Monday February 13, 2012

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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioPresident Obama's Birth Control Solution Balances Religious Freedom and Women’s Health

Melissa Rogers, February 10, 2012, The Brookings Institution

President Obama's Birth Control Solution Balances Religious Freedom and Women’s HealthMelissa Rogers writes that President Obama deserves credit for implementing a solution to the controversial contraceptive mandate which honors the rights of religious organizations and women health issues. The revised rule will also help strengthen families and reduce the number of abortions, Rogers argues. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioStop Feeling Sorry for the Middle Class—They’re Doing Just Fine

Scott Winship, February 07, 2012, The New Republic

Homeless man makes a sign on a piece of cardboardScott Winship writes that the idea that up to 95 percent of Americans are struggling may be popular, but is incorrect. Winship argues that the attention paid to the overstated problems of the middle class comes at the expense of the more critical challenges facing the poor. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioObama and Super PACs in the 2012 Election

Thomas E. Mann, February 07, 2012, The Brookings Institution

President Obama returns to the White House after campaigning in battleground statesPresident Obama’s reelection committee announced that the president would no longer discourage supporters from contributing to independent spending only political action committees (super PACs). Thomas Mann examines the reversal, arguing that this change was inevitable due to the current state of politics and the upcoming presidential campaign. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWeb Chat: Immigration and the 2012 Election

Audrey Singer, February 01, 2012, The Brookings Institution

Web Chat: Immigration and the 2012 ElectionOn Wednesday, February 1, Audrey Singer took your questions on U.S. immigration trends and the 2012 presidential election during a live web chat moderated by POLITICO. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHow Our Broken Tax System Drives the Economy

Henry J. Aaron, January 31, 2012, The Fiscal Times

How Our Broken Tax System Drives the EconomyHenry Aaron reviews Bruce Bartlett's book The Benefit and the Burden: Tax Reform — Why We Need it and What it Will Take, explaining that it succeeds as a clear introduction to why and how America's tax system became so complicated and formidable, but falls short in explaining some of the more nuanced parts of the tax code. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioObama, South India, and the High Ground of High Tech

William J. Antholis, January 31, 2012, The Brookings Institution

A broker monitors share prices at a firm in MumbaiWhen President Obama took on outsourcing and migration in his State of the Union, South India was listening. The region sends more high-skilled workers to the United States than any other consular district in the world. Depending on how you view the global economy, visa officers either protect American workers in a flat world, or permit high-skilled migrants to help build bridges of cooperation that connect high-tech hilltops. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWarning To Democrats: Romney Is a Stronger Candidate Than You Think

William A. Galston, January 30, 2012, The New Republic

Warning To Democrats: Romney Is a Stronger Candidate Than You ThinkWilliam Galston writes about Mitt Romney's strength as a presidential candidate as compared to Newt Gingrich, examining how Romney's campaign strategy, new poll numbers and glum economic predictions for 2012 may impact President Obama’s reelection chances. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Impact of Density and Diversity on Reapportionment and Redistricting in the Mountain West

David F. Damore, January 26, 2012, The Brookings Institution

The Impact of Density and Diversity on Reapportionment and Redistricting in the Mountain WestDavid F. Damore examines the redistricting and reapportionment of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, and assesses the implications that redistricting outcomes will exert on local and national politics in the next decade. Read More

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioState of the Union 2012: Politics and Policy

Wednesday, January 25, 2012
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Washington, DC

Photo by Ralph AlswangPresident Obama’s State of the Union address was delivered last night to a divided Congress against the backdrop of presidential election year politics. On January 25, Brookings hosted a discussion of the president’s speech and how it might impact crucial policy issues facing the nation in this pivotal election year. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioPresident Obama’s State of the Union Housing Proposal

Ted Gayer, January 25, 2012, The Brookings Institution

President Obama’s State of the Union Housing ProposalTed Gayer interprets the housing policy proposal for underwater homeowners hinted at in President Obama’s State of the Union address. Gayer discusses who would win and lose from a policy targeting "responsible homeowners" and notes the effects it would have on preventing foreclosures and stimulating the housing market. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWeb Chat: Analyzing the 2012 State of the Union

Stephen Hess, January 25, 2012, The Brookings Institution

Web Chat: Analyzing the 2012 State of the UnionOn January 25, Stephen Hess answered your questions on the 2012 State of the Union address in a live web chat moderated by POLITICO. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFixing the Budget Means Higher Taxes

William G. Gale, January 24, 2012, Christian Science Monitor

President Obama speaks to the pressWilliam Gale writes that if the United States is going to reduce the medium- and long-term deficit, new tax revenues must be part of the solution. Gale examines the impact that new taxes, including higher income taxes and new consumption taxes, may have on government spending and the economy. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFive Things to Watch for in the State of the Union

William A. Galston, January 24, 2012, The New Republic

Five Things to Watch for in the State of the UnionWilliam Galston highlights what President Obama will likely address during the State of the Union and suggests how the president should position himself in an election year. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAn Analysis of President Obama's 2012 State of the Union Address

William A. Galston, January 24, 2012, The Brookings Institution

An Analysis of President Obama's 2012 State of the Union AddressWilliam Galston examines President Obama's 2012 State of the Union address, discussing the specifics of the president's message as it related to the economy, President Obama's record, and Congressional politics. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Obama Administration's Mobility Claims and the "Great Gatsby Curve"

Scott Winship, January 20, 2012, National Review Online

Scott Winship's challenge of the Obama administration's claims regarding economic mobility trends in the United States attracted considerable attention in policy circles. Winship responds to his critics by clarifying the finer points on data and methodology that were central to the debate. Read More

In Brief

Today America has a divided government, with a Democratic president and control of Congress split between Democrats in the Senate and Republicans in the House of Representatives. Political polarization is intense and key issues provoke fierce debate as the nation engages in another presidential contest in 2012.

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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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brookings Mobile ApplicationsNEW FEATUREBrookings Mobile Applications

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.