Election
The Electoral Map - Presidential Race Ratings and Swing States - Election 2012 - NYTimes.com:
9 Swing States, Critical to Presidential Race, Are Mixed Lot - NYTimes.com
Politics
Obama’s Watershed Move on Gay Marriage - NYTimes.com
Environment
How Green Are Electric Cars? Depends on Where You Plug In - NYTimes.com
-includes this map of the amount of greenhouse gases (in mpg equivalent) released by driving an electric car in various cities across the country
U.S. Slaps Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels - NYTimes.com
-Good for manufacturers, but bad for installers and consumers
Economics
Coming - ‘Taxmageddon’ - NYTimes.com
-excellent graph of tax rates by income percentile from 1960-2004
Easy Useless Economics - NYTimes.com
-Krugman argues that a lack of jobs, not debt, is our biggest economic problem
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States Most Upwardly Mobile - NYTimes.com
-A new report finds that NY, NJ, and MD had the most upward mobility over the past 10 years while LA, OK, and SC had the least
Free exchange: Zero-sum debate | The Economist
"Economists are rethinking the idea that capital should not be taxed"
Health
Do We Need More Advice About Eating Well? - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com
Medicare To Tie Doctors' Pay To Quality, Cost Of Care - Kaiser Health News
-here's a related sample physician feedback form on their use of patient services and the associated costs
Why French Parents Are Superior (in One Way) - NYTimes.com
-"I think North American parenting at its best is, largely, better for kids. But there is one exception: food."
Nashville Mobile Market's message spreads | The Tennessean | tennessean.com
Food Deserts and Obesity Role Challenged - NYTimes.com
Childhood Obesity
-the official HHS report
Study Finds Wide Variations in Salt Content of Fast Food - ABC News
-the same menu items at the same chains contain more salt in the US
A Mathematical Challenge to Obesity - NYTimes.com
-Mathematicians say the main reason obesity has risen is that food is cheaper and more plentiful
Education
Mayor Dean to be called to testify in Metro schools redistricting trial | The Tennessean | tennessean.com
How ‘early warning systems’ are keeping kids in school - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post
Poverty
The Power of Nursing - NYTimes.com
-discusses the remarkable results of the Nurse-Family Partnership program and the intermittently successful attempts to replicate it
Poor girls aren't condemned to pregnancy, poverty - CNN.com
A new study finds that pregnant teenagers who miscarry don't end up any better off than those who give birth, but one commentator responds that doesn't mean teen pregnancy doesn't hurt girls
Other
Unauthorized Immigrant Population: National and State Trends, 2010 | Pew Hispanic Center
-the population of unauthorized immigrants declined from 2007 to 2010
Rapid Construction Techniques Transform Infrastructure Repair - NYTimes.com
-after the MN bridge collapse (focusing event), MA and other states began examining their own bridges more closely, but the also didn't want to close down roads for months or years at a time . . . the solution in some areas are pre-fabricated bridges/roads that can often be installed in one weekend
Life after College
What They Don't Tell You at Graduation - WSJ.com
by Charles Wheelan (hint: that name should ring a bell)
The Downside of Cohabiting Before Marriage - NYTimes.com
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Links, 4-11-12
Rick Santorum has dropped out of the race, only a few days after Gingrich declared that Romney was "conservative enough" to win the Republican nomination.
President Obama has gone on the offensive against Paul Ryan's budget plan (calling it "thinly veiled social Dawinism") and is trying to tie Mitt Romney to the plan. The Economist wonders whether that's a winning strategy.
Nine major physicians' groups released a report identifying 45 tests and procedures as overused and unproven. Accountable Care Organizations, like this one in NJ, are being formed to try and coordinate care and cut down on unnecessary procedures while increasing quality of care.
Here's an interesting snapshot of which countries spend the most on groceries
The first "World Happiness Report," which examines what makes people happy in different places, was released. Here are some of the takeaway points. The heading summarizes these as "be wealthy, married, and have a job," but there are some twists -- including this one about employment:
President Obama has gone on the offensive against Paul Ryan's budget plan (calling it "thinly veiled social Dawinism") and is trying to tie Mitt Romney to the plan. The Economist wonders whether that's a winning strategy.
Nine major physicians' groups released a report identifying 45 tests and procedures as overused and unproven. Accountable Care Organizations, like this one in NJ, are being formed to try and coordinate care and cut down on unnecessary procedures while increasing quality of care.
Here's an interesting snapshot of which countries spend the most on groceries
The first "World Happiness Report," which examines what makes people happy in different places, was released. Here are some of the takeaway points. The heading summarizes these as "be wealthy, married, and have a job," but there are some twists -- including this one about employment:
Unemployment obviously reduces happiness, but not because of what you may think. It’s not the loss of income, but the loss of things like self-esteem and workplace social life that lead to a drop in happiness. High unemployment rates can trigger unhappiness even in the employed, who suddenly become fearful of losing their jobs. According to the study, even low-quality jobs yield more satisfaction than being unemployed.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
More Poverty Policy Links, 4-8-12
A front page article in the NY Times today explores the reactions of states and individuals to welfare reform. The article interviews single mothers who've come up with a wide range of solutions after their benefits have been cut off, discusses what states have done with extra money from their block grants after reducing the rolls, and asks scholars with various viewpoints whether the law has helped or hurt. Here's some background on how the article was written and the difficulty of measuring poverty (particularly interesting is the divergence between reported income and reported spending).
One popular talking about is the "culture of poverty". The New York Times featured a piece not too long ago exploring a resurgence of this notion, but from a different point of view. Here's some history on how the term got started. An article for teachers and school officials calls the old view a "myth" and suggests some ways to overcome it.
Lastly, new data indicate that more children are living in high-poverty areas -- that concentrated poverty may be increasing.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Poverty & Policy Links, 4-6-12
A new measure of poverty has been developed. Here's the story behind the new measure of poverty that's being rolled out and some background on how the calculations in the article were made. The Economist agrees that the new measure is an improvement.
PBS reports on Dan Ariely's study of American opinions on wealth inequality in which Americans consistently underrated the amount of inequality in our country. And here's Timothy Noah's essay on "why everyone overestimates American equality of opportunity". Meanwhile, a recent analysis finds that the only major difference in mobility between the US and other developed nations is that fewer lower-income people become middle-income.
A new investigation of government programs finds that many people who oppose welfare and consider themselves self-sufficient Middle Class Americans accept a wide range of government aid. Indeed, only 32% of entitlement benefits go to families in the bottom quintile of the income distribution.
Social entrepreneur David Bornstein writes that anti-poverty programs should focus on developing people's capabilities and other "soft" skills rather than measures of "well-being". Here are some examples of these types of programs.
Mixed-income housing is being implemented with mixed success in Pittsburgh.
Nick Kristof writes about the impact of "toxic stress" on students
Here's the story of a young, white, homeless couple who defy stereotypes
Here's The Daily Show's take on recent rhetoric surrounding poverty
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Links, 4-4-12
The discussion in the Supreme Court last week prompted outrage among many liberal commentators:
Steven Pearlstein writes that the questions about requiring citizens to eat broccoli or buy cell phones misunderstand the issue because the power to tax, regulate, or mandate anything (e.g. airbags) always runs the risk of taxing, regulating, or mandating "stupidly".
