Professor Natalia Smirnova’s reflections on being the inaugural Faculty Fellow through the Center for Career Development in Spring 2023 have been posted by the Center for Career Development
The full article may be found online at:
Faculty in media
Professor Segerson featured on Harvard Environmental Economics Podcast
Professor Kathleen Segerson was featured recently on the Harvard Environmental Economics Program podcast “Environmental Insights.”
Her conversation with Robert Stavins is the subject of his blog post The Challenge Posed to U.S. Climate Policy by Political Polarization:
“In my podcast series, “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” I’ve enjoyed chatting with economists who have been leaders in the realm of environmental, energy, and resource economics. My most recent guest fits in that group, because I was joined by Kathleen Segerson, who in addition to her academic and scholarly research and teaching, has served on numerous state, national, and international advisory boards. The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. You can listen to our complete conversation here.“
The full post is available online at: https://www.robertstavinsblog.org/2023/06/01/the-challenge-posed-to-u-s-climate-policy-by-political-polarization/
Professor Langlois in the Globe and Mail of Canada
Professor Langlois recently published an op-ed piece in the Globe and Mail of Canada, arguing that history helps us understand why today’s inflation is — and isn’t — like inflationary episodes of the past.
The Economic Report of the President cites Professor Harmon’s Research
The latest annual edition of the “Economic Report of the President” (March 2023) cites the 2016 randomized control trial of online learning outcomes co-authored by Professors Oskar Harmon, Ken Couch, and William Alpert.
Their research is discussed in the context of the feasibility of scaling remote learning. In Chapter 5: Building Stronger Postsecondary Institutions (p179), the report notes:
“Online programs. Some have suggested expanding online options to reduce geographic barriers to access, but research findings suggest caution about this approach. In some settings, such as four-year colleges, there are examples of students doing equally well across both online and in-person formats (Figlio, Rush, and Yin 2013; Bowen et al. 2014), as well as in blended learning approaches combining online and in-person components (Bowen et al. 2014; Alpert, Couch, and Harmon 2016). Other research finds, however, that courses taught through online formats often lead to worse learning outcomes than their in-person counterparts (Joyce et al. 2015; Alpert, Couch, and Harmon 2016; Krieg and Henson 2016).”
The citation for the study is:
Alpert, W., K. Couch, and O. Harmon. 2016. “A Randomized Assessment of Online Learning.” American Economic Review 106: 378–82. https://doi.org/10.1257/ aer.p20161057.
Professor Ross’s Research Discussed in the New York Times
Ezra Klein’s New York Times podcast discussed Steve Ross’s research with Eric Brunner and Shaun Dougherty:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-richard-reeves.html
In their research, they show that attending one of Connecticut’s stand alone career and technical high schools increases the academic success and the later labor market earnings on young men who as a group come primarily from a disadvantaged background within the state.
Professor Hallwood and the Scotland Act
Professor Paul Hallwood’s work has been seen to have influenced the Constitutional settlement for Scotland – i.e. the Scotland Act of 2016.
“Have the wheels come off the plan to make Scotland a global player?” The Herald, 7th April 2012
“One paper, an eighth lecture – the [Allender] series was extended after the first seven – was delivered by the Scottish economist Ronald MacDonald and the American Paul Hallwood, and became the subject of intensive political scrutiny. They argued that greater fiscal autonomy for the Scottish Parliament might encourage better economic decision making”.
The Scotland Act of 2016 indeed incorporates many of their ideas for greater tax raising powers being devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Parliament’ s new powers are being delivered by the Scotland Act 2016 [1] :
- Scotland has new powers as part of a secure UK.
- The Scotland Act 2016 delivers the UK Government’ s commitment to the people of Scotland.
- It brings a better balance to Scotland’ s devolution settlement.
- The new powers give the Scottish Parliament much greater tax raising powers.
- In future, Holyrood will be responsible for raising more than 50% of what it spends – making it one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.
- The Scottish Parliament will set the income tax rates and thresholds for earned income in Scotland.
- This represents annual income tax revenues of around £11 billion.
- The Scottish Parliament will retain around 95% of the income tax collected here.
- The Scotland Act gives the Scottish Parliament the power to make decisions on important areas of daily life in Scotland
Posted by the Scottish Office: GetInOnTheAct
Hallwood, P and R MacDonald (2009) The Political Economy of Financing Scottish Government, Studies in Fiscal Federalism and State-local Finance, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
Hallwood P and R MacDonald (2006), “A Restatement of the Case for Scottish Fiscal Autonomy”, Quarterly Economic Commentary, Fraser of Allender Institute, 31, 49-53.
MacDonald R and P Hallwood (2006), “The Economic Case for Fiscal Autonomy with or without Independence”, The Policy Institute, Edinburgh.
[1] Scotland_Act_tax_factsheet.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Professor Langlois in CNN Business report
Professor Langlois was quoted recently in a CNN Business report about the electric-vehicle maker Rivian.
Professor Furtado on NPR’s All Things Considered
Nursing homes are really struggling. We all witnessed the devastating number of Covid deaths in nursing homes throughout the pandemic. Now, nursing homes are toiling with labor shortages that make it very difficult to provide adequate care for residents. While the immediate impacts of the pandemic will eventually stabilize, in the coming decades, nursing homes will need to cope with increases in the demand for their services as baby boomers age. How will an industry that has struggled to hire and keep enough workers even before the pandemic be able to address the increasing care needs of an aging population?
One potential solution: A more open immigration policy. Professor Delia Furtado’s new research shows that nursing homes in areas receiving more immigrants are able to provide better quality care for residents. She talked about why this might be on The Indicator Podcast. Part of this interview aired on All Things Considered.
In related work, PhD student Treena Goswami finds that older college-educated native-born women remain in the labor force longer when they live in areas with more immigrants. Her analysis suggests that when immigrants are available to provide inexpensive care-giving or housekeeping services, older women (who can afford these services) do not have to prematurely leave the labor force in order to provide full time care for loved ones. Further evidence that policies allowing for more immigration might help the U.S. address the care-giving needs of an aging population.
Professor Ross interviewed by NBC about ‘Tulsa Remote’ Program
Professor Steve Ross was recently interviewed by NBC Universal about the ‘Tulsa Remote’ program, which provides financial incentives to encourage individuals who are working remotely to move to Tulsa.
See the story here:
Working from home? You could get paid $10,000 to do that from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Professor Ross interviewed by NBC about Universal Basic Income
NBC News recently interviewed Professor Steve Ross about new Universal Basic Income pilot programs.
The article is online at:
‘There’s so much need:’ L.A., Chicago launch country’s largest guaranteed basic income programs