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China / Economy / Trade

BRICS and Currency Diversification Challenge the Dollar 

Executive Summary   Introduction  Since the inception of global trade, there has always been a dominant, trusted currency used to facilitate transactions between parties to avoid the double coincidence of wants associated with bartering. The U.S. dollar (USD) has been the premiere global currency since the Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944 where it was crowned in … Continue reading

Politics

“Regulation by Enforcement”: What Does the SEC’s Crackdown on Cryptocurrency Exchanges Mean for the Industry?

Executive Summary  Introduction  On June 5-6, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed charges against Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange; Changpeng Zhao, Binance’s CEO; and Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in America. The Binance charges, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, allege that Binance entities operated an illegal trading platform, … Continue reading

Healthcare

ICHRAs: An Alternative to Traditional Employer-Sponsored Coverage 

Executive Summary  Introduction   On average, employer premium costs for traditional group plans have increased by 5-7% annually. In response, in 2019, the Trump Administration published a final rule to expand the use of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to provide employers more flexibility in providing health coverage.   Since January 1, 2020, employers of any size can offer … Continue reading

Economy

The Moral Case for Price Gouging

Executive Summary Introduction The pandemic saw dramatic increases in the price of necessary supplies. From a pack of masks costing over $200 to Purell costing almost $150, prices for goods that people genuinely needed skyrocketed. Many politicians criticized suppliers and large corporations for using the chaos of global markets as a guise for artificially inflating … Continue reading

Politics

Bidenomics: The Costs of Public Sector Investment

Executive Summary: Introduction: Inside Chicago’s Old Post Office and flanked by signs with the word “Bidenomics,” President Joe Biden outlined his economic vision on June 28th—a vision that rewrites the economic orthodoxy of the last four decades: Reaganomics or “trickle-down economics,” as Biden calls it. President Biden has repeatedly criticized “trickle-down economics” for leaving the … Continue reading

Regulation

The Updated Consumer Cost of Regulation

Executive Summary Introduction American Action Forum (AAF) research has concluded 20 regulations enacted over the past five years will harm economic growth and increase costs by more than $8,000 per capita in a given year (some commercial consumers could see additional higher costs of $83,463) for businesses and consumers. Higher-priced vehicles, pricier household goods, and … Continue reading

Politics

The Lightning-Fast Adoption of the North American Charging Standard 

Executive Summary:  Introduction:   Over the last month, a significant shift has occurred in the electric vehicle space. Three major manufacturers – Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Rivian – announced they would transition their charging standard to the North American Charging Standard (NACS). NACS is Tesla’s proprietary charging system and is implemented in all of … Continue reading

Politics

WIC’s Unsavory Response to Economic Instability During COVID-19

Executive Summary Introduction Despite a steep increase in economic instability during COVID-19, national participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) barely responded to the crisis. WIC provides nutritious foods, nutritious education, and breastfeeding support to low-income pregnant and post-partum individuals, infants, and children up to age 5. Studies have … Continue reading

Politics

The Green New Deal, Reintroduced

Executive Summary Introduction Last week, Canadian wildfires greyed American skies and worsened air quality in cities stretching from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic. Environmental agencies warned Americans to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, many outdoor events were canceled, and even the dreaded mask made a reappearance.   While blues skies returned, the wildfires brought climate change to … Continue reading

Regulation

Child Labor Regulatory Rollbacks 

Executive Summary  1. A tight labor market has caused business leaders to seek child labor to fill the gaps.   2. States are following a trend to roll back regulations on child labor.   3. Safety risks and poverty risks endanger children.   Introduction   In 1938, Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act to stop companies from using … Continue reading