Paul Begala writes that "your health care is now in the hands of the right-wing majority of the Supreme Court" and writes that
And Supreme Court expert Jeffrey Toobin writes that the characterization of the health care mandate as "unprecedented" by Anthony Kennedy and others is a "misperception" on all levels and that Congress has had sole authority to determine how to implement the Commerce Clause the last 75 years.
Politico wonders what's next for health care if the mandate is struck down, with some worrying that it might pave the way for the repeal of environmental and labor laws.
The Economist wonders whether there are still Conservatives who oppose the health care law but who believe it's constitutional or if everybody has conflated good/bad with constitutional/unconstitutional.
Nate Silver explores whether the current Supreme Court is the most conservative in modern history
President Obama went after the GOP budget designed by Paul Ryan, calling it a "radical vision"
60 Minutes reported Sunday on new research finding that sugar is toxic and can lead to heart disease and cancer independent of its effects on weight gain.
Many of you wrote about early childhood education in your ed policy papers. Here's a brief from University of Chicago's Nobel Prize winning James Heckman on the importance of investment in young children.
A new report argues that while more Americans obtaining college degrees, the numbers haven't increased fast enough to keep up with the demands of the private sector. The US now ranks 16th in the world in percentage of adults with a college degree.
With a Romney nomination (Romination?) looking more and more likely, the Washington Post says to let the veepstakes begin and explores ten of the most likely nominees
Utah's Republican Attorney General is pushing for a slightly less confrontational crackdown on illegal immigration, including allowing guest worker visas.
Steven Pearlstein writes that the questions about requiring citizens to eat broccoli or buy cell phones misunderstand the issue because the power to tax, regulate, or mandate anything (e.g. airbags) always runs the risk of taxing, regulating, or mandating "stupidly".
Paul Begala writes that "your health care is now in the hands of the right-wing majority of the Supreme Court" and writes that
The oral arguments on the Affordable Care Act give us very little reason to have faith in the wisdom of the court. Some of the justices came off as smug, arrogant, and frighteningly detached from the realities of everyday life in America
And Supreme Court expert Jeffrey Toobin writes that the characterization of the health care mandate as "unprecedented" by Anthony Kennedy and others is a "misperception" on all levels and that Congress has had sole authority to determine how to implement the Commerce Clause the last 75 years.
For example, the Justices had no trouble upholding the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which used the clause to mandate the integration of hotels and restaurants. “It may be argued that Congress could have pursued other methods to eliminate the obstructions it found in interstate commerce caused by racial discrimination,” Justice Tom C. Clark wrote, for his unanimous brethren. “But this is a matter of policy that rests entirely with the Congress, not with the courts. How obstructions in commerce may be removed—what means are to be employed—is within the sound and exclusive discretion of the Congress.” In other words, Justice Kennedy had it backward. The “heavy burden” is not on the defenders of the law but on its challengers. Acts of Congress, like the health-care law, are presumed to be constitutional, and it is—or should be—a grave and unusual step for unelected, unaccountable, life-tenured judges to overrule the work of the democratically elected branches of government.
Politico wonders what's next for health care if the mandate is struck down, with some worrying that it might pave the way for the repeal of environmental and labor laws.
The Economist wonders whether there are still Conservatives who oppose the health care law but who believe it's constitutional or if everybody has conflated good/bad with constitutional/unconstitutional.
Nate Silver explores whether the current Supreme Court is the most conservative in modern history
President Obama went after the GOP budget designed by Paul Ryan, calling it a "radical vision"
60 Minutes reported Sunday on new research finding that sugar is toxic and can lead to heart disease and cancer independent of its effects on weight gain.
Many of you wrote about early childhood education in your ed policy papers. Here's a brief from University of Chicago's Nobel Prize winning James Heckman on the importance of investment in young children.
A new report argues that while more Americans obtaining college degrees, the numbers haven't increased fast enough to keep up with the demands of the private sector. The US now ranks 16th in the world in percentage of adults with a college degree.
With a Romney nomination (Romination?) looking more and more likely, the Washington Post says to let the veepstakes begin and explores ten of the most likely nominees
Utah's Republican Attorney General is pushing for a slightly less confrontational crackdown on illegal immigration, including allowing guest worker visas.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Links, 3-28-12
Here's an overview of what the Supreme Court will hear about health care this week. The hearings represent a "moment of truth" for health care reform. Among other things, the court will decide what parts of the health care law, if any, can stand if the mandate is unconstitutional. The federal government is arguing that they cannot require insurers to accept all applicants or cover pre-existing conditions without the mandate. Here's an update on what's happened the past two days.
In other health news, hospitals and other medical providers charge different users and insurers vastly different amounts for the same procedures.
Romney may be the consensus Republican candidate now, but that doesn't mean everybody is okay with that. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Romney needs to check his watch from time to time and realize "it is 2012, not the mid-1970s". And Rick Santorum said that Romney was the "worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama" on the issue of health care.
Newt Gingrich, meanwhile, is scaling back his campaign -- firing one-third of his staff and replacing his campaign manager
The Economist reports that nudges are catching on around the world.
Climatologists report that the Earth is on the brink of crossing a tipping point past which global warming will be irreversible.
The electric car seems to be losing steam.
In other health news, hospitals and other medical providers charge different users and insurers vastly different amounts for the same procedures.
Romney may be the consensus Republican candidate now, but that doesn't mean everybody is okay with that. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Romney needs to check his watch from time to time and realize "it is 2012, not the mid-1970s". And Rick Santorum said that Romney was the "worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama" on the issue of health care.
Newt Gingrich, meanwhile, is scaling back his campaign -- firing one-third of his staff and replacing his campaign manager
The Economist reports that nudges are catching on around the world.
Climatologists report that the Earth is on the brink of crossing a tipping point past which global warming will be irreversible.
The electric car seems to be losing steam.
THE future would appear bright for the electric car. Gasoline prices are high. The government is spending billions on battery technology. Auto companies are preparing to roll out a dozen new electrified models. Concern is growing about the climate impacts of burning oil. And tough new fuel economy standards are looming.
Yet the state of the electric car is dismal, the victim of hyped expectations, technological flops, high costs and a hostile political climate. General Motors has temporarily suspended production of the plug-in electric Chevy Volt because of low sales. Nissan’s all-electric Leaf is struggling in the market. A number of start-up electric vehicle and battery companies have folded. And the federal government has slowed its multibillion-dollar program of support for advanced technology vehicles in the face of market setbacks and heavy political criticism.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
More Ed Policy Links, 3-27-12
Here's a good summary of efforts by the federal government to push schools toward using merit pay as part of RTTP. According to the author of a new book on the psychology of motivation, teacher merit pay "doesn't work." Here's a summary of the results of the Nashville merit pay experiment that support his contention. Meanwhile, a less-rigorous study in Arkansas found some positive returns to merit pay, but also found teachers reporting they didn't work harder.
Richard Rothstein writes that "keeping children in good health" must be part of our school reform efforts. Apparently parents agree: after funding cuts, parents in some districts in California have paid for physical education out of their own pockets.
A new report on Charter Management Organizations asserts that the most successful charter management organizations focus heavily setting high expectations for student behavior and intensively coaching and monitoring students.
A recent study finds that attending a K-8 school instead of a middle school raises students' scores
Paul Peterson argues that low family income is "not a major reason for poor student achievement"
Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews writes that history suggests that too many people are not attending college, contrary to Rick Santorum's claims.
