Policy & the Economy
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field of wilting flowers and abandoned trucks in front of greenhouse.
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.

italian town with nursery school
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.

two pill bottles stand on a pharmacy counter.
June 1, 2022

Consumers Pay When Generic Drug Companies Collude. Here’s a Way to Stop Them.

Price-fixing by pharmaceutical cartels can cost billions, and the threat of lawsuits isn’t enough to deter it.

inflatable dollar sign tied down with mountains in background
May 3, 2022

Larry Summers on Inflation and the Fed’s Attempts to Cool the Economy

In a recent Q&A with Kellogg’s Jan Eberly, Summers is skeptical that the economy can achieve a “soft landing.”

group of people engaged in a problem-solving exercise
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.

April 29, 2022

Why Are U.S. Companies Hoarding So Much Cash?

More than anything else, it comes down to taxes.

man with giant wrench closes oil pipeline
April 29, 2022

Why Sanctions Against Russia Are Falling Short

Game theory offers an explanation.

“Smart containment” offers better health and economic outcomes than quarantines alone.
April 26, 2022

China Is Caught in a COVID-19 Trap of Its Own Making

Why moderating its “zero-COVID” strategy is proving difficult.

people in various states on a U.S. map look at a graph measuring policy uncertainty.
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.

planet earth seen from space cracking on the surface
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.”

four doctors brainstorm a medical innovation
April 5, 2022

We Hear a Lot about New Drugs. But What Spurs Innovation in Medical Procedures?

There’s been little research on what brings about new procedures, despite how life-changing they can be.

group of working class people at bar watch TV of fed interest rate hike
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.

patient hides cigarette behind back from doctor
April 1, 2022

How Social Stigma Can Dissuade Us from Taking Care of Our Health

A new study explores the decisions that go into seeking preventative care.

Investors discuss doing business in China
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.

Tax structure impacts career choice
March 14, 2022

5 Things You May Not Know about Tax Policy

How do income taxes impact people’s career choices? And do soda taxes actually work?

March 11, 2022

How Climate Disasters Ripple Through the Labor Market

Environmental crises are increasingly leading workers to migrate. What happens next?

aspects of the economy in mural form
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.

person walking toward vaccine clinic
February 2, 2022

Psychological Factors—More Than Demographics—Drive Vaccine Behavior

The finding gives policymakers and medical professionals an important tool.

stopwatch as wrecking ball demolishing skyscraper
February 1, 2022

Is an Efficient Government Always a Good Thing?

History sheds light on how processes designed to serve citizens can also be put to nefarious ends.

woman working from home couch with dog
February 1, 2022

Covid Hit in an Era of Broadband and Zoom. How Much Did That Help the Economy?

A new study sheds light on the impact of remote work on GDP in 2020.

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The Insightful Leader

April 17, 2023  ·  17:43 minutes