Google Street View can predict voting patterns and race
Google’s “Street View” photographs can be used to predict if a town will vote Democrat or Republican. They can also be used to estimate a neighborhood’s racial fabric.
Economics
Research roundups, tip sheets, articles and explainers related to the topic of economics and economic equality
Expert Commentary
Number of U.S. felons tripled in three decades
One-third of African American men have been convicted of a felony, according to data recently published in Demography. For white men, the figure is less than half that.
Expert Commentary
Blockchain: A new technology for global health development?
Blockchain, the technological innovation behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, could spark global health development.
Expert Commentary
Nuclear may be critical for meeting Paris climate goals
Environmental campaigners are split on the role nuclear power can play in cleaning up the planet. New research suggests that closing nuclear plants increases carbon emissions.
Expert Commentary
Ethanol economics, emissions and the environment: A JR briefing
The United States produces over 1 million barrels of ethanol a day, mostly from corn, to be mixed into gasoline. But is it cleaner? And are the government’s economic incentives having intended consequences? We review the research.
Expert Commentary
Industrial spying helped East Germany narrow economic gap
Industrial espionage may call to mind men in trench coats and fedoras. These days, the spies are often hackers, but the handsome rewards still come with a cost.
Expert Commentary
Does Uber curb drunk driving crashes?
Ridesharing services such as Uber might help curb drunk driving crashes in some communities.
Expert Commentary
The estate tax: Understanding the GOP’s repeal proposal
Death and taxes: They’re not only unavoidable; for the very rich, they’re also inseparable. The estate tax — the “death tax” to critics — is a levy on your property
Expert Commentary
Corporate tax reform, inversions and pass-through tax cuts: A JR briefing
Lowering America’s corporate tax rate is a priority for the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans. Elsewhere in government, however, analysts are suggesting caution.
Expert Commentary
Covering food policy and the Farm Bill: Insights from author Michael Pollan
Author Michael Pollan discussed the Farm Bill’s far-reaching impact on the U.S. food system and the environment, how journalists can better cover food policy, and more during a visit to Harvard’s Shorenstein Center.
Expert Commentary