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Category Archives: Economy
Small Businesses: the Forgotten of the Shutdown
The effects of the 35-day shutdown furloughed government employees, postponed many immigration cases and hindered the daily life of millions of Americans. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the global cost to be 11 billion dollars and GDP to fall 0.2 percent this quarter and 0.1 percent lower over the year. Yet, the case of … Continue reading
Understanding Universal Basic Income
Introduction In December 2018, Finland’s Social Insurance Institution, KELA, terminated their two-year Universal Basic Income (UBI) experiment that aimed to “increase employment and simplify the Social Security system” citing insignificant changes in the employment rate of participants. Despite this outcome, prominent U.S. figures–such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg– and the California Democratic Party still … Continue reading
Trump’s H-1B Policies Are Neither Buying American Nor Hiring American
Three months after his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order enacting a trademark promise of his campaign: “Buy American, Hire American.” Among other things, the order directed his administration to review the current immigration system and determine policies for the United States to promote higher wages and employment for American workers. One the … Continue reading
Trump States Will Be Hit by Chinese Pork Tariffs
Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce imposed retaliatory tariffs on 128 U.S. products totaling $3 billion “in order to safeguard China’s interests and balance the losses caused by the U.S.” The tariffs, initially threatened in March, are the Chinese response to the Section 232 measures on steel and aluminum imposed by President Trump earlier that … Continue reading
Free Trade Works For Millennials
Photo courtesy of House Ways and Means Committee. By Rahee Jung and Finn D. Reynolds Executive Summary: Recent polls reveal that millennials support U.S. engagement in free trade agreements more than all other age demographics. Policymakers should take note of this trend, and further engage the United States in free trade agreements to grow the economy … Continue reading
How much can policymakers rely on performance metrics?
Most of us nowadays use Yelp, Urbanspoon, or something like those platforms to explore a restaurant. When browsing the Yelp website to find a good restaurant, I first filter out the neighborhoods and category, and then pick several restaurants based on star ratings, dollar signs, and number of reviews. Then I put a little extra … Continue reading
Millennials Like Free Trade but Don’t Like Capitalism
Introduction In the coming election cycle, millennials will surpass baby boomers as the largest voting bloc in the United States. For this reason, pundits, pollsters, and political parties are trying to figure what millennials support and what millennials oppose. A new Pew Research Center survey reveals that one issue millennials support is free trade. … Continue reading
Economy / Fiscal policy / Tax / Taxes
Tax Cut-Implications for Behavioral Economics
Richard H. Thaler, professor of behavioral science and economics at the University of Chicago, won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences this year “for his contributions to behavioral economics.” This is a relatively new field that combines the idea of psychology and economics. Standard economic models assume that humans are rational actors. However, behavioral economists … Continue reading
America / Economy / Healthcare / Medicaid / Medicare / U.S. Domestic Policy
VBP Has the Chance to Become the MVP
America has a drug problem that goes well beyond opiates and abuse. Pharmaceutical drug prices have skyrocketed in the last decade and fueled an overall increase in health care costs and spending[1]. The top ten most prescribed medications have all risen more than 50% since 2011, with four out of ten having doubled in cost. … Continue reading
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