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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
The EPA recently held 11 sessions for public input on the agency’s new rules to restrict carbon emissions from existing power plants. While large coal interests and major labor unions were represented, the vast majority of attendees represented environmental advocacy groups (or themselves) and favored regulation. Some might suggest that this indicates broad support for … Continue reading
