Annual Research Agenda

The Public Lyceum's yearly research priorities—focused on the systems, markets, and structures that shape modern decision-making and public understanding.

2025-2026 Research Themes

1

Modern Service Marketplaces

Continuing our deep analysis of how digital platforms, lead generators, and marketplaces shape consumer discovery, choice, and outcomes in home services.

  • Lead broker economics and consumer impact
  • Platform transparency and disclosure practices
  • Visibility distortion in ranked environments
2

Consumer Decision Systems

Understanding how people navigate complex decisions, evaluate information under uncertainty, and form judgments in fragmented information environments.

  • Decision friction in high-stakes purchases
  • Signal vs. noise in review systems
  • How framing influences consumer perception
3

Housing and Home Services Systems

Examining the systems that affect household stability, home maintenance decisions, and the broader housing ecosystem.

  • Homeowner education effectiveness
  • Contractor marketplace dynamics
  • Housing stability and decision-making
4

Public Trust in Digital Marketplaces

How trust is built, maintained, and eroded in digital environments—and what institutions can do to restore public confidence.

  • Transparency and accountability frameworks
  • Trust signal effectiveness
  • Institutional credibility in the digital age

Flagship Reports in Development

State of Home Services Public Trust

Annual assessment of public confidence in home services marketplaces, transparency levels, and consumer protection.

Lead Broker Transparency Study

Annual analysis of lead generation practices, disclosure standards, and consumer impact in service marketplaces.

Contractor Marketplace Economics

Deep dive into the economic structures, incentive systems, and market dynamics shaping local service industries.

Digital Discovery Systems Briefing

How search, directories, and digital platforms shape consumer discovery and what it means for informed decision-making.

Emerging Questions Under Review

Our research team continuously monitors the landscape for new questions, knowledge gaps, and emerging issues that deserve public attention.

  • How are AI and algorithmic recommendation systems changing how consumers discover and evaluate service providers?
  • What happens to local economies when platform intermediaries capture the customer relationship?
  • How can public education effectively counter misleading or manipulated information in service marketplaces?
  • What role should public institutions play in helping citizens navigate complex marketplace decisions?
  • How do we measure and communicate "trustworthiness" in environments where signals are increasingly manipulated?

Explore Our Research

Access our complete library of reports, briefings, and public-education resources.