The high school graduation rate in the US rose 3.5 percentage points, to 75%, from 2001 to 2009. Wisconsin is the only state above the goal of 90% and Nevada saw a 15 percentage point decrease to 56% as high schoolers dropped out to work on the Las Vegas strip.
A survey of teachers finds that fewer than one-third of teachers believes longer school days/years or merit pay will raise student achievement while 84% believe "increased family involvement and support" would make a difference.
Experts recently debated whether college should be for everyone.
A teacher writes that current measurements of teaching ability are all wrong.
The POSSE Foundation recruits low-income students and coaches them on how to make it through college. The results is that POSSE students are more likely to graduate from college than peers who score much on higher on standardized tests.
In a new feature, Paul Tough asks whether the secret to success is learning how to deal with failure.
A pediatrician writes that our children are chronically sleep deprived (69% get "insufficient" sleep on school nights and only 7.6% sleep the optimal amount) and argues that the lack of sleep is negatively impacting our kids in a variety of ways.
Richard Rothstein writes that "keeping children in good health" must be part of our school reform efforts. Apparently parents agree: after funding cuts, parents in some districts in California have paid for physical education out of their own pockets.
A new report on Charter Management Organizations asserts that the most successful charter management organizations focus heavily setting high expectations for student behavior and intensively coaching and monitoring students.
A recent study finds that attending a K-8 school instead of a middle school raises students' scores
Paul Peterson argues that low family income is "not a major reason for poor student achievement"
Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews writes that history suggests that too many people are not attending college, contrary to Rick Santorum's claims.
The high school graduation rate in the US rose 3.5 percentage points, to 75%, from 2001 to 2009. Wisconsin is the only state above the goal of 90% and Nevada saw a 15 percentage point decrease to 56% as high schoolers dropped out to work on the Las Vegas strip.
A survey of teachers finds that fewer than one-third of teachers believes longer school days/years or merit pay will raise student achievement while 84% believe "increased family involvement and support" would make a difference.
Experts recently debated whether college should be for everyone.
A teacher writes that current measurements of teaching ability are all wrong.
The POSSE Foundation recruits low-income students and coaches them on how to make it through college. The results is that POSSE students are more likely to graduate from college than peers who score much on higher on standardized tests.
In a new feature, Paul Tough asks whether the secret to success is learning how to deal with failure.
A pediatrician writes that our children are chronically sleep deprived (69% get "insufficient" sleep on school nights and only 7.6% sleep the optimal amount) and argues that the lack of sleep is negatively impacting our kids in a variety of ways.
This chronic sleep deprivation is not without consequences. Sleep restriction in children has been linked to daytime sleepiness, inattention, poor motivation, memory problems, increased irritability, decreased socialization, low self-esteem, increased anxiety and depression, and suicidal behaviors.
Many of the prototypical traits of modern adolescence could just as easily be attributed to sleep deprivation as to raging hormones. Not surprisingly, there is further evidence (though limited) that these sleep deprivation problems with attention, memory consolidation, motivation, etc., contribute to overall lower grades and standardized test scores.
Finally, physical problems have been linked to chronic sleep restriction including: increased auto accidents, impaired immune function and obesity.
In 1997, seven high schools in the Minneapolis Public School District shifted their school start times from 7:15 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. In the two years following this change, data showed improved attendance, fewer depressive symptoms, less daytime sleepiness, increased student calmness in the cafeteria and hallways, fewer school counselor and nurse visits, and fewer disciplinary referrals.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Education Policy Links, 3-25-12
Education Week examines the growing focus on the role of poverty in education. As does the NY Times.
Here's an excellent, information-dense piece on the influence of income on education and the influence of education on future earnings.
Teach For America founder Wendy Kopp pens "In Defense of Optimism" and education historian and NYU professor Diance Ravitch, "In Defense of Facing Reality" -- they argue mainly over whether programs like TFA can overcome the obstacles faced by children living in poverty.
A new study finds that "preschool attendance may help to reduce achievement gaps"
Here's an interview with prominent education writer Lisa Delpit on "educating other people's children"
David Brooks, long an advocate of "no excuses" charter schools that eschew teachers' unions, writes about the good things happening at a local school that emphasizes relationships and uses teams of 4 teachers to work with 60 kids per classroom.
Education reporter Alexander Russo writes that those who argue for charters and merit pay and those who argue for social reform and fixing poverty are becoming more polarized.
A new survey of teachers finds job satisfaction plummeting.
New accountability measures for Head Start programs are, according to Sara Mead, making it obvious that there's a lack of quality providers.
Here's an excellent, information-dense piece on the influence of income on education and the influence of education on future earnings.
Teach For America founder Wendy Kopp pens "In Defense of Optimism" and education historian and NYU professor Diance Ravitch, "In Defense of Facing Reality" -- they argue mainly over whether programs like TFA can overcome the obstacles faced by children living in poverty.
A new study finds that "preschool attendance may help to reduce achievement gaps"
Here's an interview with prominent education writer Lisa Delpit on "educating other people's children"
David Brooks, long an advocate of "no excuses" charter schools that eschew teachers' unions, writes about the good things happening at a local school that emphasizes relationships and uses teams of 4 teachers to work with 60 kids per classroom.
The New American Academy has two big advantages as a reform model. First, instead of running against the education establishment, it grows out of it and is being embraced by the teachers’ unions and the education schools. If it works, it can spread faster.A new study finds that college freshman are not learning how to critically analyze the sources they cite. Students "don't know how to do anything but grab a few sentences and go," writes one of the study's authors.
Second, it does a tremendous job of nurturing relationships. Since people learn from people they love, education is fundamentally about the relationship between a teacher and student. By insisting on constant informal contact and by preserving that contact year after year, The New American Academy has the potential to create richer, mentorlike or even familylike relationships for students who are not rich in those things.
Education reporter Alexander Russo writes that those who argue for charters and merit pay and those who argue for social reform and fixing poverty are becoming more polarized.
There's no one I can think of who's acceptable to both sides. And the absence of a unifying figure -- and some sort of a joint rallying cry -- is a problem that most of those currently engaged in battle don't seem to appreciate. This is in large part because both sides of the fight seem to think that they're winning.Leonie Haimson, executive director of the nonprofit Class Size Matters argues that -- you guessed it -- class size matters.
A new survey of teachers finds job satisfaction plummeting.
New accountability measures for Head Start programs are, according to Sara Mead, making it obvious that there's a lack of quality providers.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Links, 3-23-12
Romney was basking in the glow of his victory in Illinois and endorsement by Jeb Bush when one of his aides said that Romney would be like an "etch-a-sketch" for the general election -- that he could start over in an effort to win over moderate voters. Conservatives pounced on the comments, with Rick Santorum handing out etch-a-sketches to media at a press conference, to declare the Romney was flip-flopping again.
In a 5-4 decision, with Kennedy siding with the four liberal justices, the Supreme Court declared that the legal system should have more oversight over plea bargains and that lawyers must give competent advice to the clients they defend, opening the door for claims of incompetent representation after plea bargains. One law scholar called it "the single greatest revolution in the criminal justice system" in the past 50 years.
