Podcasts about policy brief

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, we look at what came out of the May 19 EU-UK summit. Host Rebecca Christie speaks with Bruegel's Ignacio García Bercero and Heather Grabbe about the shift in post-Brexit ties between the two trading partners, what needs to be negotiated next, and how this relates to contentious transatlantic trade relations. U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of big tariffs against the EU contrasts with the cooperative approach of the London talks, which laid out a path forward in key areas like energy, fishing, youth mobility, emissions trading schemes, and animal and plant health standards. Relevant research: Ignacio García Bercero and Heather Grabbe, ‘The EU-UK reset: a first, big step in the right direction', First Glance, 22 May 2025, Bruegel, https://www.bruegel.org/first-glance/eu-uk-reset-first-big-step-right-direction Berg, J., R. Christie, H. Geeroms and F. Papadia (2025), ‘Make finance part of the EU-UK post-Brexit reset', Analysis, Bruegel García-Bercero, I. (2024) ‘A trade policy framework for the European Union-United Kingdom reset', Policy Brief 30/2024, Bruegel

In this extra episode of The Sound of Economics, Bruegel's Bertin Martens and Fiona M. Scott Morton explain the EU's first fines under the Digital Markets Act, in conversation with Rebecca Christie. Apple and Meta were hit with the penalties on 23 April 2025 in what will be a test case for the European Commission's new mandate to rein in digital gatekeepers. This podcast walks through why the fines were assessed, whether they will be big enough to change the companies' behaviour, and how the EU must manage its regulatory agenda in the middle of a trade war. This podcast was recorded on 25 April 2025. Relevant research: Scott Morton, F. (2024) ‘It's time for the European Union to rethink personal social networking', Policy Brief 34/2024, Bruegel Bertin Martens, ‘EU targeting of digital services in tariff retaliation would present challenges', Bruegel First Glance, 11 April 2025 Scott Morton, F. (2024) ‘Entry and competition in mobile app stores', Working Paper 03/2024, Bruegel ‘The state of play on global tax', The Sound of Economics, Bruegel podcast with Rebecca Christie, Benjamin Angel and Pascal Saint-Amans, 6 December 2023 * Music is excerpted from Lake Danse by Roy Hargrove, courtesy of Red Brick Songs and Universal Music

This week, John and Elliot discuss the UNODC's technical policy brief on the expanding activity of Asian crime syndicates, a policy brief on high-level corruption from Project FALCON, a blog post from the FACT Coalition how high gold prices are fueling guerilla warfare in Columbia, the NCA's effort in 2024 to interdict fraud and its focus on online fraud involving AI, and other items impacting the financial crime prevention community.

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie talks to Bruegel energy experts Conall Heussaff and Georg Zachmann about the urgent need to upgrade and connect Europe's electricity grids. They discuss their recent paper outlining the challenges, opportunities, and necessary policy responses to modernise Europe's energy infrastructure. Relevant publications: Heussaff, C. and G. Zachmann (2025) ‘Upgrading Europe's electricity grid is about more than just money', Policy Brief 04/2025, Bruegel McWilliams, B., S. Tagliapietra and G. Zachmann (2025) ‘Europe's energy information problem', Policy Brief 07/2025, Bruegel

The 'FSR Policy Briefcase' Season 2 episode 2 covers "TEN-E", the EU policy for planning and building cross-border energy networks, in light of the Draghi reports recommendations. In particular, it explores the TEN-E's past achievements, its current role, and potential areas for improvement. For this episode, hosts Leonardo Meeus and Emma Menegatti are joined by Catharina Sikow-Magny from the Florence School of regulation. The conversation builds on Catharina's recently published Policy Brief, "Making TEN-E into a truly European project". The Draghi report identifies energy network investments as critical to Europe. However, the group discussed how it fails to fully acknowledge the already existing TEN-E framework in its recommendations. The discussion moreover explored the different routes for improvement including EU funding mechanisms, regional coordination, and permitting processes. See below for a link to the original Policy Brief https://fsr.eui.eu/publications/?handle=1814/77413

On this Addiction Psychologist segment, we talk to experts about new policy developments to get a better understanding of the implications for our work, our clients, and our personal lives. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Lara Coughlin about the science of contingency management, recent changes in incentive allowance for contingency management, and how these changes might impact practice. Dr. Lara Coughlin is an assistant professor in the University of Michigan Addiction Center and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School, as well as the Director of the CHOICE lab, the Co-director of the Michigan Innovations in Addiction Care through Research and Education Program and the Faculty Lead of Mental Health Equity at the University of Michigan Eisenburg Family Depression Center. Learn more about contingency management here, and about the changes to allowable incentives here.

