Ever since April’s disappointing jobs report—which showed an increase of only 260,000 jobs against projections of over 1 million—economists, labor market specialists, and employers have all been trying to locate the source of workers’ unwillingness to return to work. By now, the concert of variables are familiar to most—the generous unemployment supplement, lack of access to childcare, fear of the virus, and inadequate pay. What has gone largely unobserved in this raging debate, however, is another … Continue reading
Category Archives: Politics
School Choice: A Bipartisan Solution to the Failures of Public Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Rose Laoutaris Introduction The issue of school choice has been debated for decades between parents, teachers, and politicians. While the idea is not necessarily new, the concept of school choice became popular after Milton Friedman published his book, “The Role of Government in Education,” and in response to the increasing control state and federal … Continue reading
Paying ransom money may be good business, but it’s bad policy.
Faced with a growing number of ransomware attacks in the US, companies and other entities must balance the ethics of engaging with cyber criminals and the economic impact of refusing to. Until the US government creates a clear policy framework for responding to this issue, hackers will continue to reap the benefits. The federal government … Continue reading
It’s Costly Being a Woman
The “Pink Tax” is the notion that a system of discriminatory pricing of products and services that is based solely on gender costs the average woman over $1,300 a year. While many products are not marketed specifically for women or men, manufactures use gender-normative sales practices like bright pink or purple packaging and sweet scents … Continue reading
Forced Rush to Retirement
Due to the stresses that the pandemic placed on health and employment, older workers have left the workforce at a higher rate and a younger age. These workers have been forced into an early retirement whether or not they were ready for it, risking long-term financial insecurity for themselves and reduced economic growth for the country. … Continue reading
Moving Towards Durable Policy in the Executive Branch
Introduction Presidential transitions are a cumbersome and complex process, as presidents must make an inordinate number of bureaucratic appointments, closely review and revise the actions of their predecessors, and handle a host of other administrative and legislative tasks. While each of these processes are undoubtedly necessary for a new president, nearly all are being conducted … Continue reading
Delayed Care Suggests Sicker Patients
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the healthcare system and changed the manner care is being supplied as well as demanded by patients. Over the past year, the United States has seen demand shifts for many health procedures as there is a widespread deferral of care, including patients missing recommended screenings as well as a … Continue reading
Newark, New Jersey: A model for police reform
In the wake of the protests that followed the killing of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, communities across the country should rethink the role of police in public safety, and the best model of reform is Newark, New Jersey. Newark has not only reformed the conduct of police operations, it has also moved to a … Continue reading
Social Media Influencers are the Latest to Unionize, But Should They?
Creators (interchangeably referred to as influencers) are individuals that are paid by brands to advertise certain products on platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. These content creators now have increased worker protections, as the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has extended their coverage and membership offers through the “influencer agreement”. … Continue reading
Section 230 and Complications with Regulating Big Tech
Overview There have been calls from across the ideological spectrum to modify Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA), which provides a liability shield for internet platforms to manage the user content hosted on their sites. While conceptually appealing to many, any alterations to Section 230 would be quite difficult to implement and may … Continue reading
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