Economist Christine Romer discusses recently published researching finding that while tax raises and cuts incentive people to work less and more, that the incentive is quite small and nowhere near enough to boost tax revenue through tax cuts or reduce tax revenue through tax increases.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has called a hearing to investigate bounties in professional sports in the wake of the Saints scandal
Environmental Links
A new report ranks Nashville 50th of 51 large cities in affordability of transportation. Because of the sprawl and lack of public transit, metro Nashville residents spend about 29% of their income on commuting.
In an editorial, the NY Times points out that though gas prices have risen, the US now produces more oil and imports less than at any time in the past 10 years.
In an online debate over energy efficient products, an economist from the libertarian Cato Institute argues that we should "increase fossil fuel prices enough through taxation to account for [negative externalities]"
In the first three years of Obama's administration, real per-capita government spending has increased at a lower rate than all but one of the last six Presidents (Clinton).
President Obama yesterday declared his support for expedited construction of the Southern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline, but not the Northern portion.
Oil and gas companies are taking advantage of new finds in the Marcellus Shale formation to build plants in Pennsylvania and Ohio that will produce CNG for cars.
In a 5-4 decision, with Kennedy siding with the four liberal justices, the Supreme Court declared that the legal system should have more oversight over plea bargains and that lawyers must give competent advice to the clients they defend, opening the door for claims of incompetent representation after plea bargains. One law scholar called it "the single greatest revolution in the criminal justice system" in the past 50 years.
Economist Christine Romer discusses recently published researching finding that while tax raises and cuts incentive people to work less and more, that the incentive is quite small and nowhere near enough to boost tax revenue through tax cuts or reduce tax revenue through tax increases.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has called a hearing to investigate bounties in professional sports in the wake of the Saints scandal
Environmental Links
A new report ranks Nashville 50th of 51 large cities in affordability of transportation. Because of the sprawl and lack of public transit, metro Nashville residents spend about 29% of their income on commuting.
In an editorial, the NY Times points out that though gas prices have risen, the US now produces more oil and imports less than at any time in the past 10 years.
In an online debate over energy efficient products, an economist from the libertarian Cato Institute argues that we should "increase fossil fuel prices enough through taxation to account for [negative externalities]"
In the first three years of Obama's administration, real per-capita government spending has increased at a lower rate than all but one of the last six Presidents (Clinton).
President Obama yesterday declared his support for expedited construction of the Southern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline, but not the Northern portion.
Oil and gas companies are taking advantage of new finds in the Marcellus Shale formation to build plants in Pennsylvania and Ohio that will produce CNG for cars.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
More Health and Health Care Links
Here's the chart examining the 100+ causes of obesity that we discussed in class
A new study at convenience stores in low-income Baltimore neighborhoods posted the caloric values of soft drinks in various ways. Posting absolute caloric count and percentage of recommended daily intake had no statistically significant effect on consumption, but posting the physical activity equivalent of the calories resulted in only half as many youths buying soft drinks.
NYT health writer Mark Bittman asks the authors of a new book if a calorie is really a calorie. Their answer is that it is for weight loss purposes (eating 1500 calories of junk food will result in a lower weight than eating 1600 calories of healthy food every day, assuming no differences in behavior), but that a.) the types of foods you eat affect your behavior (it's easier to consume 500 calories of Coke than of apples); and b.) calories are not equal for overall health. Some policy options are discussed.
The LA Times recounts the history of conservative proposals to mandate health insurance. Here's a detailed history of conservative proposals both including and not including a mandate.
We briefly discussed the immense health care costs of the last few months of one's life in class. Here's a Doctor's reflection on why we have such a difficult time letting loved ones die. Among other explanations, he argues that urbanization has shielded Americans from seeing death in nature and that
Ezekiel Emanuel discusses various plans to reduce growth in Medicare spending.
To solve the contraceptive debate, Sally Kalson argues that guys should stop having sex instead of focusing on what women are doing.
Paul Krugman says "Hurray for Health Reform" (any of these arguments sound familiar?):
Meanwhile, Tyler Cowen argues that the mandate is a bad idea -- in part because it may lead to Americans continually demanding higher subsidies and politicians and interest groups will keep creating more expensive health plans as minimum coverage.
And a WSJ journal op-ed argues for dropping the health insurance mandate because adverse selection will happen anyway and there are other ways to prevent consumers from gaming the system.
House Republicans released a new budget that proposes changing Medicare from a publicly run insurance program to a flat subsidy to be used by senior citizens to purchase private health insurance.
Medicare announced last year that they would start paying for weight loss programs, so now -- much like pharmaceutical companies -- various weight loss programs are advocating that doctors refer patients to them.
Health insurance companies and other firms are beginning to try to make medical pricing more transparent by proving customers with the costs of a procedure at various facilities. Progress has been slow.
A NYT editorial argues that reducing Medicare reimbursements for doctors has resulted in doctors performing more tests and procedures, increasing waste. They recommend cutting reimbursement rates only for specialists, and particularly for procedures deemed overused and wasteful.
A new study at convenience stores in low-income Baltimore neighborhoods posted the caloric values of soft drinks in various ways. Posting absolute caloric count and percentage of recommended daily intake had no statistically significant effect on consumption, but posting the physical activity equivalent of the calories resulted in only half as many youths buying soft drinks.
NYT health writer Mark Bittman asks the authors of a new book if a calorie is really a calorie. Their answer is that it is for weight loss purposes (eating 1500 calories of junk food will result in a lower weight than eating 1600 calories of healthy food every day, assuming no differences in behavior), but that a.) the types of foods you eat affect your behavior (it's easier to consume 500 calories of Coke than of apples); and b.) calories are not equal for overall health. Some policy options are discussed.
The LA Times recounts the history of conservative proposals to mandate health insurance. Here's a detailed history of conservative proposals both including and not including a mandate.
We briefly discussed the immense health care costs of the last few months of one's life in class. Here's a Doctor's reflection on why we have such a difficult time letting loved ones die. Among other explanations, he argues that urbanization has shielded Americans from seeing death in nature and that
Rising affluence has allowed us to isolate senescence. Before nursing homes, assisted-living centers and in-home nurses, grandparents, their children and their grandchildren were often living under the same roof, where everyone's struggles were plain to see. In 1850, 70 percent of white elderly adults lived with their children. Today, that figure is only 16 percent. Sequestering our elderly keeps most of us from knowing what it's like to grow old.
Ezekiel Emanuel discusses various plans to reduce growth in Medicare spending.
To solve the contraceptive debate, Sally Kalson argues that guys should stop having sex instead of focusing on what women are doing.
Paul Krugman says "Hurray for Health Reform" (any of these arguments sound familiar?):
The fact is that individual health insurance, as currently constituted, just doesn’t work. If insurers are left free to deny coverage at will — as they are in, say, California — they offer cheap policies to the young and healthy (and try to yank coverage if you get sick) but refuse to cover anyone likely to need expensive care. Yet simply requiring that insurers cover people with pre-existing conditions, as in New York, doesn’t work either: premiums are sky-high because only the sick buy insurance.
The solution — originally proposed, believe it or not, by analysts at the ultra-right-wing Heritage Foundation — is a three-legged stool of regulation and subsidies. As in New York, insurers are required to cover everyone; in return, everyone is required to buy insurance, so that healthy as well as sick people are in the risk pool. Finally, subsidies make those mandated insurance purchases affordable for lower-income families.
Meanwhile, Tyler Cowen argues that the mandate is a bad idea -- in part because it may lead to Americans continually demanding higher subsidies and politicians and interest groups will keep creating more expensive health plans as minimum coverage.
