Welcome to RRI's Publications!

The Ramos Research Institute is dedicated to advancing original research, polling, and policy analysis to address today’s most pressing and complex challenges. We believe rigorous nonpartisan research is one of the most powerful tools for driving meaningful and lasting change.

Our team works collaboratively to identify critical issues and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions. We focus on areas including education policy, higher education, democracy, sustainable development, climate change, and voting behavior. Through our publications and initiatives, we aim to provide clear insights that inform public discourse and strengthen democratic institutions.

We invite you to explore our work and connect with us about questions, partnerships, or collaboration opportunities.

Our Internal Publications

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Exploring the Impact of Religious Identities on Environmental Attitudes

March 19, 2026
The Ramos Research Institute
By: Johanna Van Fleet & Alejandro J. Ramos

This study examines how religious identity, beliefs, and practices shape attitudes toward environmental protection, using data from the 2012 General Social Survey. It finds that while most forms of religious participation—such as attendance and prayer—do not show a significant relationship with environmental concern, interpretations of religious teachings, particularly views of the Bible, are associated with higher environmental interest. Education emerges as the most consistent predictor, with higher levels of educational attainment strongly linked to greater environmental awareness. Overall, the findings suggest that environmental attitudes are influenced less by religious affiliation alone and more by how individuals interpret their beliefs, alongside broader socio-educational factors.

Fast Fashion and the Future: A Call for Accountability and Sustainability in the Global Apparel Industry

November 6, 2025
The Ramos Research Institute
By: Sayan Bhati, Sarah Garcia, Annika Simpich, Alejandro J. Ramos

The global fast fashion industry, valued at more than $1.7 trillion, has redefined how clothing is produced, marketed, and consumed—at enormous human and environmental cost. Once an emblem of innovation and accessibility, the industry now represents one of the world’s largest sources of waste, carbon emissions, and labor exploitation. This report, Fast Fashion and the Future: A Call for Accountability and Sustainability in the Global Apparel Industry, examines the intersecting economic, environmental, and social dimensions of the industry and proposes actionable recommendations for reform.

2025 Survey on The Impact of Social Media on Political Polarization

August 31, 2025
The Ramos Research Institute
By: Kelly Conroy

This survey of 60 respondents (ages 18–82) explores how social media shapes political beliefs and polarization in the United States. Findings show widespread reliance on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok for news, strong skepticism toward online political content, and a consensus that ads are largely negative. Strikingly, 100% of participants agreed that social media contributes to polarization, with many acknowledging its power to shift opinions, influence views of public figures, and amplify election discourse. The results highlight social media’s dual role as a space for civic engagement and a driver of political division.

The Viability, Feasibility, and Sustainability of Blue Bonds

October 8, 2024
The Ramos Research Institute
By: Yiming Zhong, RRI Visiting Scholar

Coastal and island nations globally are grappling with the multifaceted challenges brought on by climate change, including rising sea levels, overfishing, water insecurity, wetland degradation, and coastal erosion. Blue bonds, as a financial instrument, offer these nations a strategic financing mechanism to invest in mitigating such environmental impacts. Functioning as debt transactions, blue bonds facilitate the refinancing of national debt, thereby earmarking funds for conservation efforts that enhance ecological and economic resilience. These bonds not only potentially reduce national debt burdens by creating favorable financial terms such as lower interest rates and extended repayment periods, but also support sustainable marine and coastal projects, including the protection of critical habitats like coral reefs and mangroves. However, despite their benefits, blue bonds face challenges in risk management, project scalability, efficiency in approval processes, and the precise measurement of environmental outcomes, which complicates their broader adoption. While nations like Belize, Barbados, and Seychelles have demonstrated the potential of blue bonds, the broader viability and sustainability of these instruments in climate change adaptation and mitigation remain under scrutiny.

2023 Survey of Changes in Hispanic Political Behaviors

February 20, 2025
The Ramos Research Institute
By: Alejandro J. Ramos

Polling results on Hispanic and Latino affiliation and views are based on the 2023 Survey of Changes in Hispanic Political Behaviors. The survey was conducted among a representative sample of 750 Hispanic adults from December 13, 2022, to April 15, 2023. The overall analysis uses data collected to assess the changes within the Hispanic electorate.
This survey has been used extensively for a current manuscript in progress titled "The Great Realignment."

Our External Publications

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Lost in the Bureaucracy

July 23, 2026
The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal
By: Alejandro J. Ramos

Administrative expansion has made many colleges more complex to manage—and far more confusing for the students they are meant to support.