Archive
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The Connection Between Oil Prices, Stock Volatility, and Green Investments
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Amid increasing social attention on sustainability, green investments are drawing interest. Green investments inject money into firms producing and supporting eco-friendly goods and services. For instance, the MSCI Global Environment Index, a stock price index of firms that generate at least half of their revenues from eco-friendly products and services,…
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The Utility of Internet Access
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The coronavirus pandemic has proven to be the great amplifier of existing inequities in internet access across communities in the United States, driven by the need for both access and affordability. According to the Boston Consulting Group and Common Sense Media, since the pandemic began, the number of public school…
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Could Global Warming Increase Racial Disparities in Student Achievement?
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While much of global warming research focuses on the natural world — considering how climate change impacts ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity — a new wave of research studies how climate change will reshape the social and economic world. In this emerging field, a novel study suggests that global warming may…
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To Protect Privacy Rights on the Internet, Common Law Needs a Reboot
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Since 1986, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which prohibits unauthorized access to a computer, has been the primary legal proscription against hacking and computer fraud. However, several recent cases surrounding social media and publicly accessible information underscore new concerns around private companies and their violations of the data privacy…
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Interview: Kim Wasserman and Juliana Pino of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
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The following is an edited transcript of an interview conducted by Kelly Aves, a second-year student at the Harris School of Public Policy. Kelly spoke with Kim Wasserman and Juliana Pino of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO). Kim is the Executive Director of LVEJO and has been a…
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Brazil’s Environmental Downturn: A Tale of Many Cattle
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On September 28, Brazil’s National Environment Council (CONAMA), led by the Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, abolished Resolutions 302 and 303/2002. It established mangrove fields as Areas of Permanent Protection (APP). CONAMA will likely make a similar decision regarding the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland area located in southwest Brazil.…
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Are We Better Off with Less Social Media? Evidence Says Yes
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Whether social media is good or bad for us remains a widely contested topic. Research shows that the same social media networks that can increase voter turnout can also leave us feeling lonely and depressed. So how do we really know if social media’s benefits justify its costs? The results of…
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Full Disclosure: Financial Profiteering in Congress
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While the threat of the pandemic loomed, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) was busy stuffing his personal coffers. On Feb. 13, just one day after he was briefed on the severity of COVID-19, Sen. Burr sold over a million dollars in stocks. One week later, the market crashed. Even some of…
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Why Pandemics Don’t Always Increase Food Insecurity
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Basic economic theory says that public health lockdowns, such as the ones being imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, are likely to raise food prices and aggravate food insecurities in vulnerable communities. The resulting decline in market activity and the interruption of supply chains are expected to decrease household income —…
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The Case for Subsidizing COVID-19 Self-Tests
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As the world grapples with recurring waves of COVID-19 infections, policymakers are struggling to balance public health considerations with reopening the economy. While their tools are limited until a vaccine is widely available, testing can be an effective method to slow the spread of the virus. Nevertheless, tests may not…
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How Changes in SNAP Policy Can Increase Domestic Violence
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What happens when a welfare program shifts from distributing benefits on the first of the month to a staggered schedule? Research shows that while this change can reduce theft and allow families to minimize food scarcity at the end of the month, there is risk of a dangerous unintended consequence:…