Research Analysis
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NAFTA and the Mixed Effects of Trade: A Mexican Case Study
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In August 2017, the United States, Canada, and Mexico began renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—one of President Trump’s top priorities during his electoral campaign. Trump argued that trade with Mexico and Canada had resulted in job losses and trade deficits, particularly with Mexico. Negotiations are scheduled…
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Protecting Their Own? The Real Reasons States Build Border Walls
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Why do some nations build walls along their borders? In some cases, such walls are defensive structures aimed at blunting potential military incursions from a hostile neighbor, which was true for the Maginot Line between France and Germany, as well as for the Great Wall of China. However, many of…
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Advancing the Study of Nuclear (Non)proliferation
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Clichés such as “good research reflects reality” notwithstanding, academics often find that they must sacrifice pragmatic concerns in favor of analytical convenience when conducting research. As a result, many studies attempt to mimic real-world situations using normative frameworks and analytical tools. Crafted in response to emerging global nuclear threats, contemporary…
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Comparing Immigration Policies Under the IMPALA Database
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A person’s decision to migrate is affected by various economic, political, and social factors not only in the country of origin (push factors), but also in the destination country (pull factors). More specifically, push factors are elements that cause people to leave their country of origin and pull factors attract…
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The Future of US Foreign Policy: An End to Liberal Internationalism?
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Liberal internationalism, despite what the phrase may imply, does not favor the views of Democrats over Republicans. Instead, liberal internationalism features bipartisan values—including freedom, democracy, an open global economy, and respect for human rights. Defined by international engagement, it promotes liberal states’ engagement with other states’ affairs and wider global…
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Foreign Exchange Interventions: A Comparison of the Mexican and Brazilian Models
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Over the past several years, foreign exchange rates among Latin American countries have fluctuated significantly. These oscillations have been caused by several factors, including the U.S. presidential elections, changing oil prices, the Taper Tantrum (the expectation of a reduction in bond purchases by the Federal Reserve), interest rate hikes by…
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Why Do Former Rivals Form Non-Aggression Pacts?
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Non-aggression pacts, designed to reduce the possibility of future conflict, are distinctive from other military alliances because they do not necessitate active coordination between signatories. However, what they do have in common with other types of alliances is that they allow for the involvement of third parties. Besides recognizing mutual…
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Intermestic Dynamics of Power Transitions in Dictatorships
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In the face of domestic opposition, a dictator accountable for human rights violations is unlikely to relinquish power due to fears of domestic punishment and international prosecution. What if the domestic opposition has also caused unspeakable civilian casualties? This would present an opportunity for strategic adjustments to a dictator’s decision…
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Sustaining Human Capital Investment: Local Women Leaders in Conditional Cash Transfers
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Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) are social programs that provide stipends to low-income families and individuals who meet certain conditions, such as ensuring their children receive mandatory vaccinations or meet school attendance requirements. CCTs have had a positive impact on the lives of poor people, particularly in Latin America, by providing…
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Do People Move to Gain Medicaid Benefits?
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The welfare migration hypothesis proposes the idea that people will move to a location because of the availability of social welfare programs. Frequently studied in international development, it is equally applicable to internal migration in the United States due to the wide variation in social welfare programs across states. This variation…
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Education Migration: Why Teachers Are Leaving the Profession
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Teacher shortages are a harsh reality in states across the nation. From California to South Carolina, recruiting and retaining teachers is an imminent concern for school districts, parents, and students. These problems are often more pronounced in high poverty, racially segregated (HPRS) schools. In 2000, annual turnover rates for all…