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The Journal of Policy Analysis is a beacon of rigorous, nonpartisan policy discourse. It stands at the intersection of scholarship and policy, focusing on contemporary challenges and future solutions. Enriched by our partnerships with esteemed academic institutions, this journal aims to stimulate enlightened dialogue amidst rising policy-based divisions. Within its pages, you will encounter thought-provoking articles, emblematic of YIP's ethos, which challenge convention and invite active participation in shaping the future of policy.

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At the heart of policy innovation, our Journal offers scholarly, unbiased insights into pressing challenges.

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Volume 1

Dec. 2021

Volume 2

Dec. 2022

Volume 3

Dec. 2023

Volume 4

Dec. 2024

Volume 5

Apr. 2025

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Pigouvian Tax Model in Global Climate Policy: Applications, Implications, Drawbacks, and Policy Recommendations with a Concentration on the Carbon Tax

Journal Vol. 5

April 21, 2025

This paper delves into the outcomes of current uses of the Pigouvian tax model in recent years to address and mitigate environmental concerns such as climate change, resulting in a carbon tax, in various countries. The primary objective of this paper is to analyze and determine the efficacy of the Pigouvian tax model as a global policy – especially concerning carbon dioxide emission tax regulations – by using a thematic case study analysis with policy implications to assess the model's applications, drawbacks, and implications. We examine the economic impact, social equity, political feasibility, regional disparity, and environmental effectiveness of carbon taxation through five case studies: a hypothetical tax model in the Philippines, Germany’s carbon pricing, Canada’s political response to a carbon tax, British Columbia’s regional divide on carbon taxation, and an analysis of the Kyoto Protocol.

An Unlikely Coalition: Passing the Respect for Marriage Act

Journal Vol. 5

April 21, 2025

The Respect for Marriage Act (H.R.8404) is a landmark 2022 law that codified federal and interstate recognition of racial intermarriage and same-sex marriage. This paper asks why, despite previous iterations of the Respect for Marriage Act failing, marriage equality achieved success in 2022. With a focus on same-sex marriage, I review key policies in American history. I then move to discuss the premise of the Respect for Marriage Act itself. I then discuss the premise of the law itself. I argue that there were three key factors driving the law’s success: the Supreme Court, interest groups, and electoral politics. First, I argue that the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) decision overturning abortion protections created urgency to codify interracial and same-sex marriage as it challenged the longstanding doctrine of stare decisis. Second, I argue that the broad coalition of interest groups supporting the law helped ground support for it from a variety of angles. Third, I argue that Republican members of Congress in competitive districts saw this law as an opportunity to take a policy position ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Together, they created the unlikely coalition in an otherwise polarized political environment to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.

A Comparative Analysis of Climate Change Policies: Denmark & The United States

Journal Vol. 5

April 21, 2025

Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges, demanding coordinated action from leaders and policymakers worldwide. As countries struggle to adapt and mitigate the far-reaching, severe consequences of climate change, the policies they implement play a crucial role in shaping sustainability and the future. This paper compares and contrasts the climate change policies of two nations—the United States and Denmark—by analyzing the effectiveness, equity considerations, and political contexts of the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act and Denmark’s Climate Action Plan. The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant and recent climate-focused piece of legislation put forward by the United States. Since President Trump’s term began in January 2025, multiple executive orders unraveling the work of the Biden-Harris agenda on climate change have been signed. At this point in time, it’s still too early to understand the full environmental and economic scope of what President Trump's orders could mean for the world. Nevertheless, the paper will briefly discuss what his approach to fossil fuel companies are during his time in office. In the United States, federalism is a defining feature of environmental policy, with the strongest forms of climate action emerging from the state government level, leading to varying policies from state to state. As such, this paper will specifically analyze the domestic environmental policies in Vermont in comparison to the international environmental policies in Copenhagen, Denmark. While Vermont’s green initiatives set it apart and ahead of the rest of the United States, Denmark’s ambitious emissions goals and climate policies set an example for the rest of the world. With a focus on renewable energy, carbon taxes, and technological innovations, Denmark’s approach to fighting climate change offers a blueprint for sustainability for the world to model. By comparing Denmark to the United States, one can better envision a 21st-century green economy rooted in sustainability and justice.

Lost Mothers: Addressing the Black Maternal Mortality Crisis in the United States

Journal Vol. 5

April 7, 2025

The United States continues to be one of the most dangerous developed nations in the world to give birth, with Black women disproportionately affected by the nation's maternal mortality crisis. The increasing maternal mortality rate among Black women is rooted in the United States’ long-standing history of racial inequality, where medical, social, and political institutions have historically viewed Black women not as people to be taken care of, but as experiments and tools to advance medical practices. This legacy of oppression continues to manifest itself in disparities within healthcare access, treatment, and patient outcomes. Implicit bias within medical institutions frequently leads to the dismissal of Black women’s pain, concerns, and symptoms, resulting in complications and fatalities that are oftentimes preventable. Economic and legislative barriers to healthcare—including restrictive Medicaid policies and the closure of hospitals in marginalized communities—further prevent Black women from accessing necessary critical prenatal and postpartum care. In order to address these resources Black women need access to culturally competent care throughout their pregnancies and during the postpartum period. Expanding training in culturally competent care for maternity healthcare providers can mitigate implicit bias and improve patient-provider relations, which are often significant barriers to receiving continued maternal care for Black women. Maternal mortality review committees can identify and recommend targeted solutions to systemic patterns of mistreatment, while Doula reimbursement programs can further support and advocate for Black women throughout pregnancy and childbirth, improving pregnancies and birth outcomes by ensuring continuous, patient-centered care and treatment. The rise in Black maternal mortality rates is not an anomaly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been a constant narrative, demanding, and deserving of, urgent attention and systemic reform.

