Policy Highlights from NBER Summer Institute 2026
Tariffs, health care, safety net access, labor
Briefing Book
The economic analysis policymakers get, from their expert former staffers
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Wanted: New Voices, New Ideas
The first Briefing Book call for proposals - send us yours, no policy experience required!
Quick hits: The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report
As the Social Security trust funds get closer and closer to depletion, the window for gradual reforms is closing quickly.
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Falls Short—But It Could Do Better
Increased generosity and better targeting at adult caregivers would make a difference
Do Group Unemployment Rates Send Warning Signs about the Broader Labor Market?
Labor market commentary often discusses unemployment rates for certain groups as potential leading indicators for the overall unemployment rate. I test that idea for several commonly mentioned groups.
The Great Crime Decline
Homicides just hit their lowest level since 1900. The decline over the past 3 years is the fastest 3-year decline since records began. The federal stimulus during Covid may help explain why.
Rezoning The Rust Belt
As Congress debates a housing law, zoning reform should be an important goal—even in some of the nation’s shrunken cities
Why Economic Policy Analysis Needs a Regional Lens
Without regional analysis, even well-funded policies can miss their goals
Putting a Price on Permitting
When anyone can say no to new housing, developers will pay up for an automatic ‘yes’.
Recent SNAP Changes will Cost the Feds Less by Putting the Burden on Families and States
The One Big Beautiful Bill will cost states more while SNAP participants will receive less
Trump Accounts as an Opportunity to Reduce Exponential Growth Bias and Improve Financial Security
The new children's savings accounts offer financial education opportunities -- but choice architecture is likely to have a bigger influence on their ability to deliver broad-based wealth accumulation.
The Bank and Private Capital Shadow Venture
How to safekeep banks—and the safety net—from interconnections and systemic risk
How Tougher Immigration Enforcement Can Undermine Public Safety
New research finds that immigrant deportations can increase crime, through reducing victim engagement with law enforcement
Talking Shop: Abundance and Health Policy, with Nick Bagley
Artificial scarcity, entrenched incumbents, insurance expansion, Medicaid cuts, and bending the cost curve
Rising prevalence of disability is part of COVID-19's evolving labor market legacy
Negative effects on labor force participation persist, as do higher rates of disability and employment among those with disabilities
Crypto Kleptocracy
Beyond scams and volatility, crypto is planting the seeds of political self-enrichment amongst the cracks of public corruption law
The Dangers of Shared Corporate Leadership
When the same person holds leadership or board positions at two competing companies, the companies are more likely to enter into collusive agreements
Tax Credits and the Safety Net: Proven Tools That Could Do Even More
The EITC and CTC effectively deliver over $180 billion in aid annually and could still be improved
Delivering the Future: Why the Postal Service Needs a New Model
From Self-Financing to Public Investment in National Infrastructure
Los Angeles Shows That the Private Sector Can Develop Affordable Housing
Survey data from Los Angeles also show that a majority of residents support new building in their neighborhoods