And a WSJ journal op-ed argues for dropping the health insurance mandate because adverse selection will happen anyway and there are other ways to prevent consumers from gaming the system.
House Republicans released a new budget that proposes changing Medicare from a publicly run insurance program to a flat subsidy to be used by senior citizens to purchase private health insurance.
Medicare announced last year that they would start paying for weight loss programs, so now -- much like pharmaceutical companies -- various weight loss programs are advocating that doctors refer patients to them.
Health insurance companies and other firms are beginning to try to make medical pricing more transparent by proving customers with the costs of a procedure at various facilities. Progress has been slow.
A NYT editorial argues that reducing Medicare reimbursements for doctors has resulted in doctors performing more tests and procedures, increasing waste. They recommend cutting reimbursement rates only for specialists, and particularly for procedures deemed overused and wasteful.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Health Care Links
Here's an interesting piece by former Bush writer David Frum, who argues that Health Care is the Republican Party's Waterloo (he was subsequently let go by the American Enterprise Institute).
Here's the latest on Accountable Care Organizations. And here's a brief overview and a brief on the issue
Here's a WSJ op-ed arguing that the individual mandate is unconstitutional. Here's one economist's explanation why people can't fire their insurance companies like Mitt Romney would like them to. And here's another discussion of adverse risk selection, health insurance, and used car sales
Here's a thorough breakdown of how America's health spending compares to other countries and what we can do about it. Here's a shorter news article comparing costs in the US to other countries with some nifty charts. And here's one economist's take on what the US can learn from other countries' health care systems
Here's more on the history of public responses to the expansion of the social safety net
Here's a conservative call for universal access to health care
Finally, here's a compilation of a lot of other articles on health policy issues
Here's the latest on Accountable Care Organizations. And here's a brief overview and a brief on the issue
Here's a WSJ op-ed arguing that the individual mandate is unconstitutional. Here's one economist's explanation why people can't fire their insurance companies like Mitt Romney would like them to. And here's another discussion of adverse risk selection, health insurance, and used car sales
Here's a thorough breakdown of how America's health spending compares to other countries and what we can do about it. Here's a shorter news article comparing costs in the US to other countries with some nifty charts. And here's one economist's take on what the US can learn from other countries' health care systems
Here's more on the history of public responses to the expansion of the social safety net
Here's a conservative call for universal access to health care
Finally, here's a compilation of a lot of other articles on health policy issues
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Election Update, 3-13-12
The big story of the night is that Rick Santorum won primaries in both Alabama and Mississippi despite trailing in polls in both states. More accurate than the polls were predictions based on demography -- the results continued to be starkly different by geographic region.
The obvious questions regarding tonight's results are: 1.) Will Gingrich drop out now?; and 2.) Does Santorum actually have a chance against Romney?
It's too early for a definitive answer to either, but both look far more likely than they did just a few hours ago. Romney has huge delegate, organizational, and financial advantages, but no longer looks that much more electable than Romney. In hypothetical head-to-head match-ups with Obama, Santorum loses by an average of 6 points while Romney loses by an average of 3.
Exit polls in both states indicated that voters who wanted the most conservative candidate tended to vote for Santorum while those who wanted the most electable candidate tended to vote for Romney (50 and 52% of the voters in Mississippi and Alabama said that Romney's positions were "not conservative enough" while 49 and 46% said Romney was most likely to defeat Obama).
The split over electability versus conservativeness may partially explain why former first lady Barbara Bush recently said that this is "the worst campaign I've ever seen in my life . . . I hate the fact that people think 'compromise' is a dirty word".
Meanwhile, President Obama may be more vulnerable in November than many thought just a few weeks ago. The latest tracking polls reveal a drop in his approval ratings, with the NYT/CBS polls reporting just a 41% approval rate. The same poll has Obama up only 4 points in a hypothetical match-up with Santorum.
And it could always get worse, particularly if oil prices continue to rise. The Economist writes that "More expensive oil is, for now, doing little harm to global growth" but "if the Strait of Hormuz is threatened, the resulting surge in oil prices will spell the end of the global recovery".
The obvious questions regarding tonight's results are: 1.) Will Gingrich drop out now?; and 2.) Does Santorum actually have a chance against Romney?
It's too early for a definitive answer to either, but both look far more likely than they did just a few hours ago. Romney has huge delegate, organizational, and financial advantages, but no longer looks that much more electable than Romney. In hypothetical head-to-head match-ups with Obama, Santorum loses by an average of 6 points while Romney loses by an average of 3.
Exit polls in both states indicated that voters who wanted the most conservative candidate tended to vote for Santorum while those who wanted the most electable candidate tended to vote for Romney (50 and 52% of the voters in Mississippi and Alabama said that Romney's positions were "not conservative enough" while 49 and 46% said Romney was most likely to defeat Obama).
The split over electability versus conservativeness may partially explain why former first lady Barbara Bush recently said that this is "the worst campaign I've ever seen in my life . . . I hate the fact that people think 'compromise' is a dirty word".
Meanwhile, President Obama may be more vulnerable in November than many thought just a few weeks ago. The latest tracking polls reveal a drop in his approval ratings, with the NYT/CBS polls reporting just a 41% approval rate. The same poll has Obama up only 4 points in a hypothetical match-up with Santorum.
And it could always get worse, particularly if oil prices continue to rise. The Economist writes that "More expensive oil is, for now, doing little harm to global growth" but "if the Strait of Hormuz is threatened, the resulting surge in oil prices will spell the end of the global recovery".
Monday, March 12, 2012
Health Links, 3-12-12
The Tennessean is currently soliciting readers' ideas on how to combat childhood obesity.
School lunches have been the subject of recent intense fights between health advocates on one side and industry lobbyists and politicians from states that grow and produce less healthy foods on the other.
Despite recent controversy, it's still allowed in school lunches, and 70% of ground beef in the US contains what the meat industry refers to as "lean, finely textured beef" and what critics refer to as "pink slime," which is made mostly from connective tissue and has ammonia added to kill bacteria.
Here's a feature from the Tennessean about attempts to limit sugar intake. Here are some corresponding public service announcements about sugary beverages.
Here's a long, but interesting, article about genetics and other factors that explain why weight gained can't be reduced to a simple equation computing calories consumed and calories burned.
Here's an explanation of how exercise benefits the brain
New technology may help people manage their weight, including new watch-like devices designed to track physical activity and food consumption
There are signs that obesity rates may finally be beginning to level off
A wide array of businesses are taking steps to help people eat healthier. Wal-Mart has announced a new food labeling system. And the Quaker Oats man is now skinnier.
Here's an update on Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign
Food writer Mark Bittman says people need to understand that potatoes are healthy but Pringles aren't
The average American ate literally a ton of food this past year
Life expectancy in the US has fallen significantly further behind international averages since 2000
Family Teaching Kitchens are currently being run by the United Way in Tennessee to help people learn how to cook healthier for their family.
School lunches have been the subject of recent intense fights between health advocates on one side and industry lobbyists and politicians from states that grow and produce less healthy foods on the other.
Despite recent controversy, it's still allowed in school lunches, and 70% of ground beef in the US contains what the meat industry refers to as "lean, finely textured beef" and what critics refer to as "pink slime," which is made mostly from connective tissue and has ammonia added to kill bacteria.
