Policy & the Economy
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 6, 2022
The Thorny Challenge of Measuring Success in “Systems-of-Care” Networks
These networks, which help direct people to the medical and social services they need, must tread carefully in choosing which metrics to use in decision-making.
Karen Smilowitz, Michelle Shumate and and coauthors
August 1, 2022
How Former Enemies Can Develop Trust
A simple intervention can help diffuse animosity toward onetime armed foes, a study shows.
Emile Bruneau, Andres Casas, Boaz Hameiri and Nour Kteily
July 5, 2022
Where Does Capitalism Go Next?
A conversation on “creative destruction,” growth, and designing a more equitable capitalist future.
Benjamin F. Jones and Philippe Aghion
June 8, 2022
Take 5: Democracies and How They Thrive
A look at this form of government at a time when democracy is under stress around the world.
Georgy Egorov, Ameet Morjaria, Sandeep Baliga, Nancy Qian and and coauthors
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 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.”
Larry Summers and Janice C. Eberly
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 29, 2022
Why Sanctions Against Russia Are Falling Short
Game theory offers an explanation.
Sandeep Baliga
April 26, 2022
China Is Caught in a COVID-19 Trap of Its Own Making
Why moderating its “zero-COVID” strategy is proving difficult.
Nancy Qian
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 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 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?
Charles Nathanson, Anna Tuchman, Filippo Mezzanotti, Therese McGuire and Sergio Rebelo
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 2, 2022
Psychological Factors—More Than Demographics—Drive Vaccine Behavior
The finding gives policymakers and medical professionals an important tool.
Angela Y. Lee, Jane Jiaqian Wang, Ulf Bockenholt, Leonard Lee, Rafal Ohme and Catherine Yeung
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.
Leander Heldring
January 21, 2022
It May Be Time to Reconsider That Noncompete Agreement
Federal regulators are cracking down on hiring practices that restrict employees’ wages and ability to work for competitors. Here’s what companies should know.
R. Mark McCareins
November 2, 2021
The Health Department Gave Your Favorite Restaurant an 85. What on Earth Does That Mean?
Regulators should consider tweaking their scoring systems to make food-safety ratings more informative.
Tami Kim and Daniel Martin
November 1, 2021
What Businesses Must Do to Curtail Climate Change
We need to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. This will require a new system of incentives.
Meghan Busse
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