Sunday February 12, 2012

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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioComments on the Material Well-Being of the Poor and the Middle Class since 1980

Gary Burtless, October 25, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Comments on the Material Well-Being of the Poor and the Middle Class since 1980Gary Burtless argues that living standards have improved for the poor and middle-class since 1980. Burtless notes that on average, Americans in the broad middle and at the bottom of the income distribution have seen their real incomes and consumption improve over the past three decades. Read More

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioMeasuring Happiness and Opportunity Around the World

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Athar HussainOn September 28, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion with Carol Graham on her book The Pursuit of Happiness: An Economy of Well-being, what we know about the determinants of happiness, across and within countries at different stages of development and whether happiness can be a new marker for economic progress in the United States and across the world. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHelping the Roma in Bulgaria: Recommendations to the Board of the America for Bulgaria Foundation

Ron Haskins, August 19, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Ron Haskins looks at the plight of Roma people and questions why this large minority population has not made great progress within Bulgaria since the fall of the Communist government or Bulgaria's entry into the EU. Haskins recommends development in areas like education and leadership training as he argues that progress depends on the actions of enlightened individuals and groups in their own spheres of influence. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFamily Planning Subsidies: Much Ado about Something

Adam Thomas and Isabel V. Sawhill, April 12, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Family Planning Subsidies: Much Ado about SomethingAdam Thomas and Isabel Sawhill write that last week’s inter-party feud over publicly funded family planning in the federal budget was pure political showmanship, since these programs reduce the prevalence of abortion, save tax dollars, and improve the lives of children and families. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMarch 2011: The Landscape of Recession: Unemployment and Safety Net Services Across Urban and Suburban America

Emily Garr, March 31, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Almost two years into economic recovery, unemployment and demand for safety net services remain high. In the third edition of Landscape of Recession, Emily Garr examines trends in unemployment and food stamp receipt since December 2007 in the 100 largest metro areas, and finds that suburbs saw the steepest increases in jobless residents and families seeking food assistance. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMore on the Easterlin Paradox: A Response to Wolfers

Carol Graham, December 15, 2010, The Brookings Institution

More on the Easterlin Paradox: A Response to WolfersIn a recent post to The New York Times Freakonomics blog, Justin Wolfers and Daniel Sacks show a statistically significant relationship between economic growth and life satisfaction in a large sample of countries from around the world, and thereby assert that the Easterlin paradox is debunked. However, Carol Graham suggests that the debate over the paradox is more nuanced and depends on the questions that are used, the sample of countries, and the period of time used in empirical tests. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioDebunking the Easterlin Paradox, Again

Justin Wolfers and Daniel Sacks, December 13, 2010, The New York Times Freakonomics blog

Debunking the Easterlin Paradox, AgainJustin Wolfers discusses his research showing that economic development is associated with rising life satisfaction. Wolfers critically examines recent research seeking to debunk his work on this topic. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioChallenges Associated with the Suburbanization of Poverty: Prince George's County, Maryland

Martha Ross, December 08, 2010, The Brookings Institution

Martha Ross spoke to the Advisory Board of the Community Foundation for Prince George’s County, describing research on the suburbanization of poverty both nationally and in the Washington region. Despite perceptions that economic distress is primarily a central city phenomenon, suburbs are home to increasing numbers of low-income families. She highlighted the need to strengthen the social service infrastructure in suburban areas. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioIdentifying Areas With Inadequate Access to Supermarkets

Alan Berube, October 19, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic

Identifying Areas With Inadequate Access to Supermarkets

There are many communities nationwide in which a trip to the supermarket is a rather long one, and most of those areas have residents with relatively lower incomes, says Alan Berube. Along with The Reinvestment Fund, Berube analyzes supermarket access in 10 U.S. metropolitan areas and illustrates the urgency of implementing policy solutions to alleviate burdens on underserved communities.

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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHow Marriage Survives During the Recession

Justin Wolfers , October 13, 2010, The New York Times

How Marriage Survives During the RecessionJustin Wolfers counters recent reports suggesting that the recession has taken a toll on the institution of marriage by examining longer term demographic and cultural trends. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioSubjective Well-Being, Income, Economic Development and Growth

Daniel W. Sacks, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers , October 01, 2010, The World Bank, Working Paper

Subjective Well-Being, Income, Economic Development and GrowthJustin Wolfers, Daniel Sacks and Betsey Stevenson explore the relationships between subjective well-being and income, as seen across individuals within a given country, between countries in a given year, and as a country grows through time. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAdaptation amidst Prosperity and Adversity: Insights from Happiness Studies from Around the World

Carol Graham, July 2010, The World Bank Research Observer

Adaptation amidst Prosperity and Adversity: Insights from Happiness Studies from Around the WorldUsing research collected from around the world, Carol Graham analyzes individual happiness based on a variety of factors, including economics, democracy, crime, corruption and health.  Graham argues that an individual’s ability to adapt may be the strongest determinant of overall happiness and psychological perspective. Read More

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioHow Important is Infrastructure? A Look at its Economic Impact in a Globalized World

Thursday, June 10, 2010
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/P. WhitakerExactly how important is infrastructure to a country’s economy and how is it measured? Should a larger role for financing these investments be given to the private sector, particularly in developing nations? On June 10, the Economic Studies and Global Economy and Development programs at Brookings hosted an event to discuss the nature and role of infrastructure, including rigorous economic analysis to discern to what extent infrastructure can boost overall productivity and raise living standards. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Financial Crisis’ Effects on the Alternatives for Public Pensions

