Policy & the Economy
![A soybean seed led Brazilian farm workers to industrialized jobs.](/imager/clientcontent/116234/Brazilian-soybeans_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/116234/Brazilian-soybeans_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/116234/Brazilian-soybeans_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![People visit a bank](/imager/clientcontent/108393/bank_final_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/108393/bank_final_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/108393/bank_final_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![A man picks potatoes, which helped bring peace](/imager/clientcontent/106491/Potatoes-picking_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/106491/Potatoes-picking_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/106491/Potatoes-picking_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![Social mobility and democracy](/imager/clientcontent/100019/social-mobility_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/100019/social-mobility_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/100019/social-mobility_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![](/imager/clientcontent/92254/corporate-taxes_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/92254/corporate-taxes_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/92254/corporate-taxes_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![Privatizing Medicaid drug benefits reduces spending](/imager/clientcontent/91651/Medicaid-drug-privitization_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/91651/Medicaid-drug-privitization_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/91651/Medicaid-drug-privitization_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![Terrorism vs. mental illness as a reason for violence](/imager/clientcontent/91358/motivated-reasoning_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/91358/motivated-reasoning_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/91358/motivated-reasoning_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![a family adds assets to its house](/imager/clientcontent/59630/houseLeverage_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/59630/houseLeverage_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/59630/houseLeverage_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![The economic impact of disasters on supply chains.](/imager/clientcontent/81510/earthquake_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/81510/earthquake_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/81510/earthquake_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![The impact of healthcare mergers and acquisitions on price.](/imager/clientcontent/81257/hospitals_final_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/81257/hospitals_final_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/81257/hospitals_final_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![](/imager/clientcontent/81249/accountant_final_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/81249/accountant_final_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/81249/accountant_final_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![Workers stack companies with a forklift.](/imager/clientcontent/73166/Vertical-Integration_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/73166/Vertical-Integration_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/73166/Vertical-Integration_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![Will consumers price shop for healthcare?](/imager/clientcontent/73007/healthcare-costs-revised_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/73007/healthcare-costs-revised_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/73007/healthcare-costs-revised_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![Donating food is paternalistic aid](/imager/clientcontent/72456/food_drive-final_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/72456/food_drive-final_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/72456/food_drive-final_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![How are biracial people perceived in terms of race](/imager/clientcontent/61382/december_race6_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/61382/december_race6_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/61382/december_race6_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![People pass an e-cigarette billboard](/imager/clientcontent/60487/smoker_alt_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/60487/smoker_alt_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/60487/smoker_alt_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![A robot fills out a tax form.](/imager/clientcontent/59377/robottax_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/59377/robottax_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/59377/robottax_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![a family adds assets to its house](/imager/clientcontent/59630/houseLeverage_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/59630/houseLeverage_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/59630/houseLeverage_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![a doctor examines a patient](/imager/clientcontent/60497/healthcare_final_171204_093537_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/60497/healthcare_final_171204_093537_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/60497/healthcare_final_171204_093537_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
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
![](/imager/clientcontent/45228/sales-tax_ed70ba7fff77c9fd60c2624db9acdf1d.jpg 600w, /imager/clientcontent/45228/sales-tax_9c164550f17b68a3a905c55008f1b636.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/45228/sales-tax_2ea97daf9584eb0a9356116bfb5b61d0.jpg 25w)
November 2, 2017
How Do People Respond to Sales Tax Increases?
New research shows we aren’t as blasé as economists thought.
Scott R. Baker, Stephanie Johnson and Lorenz Kueng
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