Tufts University
To support the operations and expansion of EconoFact, an online source that disseminates policy-relevant economics research
EconoFact (https://econofact.org) is a website that specializes in disseminating non-partisan and rigorous analysis from leading economists. Their work is edited in the form of short memos and podcasts that are accessible and digestible to a broad audience. Michael Klein, the leader of this effort, has assembled a network of more than 100 prominent economists who regularly contribute to EconoFact. Topics covered include employment, the costs of pollution, debts and deficits, household finance, and Medicaid reform, among others. Since its 2018 launch, the site has garnered almost 1.9 million pageviews and its work has been mentioned in major news outlets, including the PBS Newshour, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, The New York Times, The Financial Times, and NPR’s “All Things Considered”. By 2020, EconoFact had become an important source for analysis of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, publishing more than 50 memos and 18 podcasts on the topic. Funds from this grant provide support for the continued operation and expansion of EconoFact, including the production of 150 new memos, 100 podcasts, and 36 video pieces, providing accessible, expert economic analysis on topics relevant to policymakers and the public alike.