Here's a feature from the Tennessean about attempts to limit sugar intake. Here are some corresponding public service announcements about sugary beverages.
Here's a long, but interesting, article about genetics and other factors that explain why weight gained can't be reduced to a simple equation computing calories consumed and calories burned.
Here's an explanation of how exercise benefits the brain
New technology may help people manage their weight, including new watch-like devices designed to track physical activity and food consumption
There are signs that obesity rates may finally be beginning to level off
A wide array of businesses are taking steps to help people eat healthier. Wal-Mart has announced a new food labeling system. And the Quaker Oats man is now skinnier.
Here's an update on Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign
Food writer Mark Bittman says people need to understand that potatoes are healthy but Pringles aren't
The average American ate literally a ton of food this past year
Life expectancy in the US has fallen significantly further behind international averages since 2000
Family Teaching Kitchens are currently being run by the United Way in Tennessee to help people learn how to cook healthier for their family.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Politics Links, 3-11-12
Romney won enough states on Super Tuesday to cement his position as frontrunner and extend his delegate lead, but not enough to convince Gingrich, Paul, or Santorum to leave the race. As a result, Romney's staff began responding to those who question his lack of decisive victories by arguing that the delegate math makes it impossible for any of the other candidates to win.
Santorum, meanwhile, won a decisive victory in Kansas on Saturday, extending his streak of winning every state in the middle of the country.
Meanwhile, turnout is down in the majority of Republican primaries to date -- with the exception of states with "open" primaries that allow Independents and Democrats to vote.
The economy added 227,000 jobs in February -- the third consecutive month with 200K+ jobs added -- and a wide range of figures indicate likely future growth
Harvard Economist (and Romney campaign consultant) Greg Mankiw provides a breakdown of what counts as ordinary earned income and what counts as capital gains using five examples where people make money off the sale of a house.
In a rare act of bipartisanship, the House passed the JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) by a vote of 390-23. The bill is designed to make it easier for new businesses to obtain financing.
Female legislators in Georgia's State Senate walked out last week to protest votes on limiting access to contraception and abortions -- what they called "a war on women"
Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican Senator from Maine, has decided not to run again because she sees little possibility of progress given the partisan gridlock
Illegal border crossings along the Mexican border have decreased by about 2/3 over the past six years, but there's been an uptick in violent confrontations
Environmental Links, 3-11-12
The Outer Banks faces a large question regarding their highway that keeps getting destroyed as weather eats away at the sand supporting it and sea levels potentially rise . . . locals suffer economically every time another section is destroyed and not immediately repaired, but the state suffers financially every time they temporarily fix the road.
The BBC explores how the Fukushima nuclear disaster affected worldwide views of nuclear power . . . meanwhile, Japan has shut down all but two of their 54 nuclear reactors. In the US, expansion of nuclear power plants depends, in part, on finding a place to permanently store waste. TN Senator Lamar Alexander thinks that if we offer high enough incentives, communities will step forward to volunteer to host such storage facilities.
Ohio has stiffened laws on "fracking" after concluding that recent drilling caused earthquakes around Youngstown . . . fracking and related earthquakes were also mentioned in a Dilbert cartoon last week.
Both environmental leaders and deficit hawks are fighting against an increase in natural gas powered vehicles.
Deliverymen in NYC are increasingly using electric bikes, despite the upping of the fine to $1,000 for their use
Here's an op-ed arguing for increased use of methanol to power cars. And The Economist also has a feature on methanol.
According to a new poll, Californians narrowly support high-speed rail . . . but those planning on voting do not
The BBC explores how the Fukushima nuclear disaster affected worldwide views of nuclear power . . . meanwhile, Japan has shut down all but two of their 54 nuclear reactors. In the US, expansion of nuclear power plants depends, in part, on finding a place to permanently store waste. TN Senator Lamar Alexander thinks that if we offer high enough incentives, communities will step forward to volunteer to host such storage facilities.
Ohio has stiffened laws on "fracking" after concluding that recent drilling caused earthquakes around Youngstown . . . fracking and related earthquakes were also mentioned in a Dilbert cartoon last week.
Both environmental leaders and deficit hawks are fighting against an increase in natural gas powered vehicles.
Deliverymen in NYC are increasingly using electric bikes, despite the upping of the fine to $1,000 for their use
Here's an op-ed arguing for increased use of methanol to power cars. And The Economist also has a feature on methanol.
According to a new poll, Californians narrowly support high-speed rail . . . but those planning on voting do not
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Environmental Policy Links, 2-28-12
Envia Systems, in the Silicon Valley, has developed an electric vehicle battery that would allow a car to travel 300 miles between chargings
Paul Krugman on solar vs. fracking
The BBC reports that fish stocks are being severely depleted in many places and explores some potential policy solutions
Scientists are being hampered in their study of global warming
The Economist argues climate change will be single most important thing, retrospectively, in 100 years
Due to decreased demand for gasoline and excess refinery capacity, the US is actually now a net exporter of gasoline
Here's the West End Bus Rapid Transit Plan and and an update on its implementation
They're installing the "green roof" on Nashville's new convention center
The Economist writes about the dangers of being tangled up in green-tape
Here's the lowdown on some leaked documents from the Heartland Institute, which funds scientists who seek to discredit global warming
Paul Krugman on solar vs. fracking
The BBC reports that fish stocks are being severely depleted in many places and explores some potential policy solutions
Scientists are being hampered in their study of global warming
The Economist argues climate change will be single most important thing, retrospectively, in 100 years
Due to decreased demand for gasoline and excess refinery capacity, the US is actually now a net exporter of gasoline
Here's the West End Bus Rapid Transit Plan and and an update on its implementation
They're installing the "green roof" on Nashville's new convention center
The Economist writes about the dangers of being tangled up in green-tape
Here's the lowdown on some leaked documents from the Heartland Institute, which funds scientists who seek to discredit global warming
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Links, 2-22-12
Rich Santorum garnered some attention after calling the idea of schools run by state or federal governments "anachronistic"
The Economist has a feature article on Cass Sunstein's efforts to streamline federal government regulations.
NJ Governor Chris Christie says Warren Buffet "should just write a check and shut up" if he thinks that the wealthy should pay higher taxes
Ruth Ann Dailey has "a civil solution to the same-sex marriage angst". She writes that the problem with many gay marriage laws is that they result in "religious oppression" and make religious conservatives "second-class citizens". She cites the case of DC which passed a gay marriage law requiring that "'every third party' recognize same-sex marriage as legitimate". The result, she says, is that Catholic Charities ended it's foster care rather than allow gay couples to adopt babies and discontinued health insurance rather than provide coverage to gay spouses. Her solution is for the government to offer only civil unions to all citizens, straight or gay, and for churches to choose which unions they recognize as marriage or not. She says the approach has worked in California, where the San Francisco diocese now simply offers health insurance coverage to a "second adult" in the household "regardless of relationship".
Rick Santorum has polled ahead of Mitt Romney in the last six national polls, including leads of 10+ points in three of them.
Thomas Friedman writes that a third-party candidate is likely if the Republicans nominate Rick Santorum.
Mitt Romney spent far more money than he took in during the month of January, erasing his large lead in fundraising.
Frank Bruni writes that people are too focused on drugs when they discuss the deaths of Whitney Houston and Amy Whinehouse. He says that alcohol does far more societal damage than do drugs but that nobody seems willing to confront the problem -- excise taxes have markedly declined over the past few decades in real dollars, for example. Therefore, he argues, we need to level a pigovian tax on alcohol to account for these negative externalities.
