Taxing sugar instead of soda prompts healthier food purchases
A new study suggests taxing sugar instead of soda is a more effective way to help people cut calories.
Economics
Research roundups, tip sheets, articles and explainers related to the topic of economics and economic equality
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Do students get higher test scores when teachers receive performance pay?
A new study suggests that paying teachers based on student test scores may hurt student performance in some subject areas. The issue: Historically, public school teacher salaries have been based
Expert Commentary
Municipal bonds: A reporter’s tip sheet
When your city or state needs cash for infrastructure, it probably issues a municipal bond. We explain how “munis” work.
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Why are immigrants from some countries more successful than others?
Some immigrant groups in the U.S. seem to be more successful than others. A new paper looks at how country of origin correlates with measures of personal success.
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Rise in minimum wage linked to fewer teen pregnancies
A $1 increase in the minimum wage is associated with a 2 percent drop in the teen birth rate, suggests a new study in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Private prisons: Research, data and controversies
Do private prisons save money? At what cost to inmates and society? We review the research on a host of related policy questions.
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Smartphones are distracting even when you’re not using them
Almost everyone has a smartphone. They can be distracting. But new research shows they may also impair our ability to think straight even when we’re not using them.
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International students: Where they come from and what they study
Over a million international students study in the United States. China provides almost a third, according to a new government paper.
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Higher alcohol sales tax helps reduce drunk driving crashes
Raising the sales tax on alcoholic beverages leads to fewer crashes with injuries involving drivers who have been drinking. A new study suggests a higher sales tax had the biggest impact on drivers aged 15 to 20 years.
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Building codes pay for themselves in disaster-prone regions
After the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida adopted tough new building codes. They quickly paid for themselves, a new study finds.
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