About the Award:
Since 1985, APPAM has honored the illustrious life and legacy of Raymond Vernon. Among his many accomplishments, Vernon contributed to the Marshall Plan for rebuilding Europe after World War II, was among the first to conduct quantitative analyses of stock markets using computers, and served on the faculty of the Harvard University Business School and the Kennedy School of Government. Vernon was also the founding editor of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (JPAM).
The Vernon Memorial Award recognizes excellence in research by annually selecting an entry published in the current volume of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Any research article accepted for publication in the current volume of the journal is eligible for the award.
The author(s) of the winning article share a cash award in the amount of $1,000 in addition to a certificate, recognition at the annual APPAM Fall Research Conference, and recognition in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. A separate grant covering travel costs to the Fall Research Conference will be provided to one author.
2024 Vernon Memorial Award Recipients
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Richard DiSalvo
Princeton University |
Elaine Hill
University of Rochester |
Paper: Drinking water contaminant concentrations and birth outcomes
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 43, No. 3, 2024
Past Recipients of the Vernon Memorial Award:
2023 Vernon Prize:
Taylor K. Odle and Lauren C. Russel, "The Impact of Reverse Transfer Associate Degrees on Education and Labor Market Outcomes"
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 42, No. 3, 2023
Prize Committee: Scott Allard, Carolyn Hill, Ted Joyce (Chair), and Steven Raphael
2022 Vernon Prize:
Jessica W. Gillooly, "Lights and Sirens: Variation in 911 Call-Taker Risk Appraisal and its Effects on Police Officer Perceptions at the Scene"
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 41, No. 3, 2022
Prize Committee: Lindsey Bullinger (Georgia Tech), Jason Alix Coupet (Georgia State), Lisa Gennetian (Duke), and Mark Long (University of Washington)
2021 Vernon Prize:
Thurston Domina, Deven Carlson, James Carter III, Matthew Lenard, Andrew McEachin, and Rachel Perera. “Kids on the Bus: The Academic Consequences of Diversity-Driven School Reassignments”
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 40, No. 4, 2021
Prize Committee: Jodi Sandfort (University of Washington) (Chair), Lauren Jones (Ohio State University), Amy Ellen Schwartz (Syracuse University), Ron Zimmer (University of Kentucky)
2020 Vernon Prize:
Elizabeth Linos, Lisa T. Quan, and Elspeth Kirkman, "Nudging Early Reduces Administrative Burden: Three Field Experiments to Improve Code Enforcement"
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 39, No. 1, 2020
Prize Committee: Kosali Simon (Indiana University) (chair) along with Laura Peck (Abt Associates), Daphna Bassok (University of Virginia) and Kitt Carpenter (Vanderbilt University).
2019 Vernon Prize:
Daphna Bassok, Thomas S. Dee, and Scott Latham. The Effects of Accountability Incentives in Early Childhood Education",
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 38, No. 4, 2019
Prize Committee: Tom Dee (Stanford) (chair), Stephen Bell (Westat), Sanya Carley (Indiana), and Laura Wherry (UCLA). Tom Dee is a co-author in the paper that won the award, but he excused himself from rating of his paper.
2018 Vernon Prize:
Daniel Gubits, Marybeth Shinn, Michelle Wood, Scott Brown, Samuel Dastrup and Stephen Bell. "What Inteventions Work Best for Families Who Experience Homelessness? Impact Estimates from the Family Options Study",
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 37, No. 4, 2018
Prize Committee: Dylan Conger (George Washington University, chair), Dave Marcotte (American University), Scott Allard (University of Washington), and Nicolas Ziebarth (Cornell University)
2017 Vernon Prize:
Lauren Jones and Nicolas R. Ziebarth. " U.S. Child Safety Seat Laws: Are They Effective and Who Complies?",
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 36, No. 3, 2017
Prize Committee: Dave Marcotte (American University, chair), Susan Dynarski (Michigan), Nicole Maestas (Harvard), Ingrid Gould Ellen (NYU) and Diane Schanzenbach (Northwestern, Brookings)
2016 Vernon Prize:
Kerri Raissian. "Hold Your Fire: Did the 1996 Federal Gun Control Act Expansion Reduce Domestic Homicides?",
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 35, No. 1, 2016
Prize Committee: Sarah Hamersma (Syracuse University), Dave Marcotte (American University), Peter Mueser (University of Missouri), and Jodi Sandfort (University of Minnesota)
2015 Vernon Prize:
Thomas Dee and James Wyckoff. "Incentives, Selection and Teacher Performance: Evidence from IMPACT",
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 34, No. 2, 2015
Prize Committee: Ingrid Gould Ellen (Chair), John MacDonald, Harold Pollack, and Jenny Schuetz
2014 Vernon Prize:
Tal Gross, Jeanne Lafortune, and Corinne Low. "What Happens the Morning After? The Costs and Benefits of Expanding Access to Emergency Contraception", Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 33, No. 1, 2014
Prize Committee: Jacob Vigdor (Chair), Diane Schanzenback, Ingrid Gould Ellen, and Daniel T. Lichter
2013 Vernon Prize:
Susan Dynarski, Joshua Hyman, and Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach. "Experimental Evidence on the Effect of Childhood Investments on Postsecondary Degree Attainment and Degree Completion", Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 32, No. 4, 2013.
