Introduction While the United States prides itself as being a leader on the world stage, there is one area where we are consistently falling behind our counterparts: education. According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), among 15-year-olds, the U.S. ranks 24th in science and reading and 38th in math out of 71 developed … Continue reading
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Yes, “Gig City’s” Public Broadband is Fast, but its Economic Future is Questionable
Executive Summary The impacts of Covid-19 will continue to elicit conversation about funding municipal broadband projects, so we must be aware of the long-term financial obligations associated with these programs. Chattanooga’s public broadband produces speeds much faster than the national average, but the economic responsibility looms far into the future. The financial structure of the Electric Power Board’s public broadband will be difficult to duplicate, so the Chattanooga program should not be used as … Continue reading
Differences in Time Commitment Between Male and Female Workers, and Its Relation to the Gender Wage Gap
Introduction For many women’s rights organizations in America, the purported gender wage gap of “eighty-two cents for every dollar made by men,” among full-time year-round workers, is frequently pointed to as an instance of modern-day sexism. Advocates of gender equality continue to draw attention to the matter by popularizing “Equal Pay Day” each year and insisting that … Continue reading
Chronic Disease and Our Food System
Introduction As recently reported by the CDC, the number of states with obesity rates of 35% or higher has almost doubled in the past two years. In 2018, 9 states reported having obesity rates above 35%. In 2020, that number rose to 16 states reporting obesity rates above 35% with Delaware, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas … Continue reading
Exploring the Atlantic Divide in Antitrust: Consumer Welfare v. Abuse of Dominance
Introduction The US antitrust standard has long been dictated by common law derived from the court system’s interpretation of “monopoly” behavior prescribed by Section 2 of the Sherman Act. From this jurisprudence, the US has upheld the consumer welfare standard of antitrust, placing a premium on innovation and efficiency that benefits consumers. Across the Atlantic, … Continue reading
Quit Rates and the Crisis of Disrespect
In this era of unprecedented labor market activity, in which job openings are skyrocketing, wages are rising, and fewer workers are transitioning from unemployment to employment, there have been several developments that have exacerbated these seemingly contradictory trends. Although much of the story surrounding the current labor market has been focused on the barriers to … Continue reading
Congress Looks to Expand Opportunity Zones, But Should They?
By Rose Laoutaris Introduction Last month, Rep. Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) introduced the Expanding Opportunity Zones Act of 2021. This bill would increase the number of low-income communities designated as Opportunity Zones (OZs), “economically distressed” communities that receive tax advantages. These exist in every state, and deferred tax savings range from 25 to 30 percent. The … Continue reading
Patient Adherence in Chronic Illness
Introduction In the chronic illness sphere, patient adherence to prescribed medications is a major predictor of successful outcomes. Previous studies have shown that 50-60 percent of patients with chronic illnesses miss doses, take the wrong dosages, or withdraw from treatment in the first year after being diagnosed. Lack of medication adherence is associated with poorer health outcomes, and 125,000 deaths each year in the … Continue reading
Khan’s FTC Aims to Change the Rules of Antitrust
Under newly named Chairwoman Lina Khan, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is poised to strike a new tone in antitrust enforcement. At its first open business meeting in over 20 years, the FTC passed several measures that could dramatically change how the agency defines antitrust violations and makes new rules. On cue, President Biden signed … Continue reading
Contentment Wanted: A Closer Look at America’s Labor Shortage
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
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