Supporting broadband, transportation, and trade policy using quantitative and qualitative tools

There is a disconnect between the development of advanced research methods in academia, and their use to inform real-world policies. The purpose of this research is to apply rigorous tools to support real-world policy questions at the local, regional, and global level, and assist various types of institutions meet their strategic objectives. At the local level, interns will work on an analysis of equitable access to broadband connectivity in Kingston, ON, as part of the City’s plan to expand broadband access. At the regional level, interns will support the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council, who is trying to understand and overcome transportation barriers across municipal boundaries. The interns will describe and quantify commuting patterns across municipal boundaries, project commuting patterns according to demographic and technological shifts, and identify and rank solutions to address regional transportation needs. At the global level, the interns will support the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), one of the largest donors of foreign assistance globally, who is trying to understand the role trade policy plays in improving resilience and food security in East Africa. While all projects focus on different sectors, they each leverage novel tools to answer policy-relevant research questions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Allen Head;Warren Mabee

Student:

Ardyn Nordstrom

Partner:

Limestone Analytics Inc

Discipline:

Economics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Queen's University