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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici

Trends in Health Care Cost Growth and the Role of the Affordable Care Act

Council of Economic Advisors, November 2013 – Trends in Health Care Cost Growth and the Role of the Affordable Care Act “The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed against a backdrop of decades of rapid growth in health care spending in the United States. While much of this historical increase reflects the development of new… Continue Reading

Guardian – Fisa court documents reveal extent of NSA disregard for privacy restrictions

Spencer Ackerman, UK Guardian article – “Newly declassified court documents indicate that the National Security Agency shared its trove of American bulk email and internet data with other government agencies in violation of specific court-ordered procedures to protect Americans’ privacy. The dissemination of the sensitive data transgressed both the NSA’s affirmations to the secret surveillance court about the… Continue Reading

New guidance limits antibiotics for common infections in children

CDC:  “Every year as many as 10 million U.S. children risk side effects from antibiotic prescriptions that are unlikely to help their upper respiratory conditions. Many of these infections are caused by viruses, which are not helped by antibiotics. This overuse of antibiotics, a significant factor fueling antibiotic resistance, is the focus of a new report… Continue Reading

Ebbing global liquidity and monetary policy interactions

Ebbing global liquidity and monetary policy interactions – Speech by Mr Jaime Caruana, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements, given at the Central Bank of Chile Fifth Summit Meeting of Central Banks on Inflation Targeting: “Global liquidity, capital flows and policy coordination”, Santiago, Chile, 15 November 2013 “This speech reconsiders monetary policy interactions in the light of the… Continue Reading

Can non-interest rate policies stabilise housing markets?

Can non-interest rate policies stabilise housing markets? Evidence from a panel of 57 economies by Kenneth N Kuttner and Ilhyock Shim, Working Papers No 433. November 2013 “Using data from 57 countries spanning more than three decades, this paper investigates the effectiveness of nine non-interest rate policy tools, including macroprudential measures, in stabilising house prices and housing credit. In conventional panel… Continue Reading

The 10 Traits of Globally Fluent Metro Areas

Brookings: “Swift global integration, the expansion of a global consumer class, and the rise of urban areas as the engines of global economic growth have ushered in a new era that demands more global engagement from America’s city and regional leaders. These two papers, including the international edition, present 10 traits of globally fluent metro areas and their… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Civil Support, Federal Autism Activities, Immigration Detention, Personnel Security Clearances

CIVIL SUPPORT – Actions Are Needed to Improve DOD’s Planning for a Complex Catastrophe, GAO-13-763, Sep 30, 2013 FEDERAL AUTISM ACTIVITIES – Better Data and More Coordination Needed to Help Avoid the Potential for Unnecessary Duplication, GAO-14-16, Nov 20, 2013 IMMIGRATION DETENTION – Additional Actions Could Strengthen DHS Efforts to Address Sexual Abuse, GAO-14-38, Nov 20, 2013 PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCES – Actions… Continue Reading

Association of Nut Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality

Association of Nut Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality. Ying Bao, M.D., Sc.D., Jiali Han, Ph.D., Frank B. Hu, M.D., Ph.D., Edward L. Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., Meir J. Stampfer, M.D., Dr.P.H., Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., and Charles S. Fuchs, M.D., M.P.H. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:2001-2011 November 21, 2013 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1307352 “In two large prospective U.S. cohorts,… Continue Reading

Fed: Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, October 29-30, 2013

“In general, the data available at the time of the October 29-30 meeting suggested that economic activity continued to rise at a moderate pace; the set of information reviewed for this meeting, however, was reduced somewhat by delays in selected statistical releases associated with the partial shutdown of the federal government earlier in the month.… Continue Reading

CFPB – A final rule that makes mortgage disclosure better for consumers

“Today, we’re issuing the TILA-RESPA final rule. This rule improves the way consumers receive information about mortgage loans, both when they apply and when they’re getting ready to close. Alongside the rule, we’re publishing information to help industry understand what the requirements are, such as how to fill out the disclosure forms. Helping with that understanding… Continue Reading

Precision Weapons, Civilian Casualties, and Support for the Use of Force

Precision Weapons, Civilian Casualties, and Support for the Use of Force, James Igoe Walsh – University of North Carolina at Charlotte. November 19, 2013. Political Psychology, Forthcoming “Precision weapons such as drones have become increasingly important elements of the military strategies of the United States and other countries. How does the use of precision weapons influence public support for… Continue Reading