Tag Archives: United States

“I Got a Rock”: Policy Gaps in American Critical Minerals Stockpiling 
America / National Security / Trade

“I Got a Rock”: Policy Gaps in American Critical Minerals Stockpiling 

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Executive Summary  Introduction  On April 4th, 2025, China imposed export controls on seven rare earth minerals and associated magnets in response to tariff increases by the United States. In the month these measures were formally in effect, American automakers, defense contractors, and technology firms experienced logistical delays, forced to scale back or even halt production at plants across North America. At the urging of hurt industries, the Trump Administration initiated negotiations in May, culminating in a 90-day tariff … Continue reading →

The Twin Deficit Hypothesis: An Analysis of the U.S.
Debt / Economy / Fiscal policy / Trade

The Twin Deficit Hypothesis: An Analysis of the U.S.

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Executive Summary Introduction Government deficits and the trade balance have seemed to fluctuate in tandem over time. This has given rise to theories connecting the two deficits to explain their relationship. U.S. fiscal deficits have ballooned in recent years, bringing renewed attention to the twin deficit hypothesis (TDH) and applying it to advanced economies. Modeling … Continue reading →

America / Economy / Fiscal policy / Politics / Presidency

President Biden and the State of Inflation

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Executive Summary  Last week, President Biden outlined his plan to counter inflation as the rate rises to around 7%  The President placed the blame of inflation on rising prices in a myriad of sectors including motor vehicles, prescription drugs, energy, and childcare  His solutions include programs to cut costs as well as protect wages by … Continue reading →

Politics

Gig Workers and the Debate Over California’s Proposition 22

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Introduction Over the course of the pandemic, many Americans turned to app-based food-delivery services at unprecedented levels. The Wall Street Journal reported that between March-April 2020, as many localities imposed lockdowns or individuals themselves decided to self-quarantine, new customer acquisitions by food-delivery services increased from 19,810 to 33,376 customers. This sharp increase in business for app-based delivery … Continue reading →

America / Culture / Labor Force

Differences in Time Commitment Between Male and Female Workers, and Its Relation to the Gender Wage Gap

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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 →

A Dishonest Truth: Corruption in the U.S.A.
America / Economy / Gov. Officials / Rule of Law

A Dishonest Truth: Corruption in the U.S.A.

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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 →

Exchanging Trash for Treasure
Economy / Environment / Fiscal policy / Tax / Taxes

Exchanging Trash for Treasure

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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 →