Executive Summary Introduction On May 20, robotaxi company Waymo announced that 10 million driverless rides had been purchased across four U.S. cities. Autonomous vehicle (AV) technology has the potential to reorder the future, improving safety and saving time and money for American consumers. However, this promising technology is impeded by a challenging regulatory environment in … Continue reading
House Bill Includes Costly Reforms to Health Reimbursement Arrangements & Health Savings Accounts
Executive Summary Introduction On May 22, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill – referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – which includes many key provisions relating to health care policy. While the proposed changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act garner more public attention, the additional changes … Continue reading
Recession Risk in 2025: A Weighted Logit Model with Policy Insights
An overheating economy, high policy uncertainty, and declining consumer confidence pose recession risks of 53 percent as of April 2025. This paper employs a weighted logit model to aid policymakers in early intervention. Key indicators include consumer expenditure, yield curve, disposable income, and economic policy uncertainty, enhancing prediction accuracy in recession modeling. Continue reading
Direct Primary Care: A Divisive Yet Promising Development in Health Care
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Access to primary care is a key component of achieving the best possible health outcomes for both individuals and communities. Primary care providers (PCPs) foster steady relationships with their patients and serve as a consistent source of care, which is essential for prevention, early detection, and management of diseases and chronic conditions. … Continue reading
What will sector-specific tariffs cost?
Executive Summary Introduction Although President Trump has paused his April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days, he continues to threaten immanent sector-specific tariffs. The threatened sectors include pharmaceuticals, copper, lumber, semiconductors, chemicals and minerals, and energy, which combined account for roughly 20-percent of U.S. imports and include most products initially exempted from “Liberation Day” … Continue reading
A Drop in Consumer Sentiment: Economic Consequences and Policy Impacts
Executive Summary Introduction The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) provides research and analyses to the Executive branch to inform policy directives. CEA Chair Stepehen Miran appeared on CNBC on March 25th amid economic uncertainty, stating he does not believe there is a strong relationship between consumer sentiment and consumer spending. Consumer sentiment is tracked in detail by … Continue reading
Firing The Government: Inside the Largest Federal Workforce Reduction in U.S. History
Executive Summary Introduction Since the beginning of 2025, sweeping layoffs across the federal government have resulted in the dismissal of over 30,000 employees. The primary sector of federal workers facing cuts are those in their probationary period. Civil servants remain on probation for one year after they are hired, promoted, or demoted. While on probation, … Continue reading
Rethinking Occupational Licensing: Breaking Barriers
Executive Summary Introduction Occupational licensing reform has gained traction at both state and federal levels in recent years, geared towards eradicating unnecessary barriers that restrict employment opportunities. Laws regarding licensure cover nearly one-third of the U.S. workforce, creating barriers to entry rather than a safeguard for the public interest. Although licensing raises the wages … Continue reading
Medicare Telehealth Coverage: A Surviving Policy or Permanent Feature?
Executive Summary Introduction On March 15, 2025, President Trump signed a continuing resolution (CR) passed by Congress, which extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through the end of September. These flexibilities –originally introduced via regulatory modifications and waivers in the wake of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) – allow all Medicare beneficiaries the option to access … Continue reading
Impact of Retail Electricity Deregulation on Consumer Prices: A Difference-in-Difference Approach
Executive Summary Introduction Electricity has become the most fundamental commodity in the United States. Its growing influence underpins nearly every major industry. It powers homes, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Innovation and technological development for the entire economy depends on efficient and reliable energy transmission. Utilities markets in the U.S. have historically been viewed as natural monopolies. … Continue reading
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