Policy & the Economy
December 1, 2022
What Happens to Worker Productivity after a Minimum Wage Increase?
A pay raise boosts productivity for some—but the impact on the bottom line is more complicated.
Decio Coviello, Erika Deserranno and Nicola Persico
December 1, 2022
How COVID Changed the Way Americans Think about Economic Inequality
For some, the pandemic laid bare the social factors that can keep people down. But not everyone adopted a new perspective.
Hannah J. Birnbaum, Andrea G. Dittmann, Nicole Stephens, Ellen C. Reinhart, Rebecca M. Carey and Hazel Rose Markus
November 28, 2022
Post-War Reconstruction Is a Good Investment
Ukraine’s European neighbors will need to make a major financial commitment to help rebuild its economy after the war. Fortunately, as the legacy of the post–World War II Marshall Plan shows, investing in Ukraine’s future will also serve Europe’s own long-term interests.
Nancy Qian
November 1, 2022
How Experts Make Complex Decisions
By studying 200 million chess moves, researchers shed light on what gives players an advantage—and what trips them up.
Yuval Salant and Jörg L. Spenkuch
October 1, 2022
Why Did So Many Ukrainians Die in the Soviet Great Famine?
They perished at a much higher rate than ethnic Russians during what’s known as Holodomor. A new study suggests this was a deliberate policy decision.
Andrei Markevich, Natalya Naumenko and Nancy Qian
September 28, 2022
China’s Future Will Reflect Russia’s
China learned from Russia’s post-1991 experience and pursued its economic liberalization with more care. But it ultimately could not avoid the political implications of pro-market policies and is now following Russia down the road to autocracy—continuing a century-long pattern of mirroring its neighbor’s historical trajectory.
Nancy Qian
August 26, 2022
The Food Crisis Is Bigger Than Ukraine
While Russia’s war has undoubtedly caused real problems in global food markets, they are different and more complex than what most news coverage suggests.
Nancy Qian
August 1, 2022
For Those Living in Poverty, Therapy Can Have Benefits Beyond Mental Health
A large study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy can also improve physical health and economic outcomes.
Nathan Baker, Bryan T. Gharad, Dean Karlan, Angela L. Ofori-Atta and Christopher Udry
July 5, 2022
Where Does Capitalism Go Next?
A conversation with 2025 Nobel Prize winner Philippe Aghion about “creative destruction,” growth, and designing a more equitable capitalist future.
Benjamin F. Jones and Philippe Aghion
June 3, 2022
Did China’s One-Child Policy Prompt Households to Save More?
Researchers investigate whether the lack of a “family safety net” is responsible for China’s singularly high household savings rate.
Scott R. Baker, Efraim Benmelech, Zhishu Yang and Qi Jacky Zhang
June 1, 2022
How Local Disruptions Can Affect the Global Supply Chain
A new study of the Kenyan flower industry can help buyers and suppliers prepare for uncertainty.
Christopher Ksoll, Rocco Macchiavello and Ameet Morjaria
June 1, 2022
How One Tax Reform Led to More Women in the Workforce Decades Later
A study of a major fiscal change in Italy shows how much individual lives are affected when governments get more efficient.
Nicola Bianchi, Michela Giorcelli and Enrica Maria Martino
May 1, 2022
Tackling Global Poverty Takes More Than Cash
New research points to the power of including psychosocial interventions—such as group problem-solving—alongside economic ones.
Dean Karlan, Christopher Udry and and coauthors
April 29, 2022
Why Are U.S. Companies Hoarding So Much Cash?
More than anything else, it comes down to taxes.
Michael Faulkender, Kristine W. Hankins and Mitchell A. Petersen
April 8, 2022
How Does Economic Uncertainty Play Out at the Local Level?
Indexing policy uncertainty by state provides new insights—and offers local governments a cautionary tale.
Scott R. Baker, Steve Davis and Jeffrey Levy
April 6, 2022
3 Economic Implications of Russia’s War on Ukraine
“We are seeing a world that’s going to be less than the sum of its parts.”
Sergio Rebelo
April 4, 2022
When Interest Rates Climb, Some Workers Are Left Behind
When the Fed moves to cool the economy, it can disproportionately hurt female, Black, and less-educated workers in slack labor markets.
Nittai K. Bergman, David A. Matsa and Michael Weber
March 17, 2022
Will Putin's War Slow China's Growth?
The additional spike in food and energy prices caused by the Russia–Ukraine conflict could be devastating for China. But the country’s neutral political stance toward the war may also yield economic gains.
Nancy Qian
March 11, 2022
How Climate Disasters Ripple Through the Labor Market
Environmental crises are increasingly leading workers to migrate. What happens next?
Albert Christoph, Paula Bustos and Jacopo Ponticelli
February 10, 2022
6 Takeaways on Today’s Economy
A finance professor breaks down the data on inflation, the labor market, and the future of cities.
Sergio Rebelo
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