Legislative Analysis: Integrating Special Education In Financial Literacy Education Requirements

Journal Vol. 4

December 22, 2024

With the collaboration of state legislators and state Departments of Education, financial literacy has the ability to mitigate the economic struggles many young adults with neurodivergent disabilities face in our country. This research analyzes recent legislative efforts in Pennsylvania with the passing of Senate Bill (SB) 647, requiring financial literacy for all high school students, as well as aiming to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the bill about special education. The bill’s communication with the Pennsylvania Department of Education will also be addressed, assessing the steps to implement a tailored curriculum for special education, accommodations for individual education programs (IEP), and training for special education teachers. The analysis conducts a policy review and the assessment of the Pennsylvania Department of Education resources in preparation for the requirement to come into place in Fall 2025, with similar legislative action continuing across the country. This research provides insight into how other states can effectively consider and implement financial literacy for special education. There is additionally a broader exigent timeline of multi-state legislation requiring the essential content of financial literacy to be mandated for all high school students. With the current state of curriculum for special education, states should properly and fully address the diverse needs of special education and the additional resources that will come to provide inclusivity and equity to financial literacy for all students, regardless of their learning capabilities.

Segregation by Design: The Role of Localized Gerrymandering in Education

Journal Vol. 4

December 22, 2024

Gerrymandering is largely used in reference to the inefficient structuring of congressional districts at the national level. It has been highly effective as a method of maintaining power even with voter deficits, and is used by both parties to maintain support in the narrowly divided house of representatives. While that is certainly an important topic of study, the literature on that matter is extensive and well established, whereas the more localized version of gerrymandering has significant impacts that largely find themselves ignored when compared to gerrymandering’s national scope. The efficacy of our democracy is a highly relevant and contentious issue, and localized gerrymandering has been actively undermining the lives of millions for decades. From issues such as racially motivated school district boundaries to the delineations of local municipalities and cities, localized gerrymandering has silently fostered inequality and added to the marginalization of underserved and underrepresented groups.

Climate Justice and Finance: Addressing the Disproportionate Impacts in Africa as a Low-Emission Continent

Journal Vol. 4

December 22, 2024

Low-emission nations, particularly in Africa, are heavily impacted by climate change despite their minimal contributions to global emissions. These countries are grappling with extreme weather events, diminished agricultural productivity, and worsening food insecurity, all of which critically undermine their development efforts. This paper critiques existing international policies that often benefit more industrialized nations and fail to provide long-term and equitable solutions for the Global South. It argues that these frameworks inadequately address the specific needs of the most vulnerable nations. To address these challenges, this study proposes enhancing climate finance mechanisms to better support both mitigation and adaptation efforts in Africa. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for unified action and stronger representation from the Global South to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met. In conclusion, the paper calls for a global shift toward more inclusive and effective climate finance policies that genuinely support equitable development and resilience in Africa.

Florida Teen Courts’ Influence on Adolescent Offender Behavior

Journal Vol. 4

December 22, 2024

Adolescent offenders who are processed through the traditional juvenile system frequently face an array of negative consequences, including future criminality. In response, specialized “teen courts” have been established across the United States, offering an alternative processing solution for low-level adolescent offenders. By allowing youths to be tried and sentenced by a jury of same-aged peers, these teen courts are widely believed to bolster amenability to positive behavioral change. However, there is little empirical basis for claims of the effectiveness of teen court participation, and current literature overwhelmingly presents cursory investigations into the value of the teen court model as it relates to behavioral improvement. Specifically, existing research fails to explore why teen courts may, in the first place, be capable of improving behavior. This case study, which carefully observed five Florida teen court participants, aims to be the first to explore this insofar untouched question. Through a comprehensive thematic analysis, it was concluded that teen court may be capable of improving the behavioral outcomes of first time misdemeanor offenders by providing consequences to actions, empowerment, and a supportive environment. This conclusion serves as a catalyst for future research beyond the Florida teen court participants who were studied.

The Political Economics of Impact Investing: An Evaluation of how Government Policies Influence Investment Strategies for Social Good

Journal Vol. 4

December 22, 2024

This paper attempts to explore the relationship between government's economic policies and impact investing. In a capitalist state such as the United States, businesses often have significant influence on creating social impact, and such positive actions can be encouraged by policies created by the government. I will first provide an overview of government policies intended to incentivize businesses in promoting social goals such as subsidies, tax incentives, and regulatory frameworks. I will analyze how these policy actions affect the decision-making process within firms. This will be achieved through examining case studies of specific impact investment incentives (with data), such as social impact bonds, low-income housing tax credit, and clean energy investment incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act. Moreover, I will examine the effects these actions ultimately have on communities and compare different policy solutions to determine the best course of action. I intend to propose policy reform solutions as well as regulatory frameworks that have historically proven to be beneficial in incentivizing impact investments within our communities, such as impact investment subsidies. The goal of this paper's exploration is to elucidate ways governments can use political economics to their advantage in encouraging impact investments within our communities.