2026 APPAM Fall Research Conference: Fifty States, Fifty Systems: State Policy Variations and Impacts

The 2026 APPAM Fall Research Conference focuses on the theme "Fifty States, Fifty Systems: State Policy Variations and Impacts." This theme highlights the substantial authority assigned to states in the U.S. federalist system to create and implement policies. As the federal government's role diminishes, the importance of state policy grows. The conference will explore how state policies vary considerably in their reach and generosity, often reflecting the ideology of state leaders rather than the unique economic, environmental, or social needs of states. Measuring state-level variation and its impact on well-being is a critical focus for policy scholars. Attendees can expect a comprehensive program featuring various submission types, including Panels, Posters, Roundtables, Single Papers, and Student Research, across numerous policy areas such as Crime, Justice, and Drugs; Education; Employment and Training Programs; Family and Child Policy; Health Policy; Housing, Community Development, and Urban Policy; Innovations in Science and Technology; Methods and Tools of Analysis; National & Homeland Security and Crisis Management; Natural Resource, Energy, and Environmental Policy; Politics, Media, and the Policy Process; Population and Migration Issues; Poverty and Income Policy; Public and Nonprofit Management and Finance; and Social Equity and Race.