communities rely on local taxes to fund schools, yet 5.1 million English language learners nationwide still attend severely underfunded schools.

Examining tax rates and funding in 879 school districts across 12 states, Aishwarya Pathak urges more federal funding and reforms at the state and local levels, as property taxes are insufficient to support districts with many ELL and high-need students.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/the-impossible-math-of-local-school-funding-why-property-taxes-cannot-close-the-gap-for-high-need-students/

12/06/2025

What does it really take to protect New York from the disasters of today and the future? Amadou Agne (Brooks ‘27) sat down with Anthony Gagliardo (MPA '22), the New York State Disaster Assistance Manager, to discuss the politics, policies, and people behind disaster response. From climate-driven storms to shrinking federal resources, this episode dives into the challenges and innovations shaping the future of resilience.

Thank you to the Brooks School Office of Career Management for coordinating to make this a reality.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4elPI10rfpkvnsm9Rgi97x?si=Bw0YjlAUR-eJJKozjwWnoQ

12/01/2025

The Westphalian model imposed by European colonialism has shaped African governance and citizenship.

In examining this history, Nicholas Kimble suggests African indigenous traditions, based on mobility, reciprocity, and competence, provide viable paths to political legitimacy that challenge Western sovereignty assumptions.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/borders-and-belonging-rethinking-african-states-beyond-colonial-lines/

11/25/2025

As access to clean energy and digital connectivity becomes more vital for infrastructure, disparities in technology access persist, especially in rural and marginalized areas.

Through mixed-method studies in Northern Thailand, Roland B. Wilson et al. advocate for promoting clean energy and digital inclusion, which mutually reinforce social equality and should be expanded with equity safeguards, blended finance, and capacity-building.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/clean-energy-and-digital-inclusion-for-social-equality-northern-thailand-project/

11/19/2025

Taxes on tampons highlight how American fiscal policy has historically undervalued menstrual health.

In examining the resistance to repealing these taxes, Ashlyn Saltzburg argues that taxing menstrual products constitutes gender discrimination and provides recommendations to promote menstrual equity.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/ensuring-equitable-access-to-menstrual-products-and-repealing-the-tampon-tax/

11/10/2025

Homelessness is a complex social, economic, and moral issue with varying definitions, but the lack of rigorous evaluation causes cities to spend without solving the problem.

Citing cases from Indian and South African cities, Victoria Chasi emphasizes the need to develop a culture of impact evaluation to navigate resource and policy challenges.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/a-need-for-impact-evaluation-of-homelessness-interventions-in-developing-cities/

11/05/2025

We are excited to introduce our 2025-2026 team of associates, who will be critical in supporting our mission to spread innovative, non-partisan policy insights.

Behind every piece, every podcast episode, every social media platform, and the operations of our publication is the exceptional work of these talented individuals who ensure our work runs smoothly. Please join us in welcoming them to the Cornell Policy Review.

Visit cornellpolicyreview.com to learn more about them.

11/03/2025

U.S. student loan crisis exposes the moral and institutional failures of an extractive education system, but also raises the question of whether access to knowledge should be commodified.

By connecting cultural and economic dimensions of student debt, Shavonne Hedgepeth argues that true upward mobility requires not just financial reform but a reimagining of education as a public good rooted in justice, equality, and democratic access.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/american-requiem-student-loan-forgiveness-and-the-decline-of-upward-mobility/

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