Policy & the Economy

June 7, 2018
Why Certain Types of Elections Favor Extreme Candidates
Winners can differ when voting is done by district versus at-large.
Andrew Beath, Fotini Christia, Georgy Egorov and Ruben Enikolopov

June 4, 2018
How a Genetically Modified Soybean Helped Modernize an Economy
As Brazil’s farms became more efficient, workers shifted to manufacturing.
Paula Bustos, Bruno Caprettini, Jacopo Ponticelli and Gabriel Garber

May 8, 2018
How to Make Economic Development More Inclusive
Two finance experts discuss the need to tailor strategies to specific underserved communities.
Janice C. Eberly and Don Graves

May 2, 2018
How the Potato Ushered in an Era of Peace
Its arrival in Europe had consequences that went far beyond diet.
Murat Iyigun, Nathan Nunn and Nancy Qian

April 5, 2018
Is Social Mobility Essential to Democracy?
It depends on the size and assumptions of the middle class.
Daron Acemoglu, Georgy Egorov and Konstantin Sonin

March 5, 2018
Does Lowering the Corporate Tax Rate Spur Economic Growth?
Results of a new study have implications for the recent U.S. tax overhaul.
Nir Jaimovich and Sergio Rebelo

March 2, 2018
Privatizing Medicaid Drug Benefits Reduces Spending
The savings come without any decrease in quality of care, new research shows.
David Dranove, Christopher Ody and Amanda Starc

March 1, 2018
When Do People Label Attackers as Terrorists versus Mentally Ill?
New research shows that people’s assumptions go beyond stereotypes.
Masi Noor, Nour Kteily, Birte Siem and Agostino Mazziotta

February 5, 2018
Take 5: How Do Households Manage Fluctuating Finances?
Plus, how policymakers can help them manage better.
Janice C. Eberly, Lorenz Kueng, Scott R. Baker, Anthony DeFusco and John Mondragon

February 2, 2018
Localized Natural Disasters Can Hurt an Entire Country’s Economy
A new study helps explain the economic ripple effects on supply chains.
Vasco Carvalho, Makoto Nirei, Yukiko Saito and Alireza Tahbaz-Salehi

February 1, 2018
When Healthcare Providers Consolidate, Medical Bills Rise
Can anything be done to rein in this expensive trend?
Cory Capps, David Dranove and Christopher Ody

February 1, 2018
Audit Regulations Meant to Curb Accounting Scandals Are Working, Mostly
A post-Enron oversight board is a useful example for the regulation of other industries.
Daniel Aobdia

January 5, 2018
What’s Behind the Current Wave of Vertical Integration?
From Amazon–Whole Foods to CVS–Aetna, companies are reconfiguring for an uncertain future. Four strategy professors discuss.
Craig Garthwaite, Meghan Busse, Amanda Starc and Mark McCareins

January 4, 2018
Will People Price Shop for Healthcare?
A new study says yes, but only if the prices are easy to understand.
Elena Prager

January 3, 2018
The Complicated Logic Behind Donating to a Food Pantry Rather than Giving a Hungry Person Cash
If we were in need, we’d likely want money. So what accounts for that difference?
Juliana Schroeder, Adam Waytz and Nicholas Epley

December 6, 2017
How Are Black–White Biracial People Perceived in Terms of Race?
Understanding the answer—and why black and white Americans may perceive biracial people differently—is increasingly important in a multiracial society.
Arnold K. Ho, Nour Kteily and J. M. Chen

December 4, 2017
Why Banning E-cigarette Ads on TV Could Backfire
A new study finds that an increase in e-cigarette ads leads to a decrease in traditional cigarette sales.
Anna Tuchman

December 1, 2017
How a “Robot Tax” Could Reduce Income Inequality
This tax can also be part of a plan to improve the economy as a whole.
João Guerreiro, Sergio Rebelo and Pedro Teles

December 1, 2017
Measuring the Impact of Dodd–Frank on Household Leverage
The regulation’s attempt to prevent people from taking on mortgages they can’t repay may not work as intended.
Anthony DeFusco, Stephanie Johnson and John Mondragon

December 1, 2017
Four Ways to Improve the Efficiency of U.S. Healthcare Markets
An economist discusses how to ensure the right mix of access, affordability, and quality.
Amanda Starc
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