President Obama wants to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 28% but eliminate enough loopholes, exceptions, and subsidies to make the tax cut revenue neutral.
The economy looks like it's recovering, but there's always the danger that gas prices, local/state government funding cuts, turmoil in Europe, or some unforeseen shock (e.g. the Nuclear disaster in Japan last year) could derail growth.
For the first 150 years, most presidents home-schooled their children at the White House, he said. “Where did they come up that public education and bigger education bureaucracies was the rule in America? Parents educated their children, because it’s their responsibility to educate their children.” “Yes the government can help,” Mr. Santorum added. “But the idea that the federal government should be running schools, frankly much less that the state government should be running schools, is anachronistic. It goes back to the time of industrialization of America when people came off the farms where they did home-school or have the little neighborhood school, and into these big factories, so we built equal factories called public schools. And while those factories as we all know in Ohio and Pennsylvania have fundamentally changed, the factory school has not.”
The Economist has a feature article on Cass Sunstein's efforts to streamline federal government regulations.
NJ Governor Chris Christie says Warren Buffet "should just write a check and shut up" if he thinks that the wealthy should pay higher taxes
Ruth Ann Dailey has "a civil solution to the same-sex marriage angst". She writes that the problem with many gay marriage laws is that they result in "religious oppression" and make religious conservatives "second-class citizens". She cites the case of DC which passed a gay marriage law requiring that "'every third party' recognize same-sex marriage as legitimate". The result, she says, is that Catholic Charities ended it's foster care rather than allow gay couples to adopt babies and discontinued health insurance rather than provide coverage to gay spouses. Her solution is for the government to offer only civil unions to all citizens, straight or gay, and for churches to choose which unions they recognize as marriage or not. She says the approach has worked in California, where the San Francisco diocese now simply offers health insurance coverage to a "second adult" in the household "regardless of relationship".
Rick Santorum has polled ahead of Mitt Romney in the last six national polls, including leads of 10+ points in three of them.
Thomas Friedman writes that a third-party candidate is likely if the Republicans nominate Rick Santorum.
Mitt Romney spent far more money than he took in during the month of January, erasing his large lead in fundraising.
Frank Bruni writes that people are too focused on drugs when they discuss the deaths of Whitney Houston and Amy Whinehouse. He says that alcohol does far more societal damage than do drugs but that nobody seems willing to confront the problem -- excise taxes have markedly declined over the past few decades in real dollars, for example. Therefore, he argues, we need to level a pigovian tax on alcohol to account for these negative externalities.
President Obama wants to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 28% but eliminate enough loopholes, exceptions, and subsidies to make the tax cut revenue neutral.
The economy looks like it's recovering, but there's always the danger that gas prices, local/state government funding cuts, turmoil in Europe, or some unforeseen shock (e.g. the Nuclear disaster in Japan last year) could derail growth.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Links, 2-20-12
3 of the 4 candidates have declined to participate in March 1st debate CNN is sponsoring in Atlanta, which means that the debate next Wednesday in Arizona could be the last debate of the primary season
Here's an interesting piece on various attempts to quantify the conservative-ness of the Republican candidates. Santorum is rated more moderately on economic issues and more conservatively on social issues than Romney. Correspondingly, newspapers mention social issues in conjunction with Santorum's name far more often than they do with Romney's name (and vice-versa with economic issues). The keywords most frequently used in conjunction with Santorum's name are sex/sexuality, gay rights/gay marriage/same-sex marriage, and birth control/contraception. Meanwhile, tax/taxes, stimulus, and wealth/wealthy/rich are most frequently used in articles discussing Romney.
Conservative columnist Ross Douthat follows the trend by pointing out that Santorum thinks contraception should be legal but that both he and liberals agree that abortions should be minimized, writing that "both Democrats and Republicans generally agree that the country would be better off with fewer pregnant teenagers, fewer unwanted children, fewer absent fathers, fewer out-of-wedlock births"
He continues to argue that the problem with the Conservative vision is that "a successful chastity-centric culture seems to depned on a level of social cohesion, religious intensity shared values that exists only in small pockets of the country" and that the problem with the Liberal vision is that "more condoms, fewer abortions" is not playing out in reality -- that more liberal states sometimes have lower teen birth rates only because they have higher rates of abortion among teens.
The Economist asks how much of the declining crime rate is due to the growing prison population
A new study finds that people grow more tolerant as they grow older
Paul Krugman takes Mitt Romney to task for calling himself "severely conservative," writing that "severely" is usually used to describe a disease (a linguistics prof. at Penn says "severely" is most frequently coupled with disabled, depressed, ill, limited, and injured) and asks if Romney and others have "Severe Conservative Syndrome".
Congress will pay for the extension in the payroll tax by auctioning off public airwaves currently used for TV broadcasts to wireless carriers
Here's a chart comparing organ donation rates around the world
This is only sort of related to public policy, but interesting nonetheless -- here are two charts breaking down what men and women want in a partner and how that's changed in the past 70 years.
The majority of babies born to women under 30 are now born out of wedlock, though the stats differ greatly by race and SES: "About 92 percent of college-educated women are married when they give birth, compared with 62 percent of women with some post-secondary schooling and 43 percent of women with a high school diploma or less"
And to round out the trio of articles on marriage and child-rearing here's a piece on how to develop self-control in your child in which the authors say recent books extolling the virtues of Chinese and French-style parenting aren't the only way.
Here's an interesting piece on various attempts to quantify the conservative-ness of the Republican candidates. Santorum is rated more moderately on economic issues and more conservatively on social issues than Romney. Correspondingly, newspapers mention social issues in conjunction with Santorum's name far more often than they do with Romney's name (and vice-versa with economic issues). The keywords most frequently used in conjunction with Santorum's name are sex/sexuality, gay rights/gay marriage/same-sex marriage, and birth control/contraception. Meanwhile, tax/taxes, stimulus, and wealth/wealthy/rich are most frequently used in articles discussing Romney.
Conservative columnist Ross Douthat follows the trend by pointing out that Santorum thinks contraception should be legal but that both he and liberals agree that abortions should be minimized, writing that "both Democrats and Republicans generally agree that the country would be better off with fewer pregnant teenagers, fewer unwanted children, fewer absent fathers, fewer out-of-wedlock births"
Where cultural liberals and social conservatives differ is on the means that will achieve these ends. The liberal vision tends to emphasize access to contraception as the surest path to stable families, wanted children and low abortion rates. The more direct control that women have over when and whether sex makes babies, liberals argue, the less likely they’ll be to get pregnant at the wrong time and with the wrong partner — and the less likely they’ll be to even consider having an abortion. (Slate’s Will Saletan has memorably termed this “the pro-life case for Planned Parenthood.”)
The conservative narrative, by contrast, argues that it’s more important to promote chastity, monogamy and fidelity than to worry about whether there’s a prophylactic in every bedroom drawer or bathroom cabinet. To the extent that contraceptive use has a significant role in the conservative vision (and obviously there’s some Catholic-Protestant disagreement), it’s in the context of already stable, already committed relationships. Monogamy, not chemicals or latex, is the main line of defense against unwanted pregnancies.
