United States Studies

About the Program

More than 40 percent of young adults in the United States report symptoms of anxiety or depression, the highest levels recorded in over a decade. Gun violence has overtaken car accidents as the leading cause of death among youth, turning safety into a daily concern. College tuition has tripled in real terms since the 1980s, leaving borrowers under 35 with the largest student debt burdens relative to income. Despite record levels of educational attainment, youth unemployment rates remain consistently above the national average, and many who find work face low wages or unstable jobs. Housing costs have risen faster than earnings for over twenty years, pushing home ownership further out of reach and increasing housing insecurity among younger generations.

The U.S. Studies Program responds to these realities by examining the specific policies that shape the daily lives and long-term prospects of youth in the United States. It grounds its work in lived experiences and translates them into concrete policy analysis that decision-makers can use. The program’s goal is to provide clear solutions to social and economic issues and to ensure that young people are included as central stakeholders in shaping the nation’s future.

Key Research Areas

We examine the implications of immigration, residency, and naturalization laws for undocumented youth and their families, assessing how federal and state-level frameworks shape access to education, healthcare, and long-term economic opportunity.
Our research evaluates the structural drivers of youth violence, the efficacy and equity of sentencing and incarceration practices, and alternative models of rehabilitation that prioritize prevention, community safety, and reintegration.
We analyze the effectiveness of federal, state, and local education policies in advancing access, quality, and affordability. Special attention is paid to how funding models, admissions practices, and student debt shape outcomes for low-income students.
We study the intersection of youth mental health needs, healthcare affordability, and insurance coverage gaps. Our analysis identifies policy shortcomings and proposes scalable interventions to expand timely, effective care for young Americans.
We examine how wages, employment, student debt, and housing costs shape the economic security of young Americans. Rising housing prices and restricted access to homeownership are keeping many out of the American Dream, long considered a cornerstone of financial stability and middle-class life in the United States. At the same time, persistent inflation and the high cost of living make it harder for young people to cover daily expenses, even as they carry unprecedented levels of student debt.

Our Contribution

Babel Institute’s United States Studies program develops solutions to the most urgent challenges facing young Americans today. We assess how existing laws and programs affect youth and identify where they fall short. Drawing on both data and direct input from young people, we design alternative approaches that are practical and measurable. These ideas are refined through dialogue with students, educators, and community leaders, then published in policy briefs, reports, op-eds, and other formats that connect research directly to policymaking.