Prize Committee: Dylan Conger, Jacob Vigdor, Jason Fletcher, and Robert Wood
2012 Vernon Prize:
Robert G. Wood, Sheena McConnell, Quinn Moore, Andrew Clarkwest, and JoAnn Hsueh. "The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents", Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 31, No. 2, 2012.
2011 Vernon Prize:
Silvie Colman and Ted Joyce. "Regulating Abortion: Impact on Patients and Providers in Texas", Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 30, No. 4, 2011.
Prize Committee: Jane Waldfogel (Chair), Jens Ludwig, Richard Murnane, Kristin Seefeldt
2010 Vernon Prize:
Jennifer L. Steele, Richard J. Murnane, and John B. Willett. "Do Financial Incentives Help Low-Performing Schools Attract and Keep Academically Talented Teachers? Evidence from California." JPAM Volume 29, No. 3.
Prize Committee: Carolyn Hill, Chair, Brian Jacob, Ashlyn Aiko Nelson, Jane Waldfogel
2009 Vernon Prize:
Ronald Mincy, Jennifer Hill, and Marilyn Sinkewicz. "Marriage: Cause or Mere Indicator of Future Earning Growth?", Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 28, No. 3: 417 - 439. 2009.
Prize Committee: Burt Barnow, Lori Bennear, Susan Yackee, Vivian Wong
2008 Vernon Prize:
Philip J. Cook, Robert MacCoun, Clara Muschkin and Jacob Vigdor. "The Negative Impacts of Starting Middle School in Sixth Grade", Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 27, No. 1: 104 - 121. 2008.
Prize Committee: Burt Barnow, Trevor Brown, Leonard Lopoo, Katherine O'Regan
2007 Vernon Prize:
Mark G. Duggan and Melissa Schettini Kearney. "The Impact of Child SSI Enrollment on Household Outcomes," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 26, No. 4: 861 - 885. 2007.
Prize Committee: Carolyn Heinrich, Leonard Lopoo, Steven Raphael, Kathleen Ziol-Guest
2006 Vernon Prize:
Ioan Voicu and Ingrid Gould Ellen. "Nonprofit Housing and Neighborhood Spillovers," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 25, No. 1: 31 - 52. 2006.
Prize Committee: Robert Plotnick, Carolyn Heinrich, Leanna Stiefel
2005 Vernon Prize:
William Spelman. "Jobs or Jails? The Crime Drop in Texas," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 24, No. 1: 133 - 165. 2005.
Prize Committee: Lawrence Mead, William Gormley, Robert Plotnick
2004 Vernon Prize:
Charles T. Clotfelter, Helen F. Ladd, Jacob L. Vigdor, and Roger Aliaga Diaz. "Do School Accountability Systems Make it More Difficult for Low-Performing Schools to Attract and Retain High-Quality Teachers?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 23, No. 2: 251 - 271. 2004.
Prize Committee: Jens Ludwig, Peter May, Richard Murnane
2003 Vernon Prize:
Howard Bloom, Carolyn Hill, and James Riccio. "Linking Program Implementation and Effectiveness: Lessons from a Pooled Sample of Welfare-to-Work Experiments," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 22, No. 4: 551 - 575. 2003.
Prize Committee: Helen F. Ladd, Winston Harrington, Timothy Smeeding
2002 Vernon Prize:
Jennifer Hill, Jane Waldfogel, and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn. "Assessing the Differential Effects of High Quality Child Care: A New Approach for Exploiting Post-Treatment Variables," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 21, No. 4: 601 - 627. 2002.|
Prize Committee: Arleen Leibowitz, Howard Margolis, David Weimer
2001 Vernon Prize:
Michael J. G. van Eeten. "Recasting Intractable Policy Issues: The Wider Implications of the Netherlands Civil Aviation Controversy," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 20, No. 3: 391 - 414. 2001.
