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
Tag Archives: United States
Economy / Fiscal policy / Tax / Taxes
Zig-Zug: Fixing America’s Crooked Tax System
If you ask the mayor of Zug, a tiny Swiss suburb, what his town’s population is, he would likely give you the official estimate of 27,000. But a quick dive into Switzerland’s most recent census report reveals that Zug is also home to over 30,000 businesses. This means one of two things. Either each of … Continue reading
A Dishonest Truth: Corruption in the U.S.A.
Welcome to Chicago, the corruption capital of the country! Kind of catchy, don’t you think? Far from being plastered on the city’s next welcome billboard, this slogan may soon become a rallying cry for Chicagoans tired of being the punchline in a fill-in-the-blank corruption joke. The dubious distinction comes from a report released by the … Continue reading
Economy / Environment / Fiscal policy / Tax / Taxes
Exchanging Trash for Treasure
The Michigan state government recently stumbled across a startling statistic. Over the past decade its revenue streams were $8-10 million below what it expected. The cause? Residents of nearby states have been smuggling millions of bottles and cans into Michigan, taking advantage of its nation-leading 10-cent bottle refund. Michigan is one of 10 states nationwide … Continue reading
Energy / Foreign Policy / Iran / Politics
Flawed Progress: The Iranian Nuclear Framework
The recent unveiling of a framework for future talks about Iran’s nuclear program has some hailing it as a great step towards an Iran without nuclear weapons, while others believe giving Iran any nuclear capability is a step in the wrong direction. While this framework represents significant progress, it does not go far enough in … Continue reading
The Race to 270: Reforming the Electoral College
The way in which the United States elects its presidential candidates is constantly being debated. Following the 2012 presidential election, many states are reconsidering the rules of the game. The current set-up of the electoral college poses problems for the electorate, as do some of the proposed solutions to these problems. The design of the … Continue reading
Unemployment Benefits: Republican Victory
According to the US Department of Labor, the purpose of Unemployment Insurance Extended Benefits is for “workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment.” It provides an additional thirteen weeks of benefits for states experiencing high unemployment. From the US Department of Labor again, State Unemployment Insurance Benefits have the … Continue reading
The Importance of Preventive Care Training in Medical Education
As a public health professional, the emphasis on preventive care is important. It remains to be seen what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can achieve in regards to preventive care. Currently, the ACA requires most health plans to cover a set of preventive services like shots and screening tests at no cost to the insured. … Continue reading
NAFTA Trucking Program Driving Equality for Mexico
The 1994 passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a major commitment to bolstering the interconnectedness between the United States and Mexico. Since implementation, the two countries have continued to realize increased economic growth and efficiency gains from integrated production. In 2012, Mexico was the second largest goods export destination for the … Continue reading
A Vicious Cycle of Narrow Networks: Trading Cost for Access for the Benefit of Whom?
Broader choice comes with a price. As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) slowly phases in, health policy experts predict a primary care physician shortage gap as well as a deep crack in the patient-physician relationship in the United States to grow deeper over time. Especially if the President doesn’t keep the promise he made to … Continue reading
