INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH

From Northwestern to the White House

IPR economist shares lessons learned serving on the Council of Economic Advisers

Kirabo Jackson (first row, fourth from left) served on President Biden's Council of Economic Advisers.

IPR economist Kirabo Jackson never imagined he’d end up advising the president of the United States on economic policy. 

“The idea that I'd be working in a policy situation is not actually that surprising. I just wouldn't have thought it would be the White House,” he said. 

In August 2023, former President Joe Biden appointed Jackson as a senior member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). The CEA sits within the Executive Office and delivers research-driven recommendations on matters of national and international economic policy to the president. He started at the end of August 2023 and ended his tenure in October 2024.  

At an event this January, Jackson sat down with IPR director and sociologist Andrew Papachristos to recap his time on the CEA. The event was co-sponsored by Northwestern’s Department of Economics, School of Education and Social Policy, Institute for Policy Research, and Kellogg School of Management.

“At the Institute for Policy Research (IPR), what we do is what he does, which is try and get research to have an impact in policy spaces,” Papachristos said. “At IPR, our tagline is research excellence and policy impact, and Bo embodies that.”

Adjusting to the Policy World

Jackson’s portfolio at the CEA was expansive, covering a wide range of domestic policy areas. He advised on key economic issues, such as inflation, tax policy, education, the labor force, and the childcare market. One topic that he spent considerable time on is the childcare market—a key area related to his education policy expertise.

In particular, he focused on what would happen when the childcare stabilization funds ran out. Jackson examined the effects of those funds, rolled out under the American Rescue Plan, and used the findings to inform policy recommendations.

His analysis showed that the funds increased the number of women working—by about 3% for women with young children. This led to a key recommendation: more federal funding for childcare to support workforce participation.

As an economist transitioning from the ivory tower to the policy world, he had to quickly adjust to the breakneck pace of policymaking compared to the deliberative and conceptual nature of academic research. In the policy world, Jackson said, you often need to make decisions without the luxury of extensive analysis.

“You have to make some assumptions about the world, and you have to make some judgement calls—there’s nothing that tells you whether it’s right or wrong, you are in that position because you are there to make that call," he said. 

Jackson co-authored the 2024 and 2025 Economic Reports of the President, a cornerstone publication of the CEA. Transmitted annually to Congress, the report is packed with data and policy recommendations, offering a comprehensive look at the president's priorities and the nation’s progress toward key economic and social objectives.

For Jackson, the most fulfilling part of his role at the CEA was diving into new research areas and expanding his expertise. 

“I had to learn about AI, I had to learn about small business, I had to learn about supply chains, all that stuff,” he said. “I felt like I was in grad school again, just cramming all that stuff in my head. And that was actually very, very exciting.”

Bringing Lessons Back to Academia

The new topics he explored during his time at the White House gave Jackson a renewed energy to conduct research in areas that he hasn’t before. He brought back a wealth of insights—not just for his colleagues and students, but also to inform his own work. 

He stressed that research can have a significant influence on policy, even if that impact is not immediate or direct. Over time, research can spread into policy conversations, helping to shape decisions.

“The things that you're learning, the academic stuff, it can seem quite divorced from the real world," he said. "And you think, ‘I really want to have real world impact,’ and I want to just say that this stuff really does have real world impact. The research does matter. It is used. It's used behind closed doors."

He also highlighted the need for clear communication, urging researchers to present their findings in a way that is concise and accessible. Avoiding jargon and overly technical details is crucial to ensuring that non-academic audiences, including policymakers, can understand and use the information.

“Oftentimes, I feel like if I can't explain it in simple language, I probably don't understand it that much myself. But I think that's really what you have to do and make things as simple as possible,” he said. “Maybe you don't go into the nuance. You just kind of focus on what matters, the first order issue.”

Jackson encouraged academics to seek opportunities to become involved in the policy process, whether through government roles, think tanks, or other policy-focused organizations. These experiences offer firsthand insights into policymaking and create opportunities for researchers to directly influence critical decisions.

He went on to highlight that there are various ways to make an impact. "It is possible to effect change, either by working in government, but also in working in terms of research. And there are many avenues to do that," Jackson noted. 

Overall, Jackson’s message was clear: Academics should see their research as a tool for shaping policy and take proactive steps to bridge the gap between academia and the policy world.

For those looking to get directly involved in policy work, Jackson emphasized that opportunities are abundant, regardless of one’s academic status. 

"If you want to get involved in the policy process, there are ways to do that," he said. “You can have impact."

Kirabo Jackson is the Abraham Harris Professor of Education and Social Policy and professor of economics. Andrew Papachristos is the John G. Searle Professor of Sociology, IPR director, and director of the Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science (CORNERS).

Published: January 23, 2025.