Prize Committee: Lee S. Friedman, Donald F. Kettl, Katherine O'Regan
2000 Vernon Prize:
Winston Harrington, Richard D. Morgenstern, Peter Nelson. "On the Accuracy of Regulatory Cost Estimates," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 19, No. 2: 297 - 322. 2000.
Prize Committee: John Mendeloff, Gary Burtless, Jack Nagel
1999 Vernon Prize:
Nancy Shulock. "The Paradox of Policy Analysis: If it is Not Used, Why do We Produce So Much of it?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 18, No. 2: 226 - 244. 1999.
Prize Committee: Mary Bryna Sanger, John Hird, Eric A. Hanushek
1998 Vernon Prize:
Marcia K. Meyers, Bonnie Glaser, and Karin Mac Donald. "On the Front Lines of Welfare Delivery: Are Workers Implementing Policy Reforms?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 17, No. 1: 1 - 22. 1998.
Prize Committee: Peter Reuter, William Gorham, Peter May
1997 Vernon Prize:
Philip J. Cook and Jens Ludwig. "Weighing the Burden of ‘Acting White’: Are There Race Differences in Attitudes Toward Education?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 16, No. 2: 256 - 278. 1997.
Prize Committee: Raymond Vernon, Irwin Feller, Laurence E. Lynn Jr.
1996 Vernon Prize:
Bruno S. Frey and Felix Oberholzer-Gee. "Fair Sitting Procedures: An Empirical Analysis of Their Importance and Characteristics," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 15, No. 3: 353 - 376. 1996.
Prize Committee: Philip J. Cook, John Brandl, David Weimer
1995 Vernon Prize:
James T Hamilton. "Testing for Environmental Racism: Prejudice, Profits, Political Power?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 14, No. 1: 107 -132. 1995.
Prize Committee: Irwin Feller, Susan Rose-Ackerman, Janet A. Weiss
1994 Vernon Prize:
Laurence E. Lynn, Jr. "Public Management Research: The Triumph of Art Over Science," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 13, No. 2: 231 - 259. 1994.
Prize Committee: John M. Mendeloff, Eric A. Hanushek, Donald F. Kettl
1993 Vernon Prize:
Robert S. Chirinko and Edward P. Harper, Jr. "Buckle Up or Slow Down? New Estimates of Offsetting Behavior and Their Implications for Automobile Safety Regulation," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 12, No. 2:270 - 296. 1993.
Prize Committee: Susan Rose-Ackerman, Donna R. Leff, Samuel L. Myers, Jr.
1992 Vernon Prize:
Sung Deuk Hahm, Mark S. Kamlet, David C. Mowery, and Tsai-Tsu Su. "The Influence of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act on Federal Budgetary Outcomes, 1986 - 1989," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 11, No. 2: 207 - 234. 1992.
Prize Committee: Otto A. Davis, Phillip J. Cook, John Mendeloff
1991 Vernon Prize:
Frederick W. Mayer. "Domestic Politics and the Strategy of International Trade," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 10, No. 2: 222 - 246. 1991.
Prize Committee: Edward M. Gramlich, Mary Bryna Sanger, Laurence E. Lynn, Jr.
1990 Vernon Prize:
William N. Trumbull. "Who has Standing in Cost-Benefit Analysis?" Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 9, No. 2: 201 - 218. 1990.
Prize Committee: Lucian Pugliaresi, John Brandl, William Gorham
1989 Vernon Prize:
Richard V. Burkhauser and T. Aldrich Finegan. "The Minimum Wage and the Poor: The End of a Relationship," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 8, No. 1: 53 - 71. 1989.
Prize Committee: Susan Rose-Ackerman, Martin A. Levin, John Mendeloff
1988 Vernon Prize:
Dani Rodrick and Richard Zeckhauser. "The Dilemma of Government Responsiveness," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 7, No. 4: 601 - 620. 1988.
Prize Committee: Sidney Weintraub, Otto A. Davis, Thomas C. Schelling
1987 Vernon Prize:
Edward M. Gramlich. "Cooperation and Competition in Public Welfare Policies," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 6, No. 3: 417 - 431. 1987.
1986 Vernon Prize:
Dale Whittington and Duncan MacRae, Jr. "The Issue of Standing in Cost-Benefit Analysis," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 5, No. 4: 665 - 682. 1986.
1985 Vernon Prize:
Robert D. Behn. "Cutback Budgeting," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 4, No. 2: 155 - 177. 1985.