It is common knowledge that the United States spends substantially more money on health care than other developed nations, yet it is by no means the healthiest country. Health care accounts for one-sixth of United States’ gross domestic product (GDP), but morbidity continues to rise. Two out of three American adults are obese, one-third of American adults have high blood pressure, and diabetes prevalence is …
The single strongest indicator of the opioid crisis is drug overdoses, which have grown rapidly in recent years due to opioid dependency. The rise in overdose deaths has been driven by opioid dependency, fueled by over prescription. Between 1999 and 2015, prescription opioid sales per capita rose 356 percent[1]. During that period, opioid-related deaths quadrupled. … Continue reading
One of the most reliable recession indicators is the yield curve, which measures the spread between short and long duration bond yields. A steeper curve, or when long term yields exceed short term yields, is usually associated with higher inflation and economic expansion. Contracting yield spreads, in contrast, usually suggests slower growth and tighter monetary … Continue reading
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
Congress and the President just passed a new spending bill, and just as with the previous bills this year it’s likely to set off some fireworks on Capitol Hill and beyond. But wait. Didn’t we just pass a large spending bill? Technically yes. President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 in February, which … Continue reading
Photo: SPLOID, Jesus Diaz, 2014 Space Exploration Technologies Corp., also known as SpaceX, was founded almost 16 years ago with the intention to reduce space transportation costs and begin the colonization of Mars. Founder, Elon Musk, faced some challenges getting the company off the ground, including facing bankruptcy in 2008 after three failed launches. However, Musk’s … Continue reading
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
Introduction The United States is at a crossroads with cybersecurity. The threat of cyberterrorism from both state and non-state actors is very real, yet the U.S. has been painfully slow when it comes to digital safeguards. The government’s past failures to secure its assets is problematic, especially with the approaching midterm elections, and only deliberate … Continue reading
