Meredith Dost, PhD

National Poverty Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison

PhD in Government and Social Policy, Harvard University

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dost2 (at) wisc.edu or mdost.phd (at) gmail.com

I am a National Poverty Fellow at the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in residence at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In my research, I investigate how the variation in government policy administration may perpetuate political, social, and racial inequalities in the United States. To do so, I create novel datasets using administrative data sources and employ a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. I also design surveys and interviews, based on the expertise I developed at Pew Research Center. Within American politics, my research lies at the interface of bureaucratic politics, political behavior, and federalism. Within public policy, my research has implications for policy design and implementation.

My book project, based on my dissertation research, focuses on the political implications of administrative burden. I scrutinize how interactions with the administrative state affect the political behavior and attitudes of potential recipients of means-tested government programs and the mass public. I test my theory by measuring the administrative burden of Medicaid and evaluating its effect on mass-level voter turnout. If you're interested in hearing a brief overview of this work, you can find a recording of my presentation at a recent Institute for Research on Poverty webinar on approaches to reducing administrative burdens (minutes ~6 to 17).

At ASPE/HHS, I currently analyze refugees’ utilization of Medicaid and other government programs and translate it into evidence-based findings to inform the executive branch and policymakers. We recently published a report on The Fiscal Impact of Refugees and Asylees at the Federal, State, and Local Levels from 2005-2019, finding a nearly $124 billion positive fiscal impact of refugees and asylees on the American economy in a 15-Year period.

My CV is available here (link). My job market paper is available here (link) and has been invited to revise and resubmit at Perspectives on Politics.

About me

I earned my PhD in Government and Social Policy at Harvard University in 2023, jointly between the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Harvard Kennedy School. During my PhD, I was a Graduate Fellow at the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics during the 2021-22 year, a Democracy Doctoral Fellow at the HKS Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation in 2020-21, a Stone PhD Research Fellow in the Multidisciplinary Program in Inequality & Social Policy, and an affiliate of the Center for American Political Studies. At Harvard College, I served as an academic advisor for undergraduates studying political science for six years. Prior to Harvard, I worked at Pew Research Center, and I earned a B.A. in Public Policy and Hispanic Studies from the College of William & Mary.

Research

PhD dissertation at Harvard University: "Bureaucratic (In)competence in a Federalist System: How Administrative Burden Impacts Participation in U.S. Elections." I examine how policy administration of means-tested government programs shapes citizens' political lives, focusing on Medicaid.

Peer-reviewed

“Administrative Burden's Mass Political Effects: How the Administration of Medicaid and Elections Shapes Mass Voter Turnout.” Revise and resubmit, Perspectives on Politics. Link to draft.

Loyalists and Switchers: Characterizing Voters' Responses to Donald Trump's Campaign and Presidency, with Ryan Enos and Jennifer Hochschild, 2020, Political Science Quarterly. Supporting Information and Replication Materials.

The Tea Party and the 2012 Election, with Ronald Rapoport and Walter Stone, 2014, The State of the Parties: The Changing Role of Contemporary American Parties, 7th edition (pp. 157‐174). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.

Official U.S. government publication

Robin Ghertner, Suzanne Macartney, and Meredith Dost. “The Fiscal Impact of Refugees and Aslyees at the Federal, State, and Local Levels from 2005-2019” (Feb 2024). HHS/ASPE. Link to report and research brief. Link to HHS press release.

Working papers

"Does State of Resettlement Matter? Variation in Refugee Utilization of Government Benefits and Services"

"Refugees' Experience Prior to Resettlement and Early Socioeconomic Integration in the U.S." with Robin Ghertner

“Evaluating New Technology Use: Are Americans Democratically Competent?” with Jennifer Hochschild and Elizabeth Suhay

Work in progress

“Spatial Inequality in Government Welfare Office Locations Across the U.S.”

Selected public writing

Robin Ghertner and Meredith Dost. “Refugees’ Experience Prior to Resettlement Predicts Early Socioeconomic Integration in the U.S.” (Dec 2024). HHS/ASPE. Link.

Meredith Dost, Ryan Enos, and Jennifer Hochschild. “Is President Trump’s rhetoric racist? It depends on whom you ask” (Aug 2019). Monkey Cage article in The Washington Post. Link.

Meredith Dost and Kyley McGeeney. “Moving Without Changing Your Cellphone Number: A Predicament for Pollsters” (Aug 2016). Pew Research Center. Link.

Carroll Doherty and Meredith Dost. “What the Public Knows – In Pictures, Words, Maps and Graphs: Pew Research Center News IQ Quiz” (Apr 2015). Pew Research Center. Link.

Meredith Dost. “Immigration Changes Draw Broad Public Interest” (Nov 2014). Pew Research Center. Link.

Meredith Dost and Seth Motel. “Younger Republicans Think More Diverse Nominees Would Help Party Win” (Aug 2013). Pew Research Center. Link.

Advising

I was proud to participate in the Harvard community as a formal advisor and an informal mentor to undergraduate students. I was the primary academic advisor for about 40 political science undergraduates at a time for six years. I mentored and supported many other students in my role as a resident tutor at Harvard College from 2017-2021. In 2019, I was awarded the Star Family Prize for Excellence in Concentration Advising. I have also formally advised several undergraduate senior honors theses.

From July to October 2019, I served as the Interim Allston Burr Resident Dean of Quincy House at Harvard College. I was responsible for the academic and personal well-being of ~470 students and supervision of the House's ~20 resident tutors. In this role, I was also a member of the College's Administrative Board (the body which enforces undergraduate academic policies and social conduct standards).

Teaching

My main objective for students in teaching and advising is to learn how to think critically, with an open mind and empirical rigor. My personal goal is to promote equity and inclusion through my teaching approaches. You will find my teaching experiences below:

Courses as lead instructor

Harvard University, Government Department

GOV 99: Senior Government Thesis Tutorial (Fall 2021-Spring 2023)

Harvard Summer School, Pre-College Program

GOVT P‐16126, The Politics of U.S. Social Policy (Summer 2023); average student evaluation 4.5/5
STAT P‐16116, Understanding Basic Statistics in and Coding for Political Science (Summer 2023); average student evaluation 4.5/5

Courses as teaching fellow

Harvard University, Government Department

GOV 2001/STAT E-200 (Gary King, Spring 2019): one of two TFs for graduate‐level course in political methodology; average student evaluation 4.5/5

College of William & Mary, Sharpe Community Scholars Program

Freshman Seminar (Drew Stelljes, Fall 2012-Spring 2013): facilitated course meetings and assignments, mentored students, coordinated community service

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