Introduction Economic sanctions represent one of the most widely used instruments in international relationships for various social, political and military concerns. They can be imposed by one country (unilateral sanction) or group of multiple countries (multilateral sanction) against other country (or regime) to express their disapproval of the regime and deter the unacceptable behavior. However, … Continue reading
Category Archives: Politics
Congressional Earmarks, A New Illusion of Transparency
Introduction The age of the internet has ushered in a new level of government transparency. Committee hearings are livestreamed, laws are uploaded to websites, and other documents are available to the public in their own homes. Gone is the hassle of paper stacks and public record requests. Or so one might think. As Congress jumps … Continue reading
NFTs: Key Policy Considerations
An emerging asset class- nonfungible tokens (NFTs)- has taken the crypto world by storm. NFTs are used by blockchain games, crypto artists, and countless others because of their digital scarcity and uniqueness, capturing the attention of investors and consumers alike. This is no longer a tiny niche. As of 2021, the NFT market was valued … Continue reading
America / Economy / Fiscal policy / Politics / Presidency
President Biden and the State of Inflation
Executive Summary Last week, President Biden outlined his plan to counter inflation as the rate rises to around 7% The President placed the blame of inflation on rising prices in a myriad of sectors including motor vehicles, prescription drugs, energy, and childcare His solutions include programs to cut costs as well as protect wages by … Continue reading
The Mobility Puzzle: A Lesson from Immigrants
The United States’ most successful minority is immigrants. They have progressed more, and more rapidly than any other group in this country. They’ve managed to exceed native-born Americans in socio-economic performance across the board, by keeping their families together, saving better, and proving resilient through life’s setbacks. The current culture war obscures these facts entirely: … Continue reading
The Unpopular Option and Puerto Rico
Executive Summary Puerto Rico now has a real chance for economic recovery. Last January the Financial Oversight Board for Puerto Rico closed an almost five year-long bankruptcy case with 80% of the islands outstanding payments reduced. Set up in 2016, The Financial Oversight Board is a federally appointed group with limited powers over Puerto Rican finances … Continue reading
“Wokeness”, and What it Means for Black Mobility
Wokeness is in. Context, nuance, critical thinking, science- not so much. And that is a problem. Black problems are real and complex and call for honest conversation, data, and comprehensive policy. Sympathy and three-letter hashtags do no good and leave the black masses as immobile as ever. The guise of ‘social justice’ pushes for … Continue reading
Childhood Obesity
Introduction Childhood overweight and obesity is an extremely common, serious and widespread medical condition in the United States. 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the US have obesity. The percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s, but this rate varies by race and ethnicity. According to the … Continue reading
Electric Eggs in one Basket: A Warning from Puerto Rico
Introduction The U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has been in a financial crisis since the Great Recession. While the recession on the mainland was dealt with in time, the recession hit the island and exposed years of financial mismanagement and started an economic spiral. While U.S. territories and states cannot officially declare bankruptcy, the Commonwealth was … Continue reading
Socio-Economic Mobility
Introduction Any attempt to revive the fortunes of The American Dream must address family structure. The current conversations on opportunity, and how to create it, capture preconceived notions surrounding this most cherished end. The belief that religious, racial, and gender inequalities define opportunity in America is a firmly held one. However, new studies suggest that family structure … Continue reading
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