Short Reads

Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

short readJul 7, 2026

Motorcyclists line up to refuel at a gas station in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on March 28, 2026. (Devi Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

Over 100 countries have enacted energy policy changes in response to the Middle East conflict, from tax adjustments to fuel subsidies.

short readJul 13, 2026

(Pew Research Center illustration; photos via Getty Images)

short readJul 1, 2026

A Waymo autonomous vehicle is driven in Washington, D.C., on June 8, 2026. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

short readJul 1, 2026

short readsMar 19, 2014

Religious police found in nearly one-in-ten countries worldwide

As of 2012, at least 17 nations have police that enforce religious norms. Religion police forces are most common in the Middle East and North Africa, and are also found in the Asia-Pacific and in sub-Saharan Africa.
short readsMar 19, 2014

Data Feed: Keystone XL divides Democrats, global views of online censorship, how to gain Twitter followers

A daily roundup of fresh data from scholars, governments, think tanks, pollsters and other social science researchers.
short readsMar 18, 2014

Michelle Obama to visit China, focus on education

Given other economic and environmental problems, however, education is not high on the minds of the Chinese public.
short readsMar 18, 2014

Data Feed: Rising food prices, student learning, coffee-shop geography

A daily roundup of fresh data from scholars, governments, think tanks, pollsters and other social science researchers.
short readsMar 18, 2014

In 2013, 59% of deported immigrants convicted of a crime

President Obama ordered a review of immigration enforcement policies last week, following weeks of growing pressure from Democrats and Latino leaders, one of whom recently called him “deporter in chief.” As the number of unauthorized immigrants sent home nears two million under his administration, the president met with advocates late on Friday and acknowledged deportations […]
short readsMar 17, 2014

Support for gay marriage up among black Protestants in last year, flat among white evangelicals

New Pew Research Center data from 2014 show that just within the past year, growing shares of some Christian groups favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.
short readsMar 17, 2014

Data Feed: Live TV declines as video source, return of the ARM, why Ukraine isn’t fighting Russia

A daily roundup of fresh data from scholars, governments, think tanks, pollsters and other social science researchers.
short readsMar 17, 2014

Resurgent public optimism on the economy? Don’t hold your breath

One of the biggest political puzzles of 2014 is why the public remains so bearish about the economy, and in turn critical of Barack Obama’s stewardship of it, given clear signs that economic indicators are improving. An analysis by Andrew Kohut.
short readsMar 17, 2014

5 key findings about digital news audiences

Web visitors who arrive at news sites by typing in a URL or clicking a bookmark behave quite differently from those who arrive via search engine or social media.
short readsMar 14, 2014

U.S. Census looking at big changes in how it asks about race and ethnicity

Many communities, including Hispanics, Arabs and people of mixed race, have said they’re unsure of how to identify themselves on census forms.