Publications -- Social

Oct 23, 2008

BA #636 – Beyond No Child Left Behind: Value-Added Assessment of Student Progress

The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires each state to evaluate every public school annually, and to make “adequate yearly progress” toward helping all students meet or exceed state standards in reading and math by 2014. However, each state defines its progress and creates its own tests. Most states measure academic achievement based on pass-fail tests that require students to attain a minimum score.

Sep 05, 2008

BA #629 – The John McCain Health Plan

If you listen only to presidential campaign rhetoric, you might conclude that Barack Obama has proposed bold new changes for our health care system, while John McCain is offering only small improvements. If so, you are in for a surprise. Most health policy analysts believe that Sen. McCain is proposing the most fundamental health care reform.

Aug 28, 2008

BA #626 – Crisis of the Uninsured: 2008

Despite claims that there is a health insurance crisis in the United States, the number of U.S. residents without health insurance actually fell in 2007, according to new Census Bureau numbers. The Census says the number of uninsured fell from 47.0 million to 45.7 million. Furthermore, the proportion of uninsured fell half a percentage-point, from 15.8 percent to 15.3 percent.

Aug 23, 2008

BA #622 – Green Schools Don’t Make the Grade

Congress is considering funding a range of projects designed to reduce carbon emissions, including the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, which would provide $20 billion to build public schools that meet “green” environmental standards.  House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) says the legislation will not only save energy, but also make the facilities safer and cleaner and dramatically reduce costs.  Advocates claim that such schools will use 35 percent less energy.

Aug 21, 2008

BA #624 – Physician Care and Telemedicine

The use of information technology in diagnosing, treating and monitoring patients — known as telemedicine — is adding a new dimension to modern health care.  Entrepreneurs are using the telephone, the Internet and personal computers for innovative solutions to traditional problems of health care delivery.  These advances are not only making care more accessible and convenient, they are also raising quality and containing medical costs.

Jul 14, 2008

BA #621 – Which Is More Important for Women, Capitalism or Democracy?

Capitalism and democracy are both known to improve the well-being of women. But which is more important? The social welfare of both men and women can be measured by health, education and employment, and the well-being of women in particular by gender-specific indicators, such as control of fertility. Poor countries generally rank lower than developed countries on all these social metrics, but they can implement public policies to improve conditions.

Apr 25, 2008

BA #615 – 401(k) Loans = Retirement Insecurity

The popularity of 401(k) plans has grown in recent years.  According to the Employee Benefits Research Institute, almost two-thirds of employers offer such plans and millions of employees now contribute to them.  These defined contribution plans allow workers to set aside part of their earnings in tax-deferred retirement accounts that are invested in stock and bond funds. 

Nov 20, 2007

BA #604 – Wealthier Is Healthier: A Better Way to Aid Africa

It is increasingly clear that economic freedom, good governance and rule of law are key drivers in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty.  In Sub-Saharan Africa, unfortunately, economic freedom and growth have trailed the rest of the world.  One result is that the health of Sub-Saharan Africans is among the worst in the world.  According to the World Economic Forum, a child born in Niger is 40 times more likely to die before her fifth birthday than a child born in the United Kingdom. 

Nov 12, 2007

BA #602 – School Choice and Hispanic Dropouts

In 2005, more than one-fifth (22.4 percent) of Hispanics 16 through 24 years of age were dropouts, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).  This means they were not enrolled in school, and had not graduated from high school or passed General Educational Development (GED) tests. 

Jul 31, 2007

BA #589 – SCHIP Expansion: Robin Hood in Reverse

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which covers 6.7 million children and adults, will expire in September. SCHIP consists of 50 different federal-state health plans for children (and in some states adults) in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Typically, families with incomes above the poverty level, but no more than 200 percent of poverty, are eligible.