Focus on Political Science
December 05, 2011
In a December 1 commentary, University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato examined the race for the U.S. Senate state-by-state. He finds that the odds of Democrats keeping control have improved.
A December 1 AARP poll found that three-quarters of people favor discouraging attack ads and full disclosure of those paying for them.
In a November 30 commentary, Brookings Institution political scientist William Galston examined the decline in Barack Obama’s support since 2008 in terms of demographic groups. Young people and Latinos show the largest…
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Focus on Housing
December 06, 2011
On December 5, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York posted a commentary on development of the housing bubble in the 2000s. The behavior of private investors was key, it says.
On November 14, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis published a study showing that slow growth in commercial and residential construction is a primary cause of high unemployment.
A November 11 paper by MIT economist Plamen Nenov found that the housing bust and widespread negative home equity, which prevents people from selling or moving from their homes, has severely constrained…
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Focus on International Trade
December 07, 2011
On December 5, the World Bank published a working paper examining China’s role in the world trading system.
Also on December 5, the World Bank published a working paper on the shifting nature of trade interventions and how to evaluate them.
And on December 5, the U.S. Trade Representative released a paper trade policy reforms that would cut down on illegal international trade in wildlife and wild plant products.
On November 21, Global Trade Alert published a report on threats to the global trading system.
On November 8, the Center…
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Focus on Energy and Environment
December 08, 2011
In a December 6 commentary, University of Chicago law professor Richard Epstein argued against using private legal action through the courts to deal with global warming. It should be dealt with through coordinated action at the federal level, he says.
On December 6, the World Bank posted a working paper examining how green policies can be integrated into growth policy.
A December 1 Pew poll found that the number of Americans who believe there is solid evidence of global warming has risen to 63 percent from 59 percent last year and 57 percent in 2009.…
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Focus on International Economics
December 09, 2011
On December 8, the Asian Development Bank published a working paper which argues that China must improve the distribution of income so that domestic consumption can replace exports as the driver of growth in the future.
A December 6 Pew poll found deep divisions regarding immigration policy depending on a person’s age, race, education level, and party affiliation.
In a December 1 paper for the Asian Development Bank, Columbia University economist Philip Levy argues that much of the ongoing dispute between the U.S. and China over trade policy is due to…
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Focus on Tax Policy
December 12, 2011
A December 9 NPR report was unable to find any evidence that a small surtax on millionaires would have any impact on business hiring.
On December 6, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee held a joint hearing on the tax treatment of financial products that are often used for tax avoidance.
On December 6, Chapman University law professor Bobby Dexter posted a paper arguing that a cut in the payroll tax is economically superior to extension of the Bush tax cuts.
In a December 5 commentary, Howard Gleckman of the…
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