Public economics, economics of education, policy evaluation, state and local finance.

Current research includes estimating the long term benefits of early childhood education. Research also investigates the determinants of educational attainment as well as the effects of school policies such as grade retention and special education placement. Another strand of research includes topics in state and local public finance.

Publications have included articles in the Economics of Education Review, the National Tax Journal, the Southern Economic Journal, the Journal of the American Medical Association as well as articles and chapters in various education and child development journals and books.

Temple has a joint appointment in the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and is an adjunct professor in the Institute of Child Development.