Policy & the Economy
May 27, 2020
The Wrong Way to Ramp Up COVID-19 Testing
Robust testing is key to safely reopening the economy. But a new model shows that if testing is not paired with “smart containment,” it could backfire.
Martin Eichenbaum, Sergio Rebelo and Mathias Trabandt
May 8, 2020
The U.S. Is Full of Innovative Thinkers. The Government Needs to Marshal All of Them to Fight Covid-19.
Here’s how we can accelerate efforts to reduce the spread, develop treatments, and find a vaccine.
Benjamin F. Jones
May 7, 2020
What Can the Federal Government Do to Get the Economy Back on Track?
A former White House economist weighs the pros and cons of job-retraining programs, aid for states, and universal basic income.
Benjamin Harris
May 5, 2020
Here’s How Americans Are Spending Their Stimulus Checks
Real-time data pinpoints what we’re buying, and who’s spending the fastest.
Scott R. Baker, R Farrokhnia, Steffen Meyer, Michaela Pagel and Constantine Yannelis
March 26, 2020
Containing COVID-19 Will Devastate the Economy. Here’s the Economic Case for Why It’s Still Our Best Option.
The death toll from failing to contain the virus will be far more costly to society.
Martin Eichenbaum, Sergio Rebelo and Mathias Trabandt
March 25, 2020
How to Shore Up State and Local Budgets during a Coronavirus Recession
State governments are responsible for implementing much of the social safety net. They’ll be looking to the federal government for extra help.
Therese McGuire and Kim Rueben
March 2, 2020
When Do Open Borders Make Economic Sense?
A new study provides a window into the logic behind various immigration policies.
João Guerreiro, Sergio Rebelo and Pedro Teles
November 4, 2019
Dozens of New Terrorist Organizations Emerge Each Year. Which Ones Will Become Most Dangerous?
A new tool gets at the answer using the same techniques that investors use to evaluate startups.
Yang Yang, Adam Pah and Brian Uzzi
October 4, 2019
Would "Medicare for All" Really Reduce Healthcare Costs in the U.S.?
Single payer drives significant savings in countries like Canada. But new research suggests it might play out differently in the U.S.
Jillian Chown, David Dranove, Craig Garthwaite and Jordan Keener
September 19, 2019
Is Maximizing Shareholder Value a Thing of the Past?
Top CEOs recently “redefined” the purpose of a corporation. Kellogg faculty weigh in.
Carola Frydman, Ravi Jagannathan, Robert Korajczyk, José Maria Liberti and Aaron Yoon
August 19, 2019
Why Antitrust Regulators Don’t Scare Big Tech
A business law expert explains why the market is more likely than the government to rein in Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google.
Mark McCareins
August 14, 2019
The Business Case for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Two economists propose a bipartisan immigration overhaul, with an eye towards the future of the labor force.
Benjamin Harris and Douglas Holtz-Eakin
August 13, 2019
When People Think Their Neighbors Support Trump, They’re More Likely to Express Anti-immigrant Views
Social norms are powerful—but fluid. A study of the 2016 election shows how they can change.
Georgy Egorov, Leonardo Bursztyn and Stefano Fiorin
August 1, 2019
China Weathered the Global Recession with an Aggressive Stimulus Package. But Did It Prop Up the Wrong Firms?
A cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of credit expansion.
Lin William Cong, Haoyu Gao, Jacopo Ponticelli and Xiaoguang Yang
July 1, 2019
Do Soda Taxes Work? It’s Complicated.
A look at the Philadelphia soda tax shows that it had some benefits—but it didn’t stop people from buying sugary drinks.
Stephan Seiler, Anna Tuchman and Song Yao
July 1, 2019
We’re at a Data Privacy Crossroads. Where Do We Go From Here?
What individuals, regulators, and companies need to consider as we live more of our lives online.
Jennifer Cutler and Samuel Goldberg
June 26, 2019
Do High Local Taxes Really Hurt Economic Growth?
Corporate incentives and low tax rates are supposed to make a city more business-friendly. An economist explains why that’s often not the case.
Therese McGuire
June 3, 2019
A Nation’s Wealth May Depend on How Much Its Workers Can Learn on the Job
New research suggests that formal schooling is not the panacea to global inequality that many have long believed it to be.
David Lagakos, Benjamin Moll, Tommaso Porzio, Nancy Qian and Todd Schoellman
June 3, 2019
What Causes Stock Market Swings?
Tariffs? Job reports? Oil prices? A new volatility index pinpoints which factors make investors feel uncertain.
Scott R. Baker, Nicholas Bloom, Steven J. Davis and Kyle Kost
May 2, 2019
How Big Is the Gender Gap in Science Research Funding?
Two new studies look at who wins the prestigious grants and prizes that can make or break a scientist’s career.
Brian Uzzi, Diego FM Oliveira, Yifang Ma and Teresa Woodruff
Add Insight to your inbox.
This website uses cookies and similar technologies to analyze and optimize site usage. By continuing to use our websites, you consent to this. For more information, please read our Privacy Statement.
The Insightful Leader
March 4, 2025 · 23:15 minutes
February 4, 2025 · 11:27 minutes
