Advancing policies for a strong, competitive, and vibrant economy in the District of Columbia.

RECENT PUBLICATION

TOPA’s Promise and Pitfalls: Balancing tenant rights, affordability, and housing investment in Washington, D.C.

This report analyzes the District’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) using data from multiple sources, including housing and tax records, multifamily sales data, and reports on subsidized housing. It evaluates sales and data on tenant association formations from 2012 and 2023 to measure TOPA’s effectiveness. Additionally, qualitative insights from thirteen interviews with key stakeholders provide a broader perspective on TOPA’s impact.

Yesim Sayin and Emilia Calma

Economy & Competitiveness

publications | Economy

2024 State of Business Report: Creating a thriving business environment

Daniel Burge, Yesim Sayin

September 27, 2024

publications | Economy

Long-term unemployment in the District of Columbia: What it means, how it has changed, and whom it affects

Daniel Burge

July 12, 2024

publications | Economy

Laying the foundation for a resilient fiscal future for the District of Columbia

Yesim Sayin, Daniel Burge

April 25, 2024

Criminal Justice

publications | Criminal Justice, D.C. History

How D.C.’s criminal justice system has been shaped by the Revitalization Act

Emilia Calma, Yesim Sayin

March 1, 2023

publications | Criminal Justice, Demographics

A look at who is incarcerated in D.C.’s criminal justice system

Emilia Calma, Yesim Sayin

March 6, 2023

publications | Criminal Justice, D.C. History

The District of Columbia’s Criminal Justice System under the Revitalization Act: How the system works, how it has changed, and how the changes impact the District of Columbia

Emilia Calma, Yesim Sayin

March 1, 2023

Education Policy Initiative

publications | Education, Education Policy, Schools, Student experience

State of D.C. Schools, 2023-24: Strong system health and modest progress

Chelsea Coffin, Hannah Mason

March 4, 2025

publications | D.C. Voices, Education

D.C. Voices: Dual language programs in D.C. schools

Hannah Mason

December 11, 2024

publications | Education, Student experience, Workforce

Building career assets for lifelong success

Chelsea Coffin, Hannah Mason

November 13, 2024

Housing

publications | Housing

Priced out: Where can D.C.’s essential workers afford to live?

Yesim Sayin, Emilia Calma

July 18, 2024

publications | Housing

Housing abundance under new workforce conditions

Yesim Sayin

September 24, 2024

publications | Housing

Expanding housing affordability for a strong and resilient District of Columbia

Emilia Calma

September 24, 2024

Workforce

publications | Housing

Housing for workforce is a key economic development program

Andrew Trueblood

July 31, 2024

publications | Poverty and Income Inequality, Racial Equity, Talent pipeline, Workforce

The case for creating a local talent pipeline in the District of Columbia

Emilia Calma, Yesim Sayin

April 29, 2021

publications | Workforce

Creating an embalmer’s license in the District will not increase opportunity for workers

Emilia Calma

January 24, 2024

Spotlight: Chart of the week

Our chart of the week is a quick-read highlight of new or relevant data every week.

publications | Education

Chart of the week: Postsecondary enrollment for D.C.’s students, class of 2022

April 11, 2025 | Chelsea Coffin

publications | Economy

Chart of the week: The widening education wage gap in the District

March 28, 2025 | Daniel Burge

publications | Economy

Chart of the week: Wage gaps narrowed nationally but grew in the District

April 04, 2025 | Daniel Burge

Press coverage

The work of the D.C. Policy Center is often featured by the media in articles, interviews, and other platforms that highlight our expertise.

publications | Housing

Landlords Sound Alarm As D.C. Moves To Lock In Eviction Rules | Bisnow

April 03, 2025 | D.C. Policy Center

publications | Economy

Why DOGE Can Move So Fast on Government Leases | Commercial Observer

March 27, 2025 | D.C. Policy Center

publications | Economy

D.C. Faces $1B Budget Cut After Senate Passes National Spending Bill | Commercial Observer

March 18, 2025 | D.C. Policy Center

Events

To encourage the exchange of new ideas and fresh perspectives, the D.C. Policy Center hosts lectures and roundtables, and our experts regularly participate in events in the community.

event

State of D.C. Schools, 2023-24

March 04, 2025 |

event

Lunch and Learn with Chairman Phil Mendelson and Budget Director Jennifer Budoff

February 13, 2025 |

event

Building Career Assets for Lifelong Success Release Event

November 13, 2024 |

Our most recent publications

Testimony | Workforce

Outcomes and disparities in workforce development programs in D.C.

Good morning, Chairperson Bonds, and members of the Committee. My name is Emilia Calma, and I am the Director of Research and Policy of the D.C. Policy Center—an independent non-partisan …

April 7, 2025 | Emilia Calma

Articles | Education

Guest blog: State of D.C. Schools, 2023-24: Strong system health and modest progress

As a guest writer for the DC Students Succeed blog, Senior Education Research Analyst Hannah Mason shared insights on the State of D.C. Schools 2023-24 report. She highlighted some of …

March 21, 2025 | Hannah Mason

Articles | D.C. Voices, Education, Student experience

D.C. Voices: Postsecondary Planning

Postsecondary planning in D.C. plays a crucial role in helping students develop a clear path for their careers and education after high school. There is no widely agreed-on definition for …

March 19, 2025 | Hannah Mason

Reports | Housing

TOPA’s Promise and Pitfalls: Balancing tenant rights, affordability, and housing investment in Washington, D.C.

Executive summary The District’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) was enacted over 40 years ago, during a time of minimal rental housing construction and widespread condominium conversions, prompting concerns …

March 13, 2025 | Yesim Sayin

Articles | Economy

District of Columbia: A fiscal crisis revisited

In March 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on resolution that would incorrectly treat the D.C. local budget as part of the federal budget. Executive Director Yesim Sayin explains …

March 12, 2025 | Yesim Sayin

Testimony | Education, Education Policy, Student experience

D.C. has strong system health and modest improvements towards academic recovery

D.C.’s increasing teacher retention reflects strong signs of system health. In school year 2023-24, 74 percent of teachers returned to their same school and role — a three-percentage point increase …

March 7, 2025 | Hannah Mason

Data Collection Inbox

Business insights

We collaborate regularly with practitioners in the District’s business community, who have their ear to the ground. Share your insights via our data collection inbox.

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Media inquiries

Talk to our experts

From quarterly economic indicators, to housing data, to demographics, our staff and independent fellows are available for media interviews and speaking engagements. We strive to respond to media requests same-business-day.

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Commissioned research

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We are independent, nonpartisan, and open-minded, and our work is shaped by data, not opinion. We work regularly with the public and private sector on commissioned research.

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