He continues to argue that the problem with the Conservative vision is that "a successful chastity-centric culture seems to depned on a level of social cohesion, religious intensity shared values that exists only in small pockets of the country" and that the problem with the Liberal vision is that "more condoms, fewer abortions" is not playing out in reality -- that more liberal states sometimes have lower teen birth rates only because they have higher rates of abortion among teens.
The Economist asks how much of the declining crime rate is due to the growing prison population
A new study finds that people grow more tolerant as they grow older
Paul Krugman takes Mitt Romney to task for calling himself "severely conservative," writing that "severely" is usually used to describe a disease (a linguistics prof. at Penn says "severely" is most frequently coupled with disabled, depressed, ill, limited, and injured) and asks if Romney and others have "Severe Conservative Syndrome".
today’s dismal G.O.P. field — is there anyone who doesn’t consider it dismal? — is no accident. Economic conservatives played a cynical game, and now they’re facing the blowback, a party that suffers from “severe” conservatism in the worst way. And the malady may take many years to cure.
Congress will pay for the extension in the payroll tax by auctioning off public airwaves currently used for TV broadcasts to wireless carriers
Here's a chart comparing organ donation rates around the world
This is only sort of related to public policy, but interesting nonetheless -- here are two charts breaking down what men and women want in a partner and how that's changed in the past 70 years.
The majority of babies born to women under 30 are now born out of wedlock, though the stats differ greatly by race and SES: "About 92 percent of college-educated women are married when they give birth, compared with 62 percent of women with some post-secondary schooling and 43 percent of women with a high school diploma or less"
And to round out the trio of articles on marriage and child-rearing here's a piece on how to develop self-control in your child in which the authors say recent books extolling the virtues of Chinese and French-style parenting aren't the only way.
Effective approaches for building self-control combine fun with progressively increasing challenges. Rather than force activities onto an unwilling child, take advantage of his or her individual tendencies. When children develop self-control through their own pursuit of happiness, no parental hovering is required. Find something that the child is crazy about but that requires active effort. Whether it’s compiling baseball statistics or making (but not passively watching) YouTube videos, passionate hobbies build mental staying power that can also be used for math homework.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Economic Policy Links, 2-17-12
Here's an infographic the Congressional Budget Office created to display federal spending, revenues, and deficits, and debt.
An analysis by the CBO projects that TARP ("the bailout"), which authorized spending of $700 billion, will end up costing taxpayers $34 billion because the most of the loans are being repaid with interest.
A poll of top economists find that they strongly agree the stimulus plan created more jobs in the short-run and agree less strongly that the benefits of the stimulus will outweigh costs in the long-run.
As I mentioned in class, the US is currently experiencing its longest period of high unemployment since the Great Depression
Paul Krugman argues that few people understand the debt and, hence, overstate it's significance in the near future.
Here's a story 60 Minutes did last fall on Grover Norquist and "the pledge" that most congressional Republicans have signed to never raise taxes
The Economist says it was wrong to oppose the GM bailout and that Mitt Romney should say similarly
An analysis by the CBO projects that TARP ("the bailout"), which authorized spending of $700 billion, will end up costing taxpayers $34 billion because the most of the loans are being repaid with interest.
A poll of top economists find that they strongly agree the stimulus plan created more jobs in the short-run and agree less strongly that the benefits of the stimulus will outweigh costs in the long-run.
As I mentioned in class, the US is currently experiencing its longest period of high unemployment since the Great Depression
Paul Krugman argues that few people understand the debt and, hence, overstate it's significance in the near future.
Here's a story 60 Minutes did last fall on Grover Norquist and "the pledge" that most congressional Republicans have signed to never raise taxes
The Economist says it was wrong to oppose the GM bailout and that Mitt Romney should say similarly
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Economic Policy Links, 2-15-12
It looks like the improving economy has also improved Obama's approval ratings.
Congress appears to have reached a deal to extend the payroll tax cut for the rest of the year.
Obama is proposing that we tax dividends for the wealthiest Americans. David Miller, a tax lawyer, says the so-called "Buffet Tax" won't do much, but a "Zuckerberg Tax" on the value of stock in publicly-held companies would. A pair of economists also disagree with taxing the rich, saying that we should instead tax inequality itself.
The fewest young adults in 60 years have jobs
When anti-poverty programs run out at certain thresholds, it means that the working poor have the highest marginal tax rates in the country
Jared Bernstein writes that it's time to start working on the next minimum wage increase
Here's an excerpt from an upcoming book the inside story of the second stimulus
And here are some well-regarded essays on recent economic trends that didn't fit on the syllabus:
Chrystia Freeland writes "The Rise of the New Global Elite" that a new elite class is being formed
Yural Levin writes in "Beyond the Welfare State" that our current economic trajectory is unworkable
Congress appears to have reached a deal to extend the payroll tax cut for the rest of the year.
Obama is proposing that we tax dividends for the wealthiest Americans. David Miller, a tax lawyer, says the so-called "Buffet Tax" won't do much, but a "Zuckerberg Tax" on the value of stock in publicly-held companies would. A pair of economists also disagree with taxing the rich, saying that we should instead tax inequality itself.
The fewest young adults in 60 years have jobs
When anti-poverty programs run out at certain thresholds, it means that the working poor have the highest marginal tax rates in the country
Jared Bernstein writes that it's time to start working on the next minimum wage increase
Here's an excerpt from an upcoming book the inside story of the second stimulus
And here are some well-regarded essays on recent economic trends that didn't fit on the syllabus:
Chrystia Freeland writes "The Rise of the New Global Elite" that a new elite class is being formed
What is more relevant to our times, though, is that the rich of today are also different from the rich of yesterday. Our light-speed, globally connected economy has led to the rise of a new super-elite that consists, to a notable degree, of first- and second-generation wealth. Its members are hardworking, highly educated, jet-setting meritocrats who feel they are the deserving winners of a tough, worldwide economic competition—and many of them, as a result, have an ambivalent attitude toward those of us who didn’t succeed so spectacularly. Perhaps most noteworthy, they are becoming a transglobal community of peers who have more in common with one another than with their countrymen back home. Whether they maintain primary residences in New York or Hong Kong, Moscow or Mumbai, today’s super-rich are increasingly a nation unto themselves.
Yural Levin writes in "Beyond the Welfare State" that our current economic trajectory is unworkable
The fact is that we do not face a choice between the liberal welfare state on one hand and austerity on the other. Those are two sides of the same coin: Austerity and decline are what will come if we do not reform the welfare state. The choice we face is between that combination and a different approach to balancing our society's deepest aspirations. America still has a little time to find such an alternative. Our moment of reckoning is coming, but it is not yet here. We have perhaps a decade in which to avert it and to foster again the preconditions for growth and opportunity without forcing a great disruption in the lives of millions, if we start now. But we do not yet know quite how. The answer will not come from the left, which is far too committed to the old vision to accept its fate and contemplate alternatives. It must therefore emerge from the right. Conservatives must produce not only arguments against the liberal welfare state but also a different vision, a different answer to the question of how we might balance our aspirations. It must be a vision that emphasizes the pursuit of economic growth, republican virtues, and social mobility over economic security, value-neutral welfare, and material equality; that redefines the safety net as a means of making the poor more independent rather than making the middle class less so; and that translates these ideals into institutional forms that suit our modern, dynamic society. That different vision is now beginning to take shape. Slowly, bit by bit, we are starting to see what must replace our welfare state.
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