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Emily Oster is driven by data. An economics professor who often applies a risk-analysis lens to things like parenting, she wants to give you the numbers and let you decide.

That approach became a polarizing one in 2020 when she started 

 on how COVID-19 spreads in schools. The numbers led her to conclude that classrooms 

 in the pandemic, and she recommended schools reopen. That made her a 

She readily admits it was a tough year. The 

 to her position was tremendous. But many parents say they were thankful for her numbers-based take. About 65,000 people subscribe to her newsletter 

, and her first two books about raising kids – “

,” picks up were “Cribsheet” left off. It equips parents to make decisions for their elementary kids using data and looking at evidence. Topics she tackles include schooling, nutrition, discipline and screen time.

In the end, Oster says, it’s not about making the perfect choice. If anything, the pandemic taught us that’s impossible. Instead, it’s about knowing you had a good process to make the best decision available at the time.

Oster joined host Kerri Miller on Thursday to talk about her book, her approach to parenting and how to use evidence to make decisions.

Emily Oster is a professor of economics at Brown University and the author of several popular parenting books. Her latest is “

The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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During the pandemic, Emily Oster used numbers to help parents make decisions for their families. Her new book takes the same approach to navigating the elementary years.

A data-driven approach to parenting

A side-by-side of an author and a book jacket cover. 

A data-driven approach to parenting

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