Policy & the Economy
July 1, 2025
When Memory Leads to Wrong Moves
In new situations, we tend to rely on past strategies to guide our decisions—even when a fresh approach may be better.
Yuval Salant, Jörg L. Spenkuch and David Almog
July 1, 2025
Fixing a Market Mismatch
Nurturing markets in areas where products or services are needed but conspicuously absent is about more than supply and demand.
Andrew Dillon and Nicoló Tomaselli
April 24, 2025
Policymakers Are Relying on Science More Than Ever
But there’s little common ground in the research that Republicans and Democrats cite.
Alexander C. Furnas, Timothy M. LaPira and Dashun Wang
April 23, 2025
What Trump Wants From Tariffs … and What the U.S. Might Get Instead
The administration hopes to bring back manufacturing and reduce trade deficits. But renegotiating trade may damage global trust in the U.S.
Nancy Qian
April 15, 2025
A New Era for Antitrust Enforcement
After the Biden administration’s broader approach to regulating competition, expect more-targeted enforcement in the years ahead.
R. Mark McCareins
March 1, 2025
Investors Are Gobbling Up Smaller Medical Practices. Should Regulators Be Concerned?
These under-the-radar transactions have driven up the price of anesthesia by about 30 percent.
Aslihan Asil, Paulo Ramos, Amanda Starc and Thomas G. Wollmann
February 17, 2025
Trump’s Trade War Is about More Than Trade
Winning its trade war with China would help the U.S. negotiate better trade terms, but American consumers and businesses could pay a heavy price.
Nancy Qian
February 1, 2025
What Happens to Communication When Part of a Team Is Relocated?
As one cancer center expanded, relocation of some clinicians led to fewer in-person interactions for all.
Jillian Chown and and coauthors
January 13, 2025
The Cold, Cold History of Political Conflict
Sustained temperature shifts during the “Little Ice Age” led to wars, mass migration, and instability. What does this mean for our current moment?
Murat Iyigun, Joris Mueller and Nancy Qian
January 7, 2025
China’s Economy Has Not Peaked
Chinese policymakers should allow for a more market-driven allocation of land, money, and labor.
Nancy Qian
December 3, 2024
Overnight Success? AI Has Been a Century in the Making.
For clues about the future of AI, it helps to understand the past.
Sergio Rebelo
December 1, 2024
Feeling Outraged? Think Twice Before Hitting “Share.”
Misinformation fuels outrage—which in turn leads to mindless social-media shares, a new study finds.
Killian L. McLoughlin, William Brady, Aden Goolsbee, Ben Kaise, Kate Klonick and M.J. Crockett
October 1, 2024
Guilty as Charged—Unless the Judge Went to Your School
For firms facing securities litigation, their executives’ alma mater could mean the difference between innocence and guilt.
Sterling Huang, Sugata Roychowdhury, Ewa Sletten and Yanping Xu
September 26, 2024
Take 5: How to Talk Politics (Constructively)
Research-backed advice for your next conversation.
Eli J. Finkel, Michalis Mamakos, William Brady, Jacob D. Teeny and Nour Kteily
September 24, 2024
When the Minimum Wage Rises, Do Men and Women Benefit Equally?
The policy is gender-neutral. The impact, less so.
Decio Coviello, Erika Deserranno and Nicola Persico
September 23, 2024
Perspective: America Needs Political Age Limits
If there is a mandatory retirement age for the top officers in the U.S. military, why isn’t there one for the commander in chief?
Nancy Qian
September 20, 2024
The Plan to Pay College Athletes
A proposed settlement granting NCAA athletes a cut of broadcast revenues stands to shake up major college sports.
R. Mark McCareins
September 1, 2024
Why Do Prices Rise Like Rockets … but Fall Like Feathers?
Behavioral psychology sheds light on a longstanding economic puzzle.
Sergio Rebelo, Pedro Teles and Miguel Santana
August 26, 2024
People Want to Know Sustainable Policies Can Work. So Show Them.
Success stories about policies from other countries make people more likely to support similar policies in the U.S., new research finds.
Matejas Mackin, Trevor Spelman and Adam Waytz
August 12, 2024
Would Trump Escalate the U.S.–China Trade War?
If former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House, he would likely impose sweeping tariffs against China. His policy agenda would harm lower-income households the most.
Nancy Qian
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The Insightful Leader
June 12, 2025 · 15:55 minutes
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