Douglas J. Elliott, April 20, 2010, The Brookings Institution

The Financial Crisis’ Effects on the Alternatives for Public PensionsState public pension funds have taken a hit in the recent financial crisis, like so many others. Unfortunately, according to Douglas Elliott, while things look bad now, with 25 percent losses in value since 2007, the future looks much worse because those funds are unlikely to hit their return targets. He says it’s time to face the music now and deal with the problem through higher contributions (which may mean higher taxes) or lower benefit accruals. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAmericans' Mistrust of Government: Rational and Warranted, But Also Dangerous

William A. Galston, March 16, 2010, Yahoo! Finance

According to a recent CBS-New York Times poll, only 19 percent of respondents said they trust the government "to do what is right all or most of the time," whereas 78 percent believe the government is run by special interests. William Galston writes that if current levels of trust in government do not improve, Americans will not be persuaded to make sacrifices now in exchange for a better future. Read More

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John L. Thornton China CenterPolicy CenterJohn L. Thornton China Center

The John L. Thornton China Center develops analysis and policy recommendations to help address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

Vanda Felbab-BrownExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is the author of Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs (Brookings Institution Press, 2009).

William G. GaleExpertWilliam G. Gale

Bill Gale, the Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy in the Economic Studies Program at Brookings, is an expert on tax policy, fiscal issues, pensions, and saving behavior. He is also co-director of the Tax Policy Center and director of the Retirement Security Project.

Alice M. RivlinExpertAlice M. Rivlin

In February 1975, the Congressional Budget Office was established with Alice Rivlin as its first director. Rivlin is an expert on urban issues as well as fiscal, monetary and social policy and directs the Greater Washington Research project at Brookings.

Budgeting for National PrioritiesResearch ProjectBudgeting for National Priorities

The Budgeting for National Priorities project promotes greater fiscal responsibility by developing new ideas, educating the public and finding common ground among experts and policy-makers.

Darrell M. WestExpertDarrell M. West

Darrell M. West is vice president and director of Governance Studies and founding director of the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings. His studies include technology policy, electronic government, and mass media.

Center on Children and FamiliesPolicy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

Energy and ClimateTopicEnergy and Climate

What will it take to mitigate severe climate disruption? What should our priorities be in the relationship between fresh water and climate change? What will it take to help vulnerable countries and regions adapt to change already taking place?

Global ChangeTopicGlobal Change

How do we develop more realistic approaches and more effective means of ending intractable old conflicts and preventing new ones? How do we enhance measures to thwart nonstate actors—especially terrorists and illicit traffickers—and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons?

Katherine SierraExpertKatherine Sierra

Katherine Sierra is a senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development program. A former vice president for sustainable development at the World Bank, she focuses on climate change and energy.

Growth through InnovationTopicGrowth through Innovation

What new practices and mechanisms will help prevent another economic downturn from turning into a financial panic that could become a truly global meltdown? What changes in the public and private sectors will build the workforce and infrastructure required for a global information-based economy?

Opportunity and Well-beingTopicOpportunity and Well-being

As they weather the current economic storm, will our governments and societies address the basic needs and aspirations of the least well-off? How can we better use education to raise individual aspirations? How should governments around the world accelerate preparations to provide social services for the billions moving from poverty into the middle class?

Africa Growth InitiativeResearch ProjectAfrica Growth Initiative

The Africa Growth Initiative conducts high-quality policy research and analysis focused on attaining sustainable economic development and prosperity in Africa, while amplifying the voice of African researchers in policy-making and planning.

Center for Technology InnovationPolicy CenterCenter for Technology Innovation

The Center for Technology Innovation is at the forefront of shaping public debate on technology innovation and developing data-driven scholarship to enhance understanding of technology’s legal, economic, social, and governance ramifications.

Robert KaganExpertRobert Kagan

Robert Kagan is an expert and frequent commentator on Egypt, the Middle East, U.S. national security, and U.S.-European relations. He writes a monthly column on world affairs for the Washington Post and is a contributing editor at the Weekly Standard and the New Republic.

State of Metropolitan AmericaMetropolitan Policy ProgramState of Metropolitan America

Foreshadowing 2010 Census results, this new Brookings report and interactive map defines who Americans are—and who they are becoming—in the face of continued growth, population aging and diversification, uneven educational attainment and income polarization.

Daniel KaufmannExpertDaniel Kaufmann

Daniel Kaufmann was previously the director at the World Bank Institute, leading the work on governance and anti-corruption. His areas of expertise are public sector and regulatory reform, development, governance and anti-corruption.

Mwangi S. KimenyiExpertMwangi S. Kimenyi

Mwangi S. Kimenyi is senior fellow and director of the Africa Growth Initiative. The founding executive director of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (1999-2005), he focuses on Africa's development including institutions for economic growth, political economy, and private sector development.

Suzanne MaloneyExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

Donald KohnExpertDonald Kohn

Donald Kohn is a 40-year veteran of the Federal Reserve System and served as vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2010. He was recently appointed by the government of the United Kingdom and the Bank of England to serve on its interim Financial Policy Committee. Kohn focuses on issues of monetary policy, financial regulation and macroeconomics.

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Stay up-to-date with our independent, high-quality research, learn about Brookings events and search our directory of experts all from your BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone or Android device.

Isabel V. SawhillExpertIsabel V. Sawhill

A nationally known budget expert, Isabel Sawhill focuses on domestic poverty and federal fiscal policy. She is also co-director of the Center on Children and Families and the Budgeting for National Priorities Project at Brookings.

Shadi HamidExpertShadi Hamid

Shadi Hamid focuses on Islamist political parties and democratic reform in the Middle East. Prior to joining Brookings, he was Director of Research at the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and a Hewlett Fellow at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.