19 Minutes PodcastIn this episode of The Ag View Pitch, Paul Neiffer joins Chris to provide updates on key governmental topics. They begin by discussing the beneficial ownership information report, which requires registration at fincen.gov by March 21. The conversation then shifts to President Trump's push for a permanent tax cut extension and the recent House-approved budget. Lastly, they cover the upcoming ERP payments for farmers, outlining expected payment amounts and timing.

Making Capacity Markets Work for Energy Security and Market Efficiency In the first episode of the FSR Policy Briefcase - Season 2, hosts Leonardo Meeus and James Kneebone are joined by Emma Menegatti (FSR) to explore how capacity markets in the European electricity sector can be streamlined for better security of supply and market efficiency. Building on Emma's recent Policy Brief, the discussion unpacks the fundamentals of capacity mechanisms—what they are, why they matter, and the key reforms underway. The episode also highlights how relaxing cross-border requirements could enhance their effectiveness. See below for a link to the original Policy Brief: https://fsr.eui.eu/publications/?handle=1814/77492

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie invites Johanna Breuer, Emmanuel Mourlon-Druol and Federico Fabbrini to delve into the intricate dynamics of European public goods and how to pay for them. Together, they explore the historical, legal, and political foundations of joint European financing—tracing its evolution from the post-WWII period to recent crises like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Relevant publication: Mourlon-Druol, E. (2024) ‘An uphill struggle: a long-term perspective on the European public goods debate', Policy Brief 24/2024, Bruegel Beetsma, R. and M. Buti (2024) ‘Designing conditionality in the supply of European public goods', Working Paper 20/2024, Bruegel

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie invites Heather Grabbe, Luca Léry Moffat and Janez Potočnik to talk about turning Europe's economy circular by making resources go further. They discuss the environmental and economic cases for Europe to use fewer resources, and why moving to a circular economy is essential in the fight against climate change. They also discuss examples of companies that have found ways of reducing waste, and the reasons why more firms don't make resource efficient decisions. Relevant publication: Grabbe, H. and L. Moffat (2024) ‘A European circular single market for economic security and competitiveness', Policy Brief 20/2024, Bruegel

Dr. Azra Ahsan comes on The Pakistan Experience to explore critical topics in gynecology, family planning, and women's health. She also answers all your most important questions. Dr. Azra Ahsan, a distinguished graduate of Dow Medical College, Karachi, brings extensive global experience to her role as an obstetrician and gynecologist at ‘New Beginnings' hospital. With postgraduate training and Fellowship from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (RCOG), UK, she has worked across the UK, North Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan, gaining rich expertise. Passionate about public health, Dr. Ahsan has been instrumental in implementing key reproductive health initiatives through the National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health (NCMNH) and the Association for Mothers and Newborns (AMAN). As Vice President of NCMNH and President of AMAN, she has spearheaded crucial projects, including introducing Post Abortion Care (PAC) technologies in Pakistan and leading the Post Partum Family Planning (PPFP) initiative, proving the safety and effectiveness of the Post Partum Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (PPIUCD). Her contributions include developing the EmONC manual in both Urdu and English, reviewing Verbal Autopsy Questionnaires for Pakistan's Maternal Mortality Survey, and serving on various national steering committees and task forces. She is a member of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan (SOGP) and an honorary member of the Midwifery Association of Pakistan (MAP). Currently, she is the Vice Chair of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Report https://knowledgecommons.popcouncil.org/topics_safe-abortion-pac/2/ Policy Brief: https://knowledgecommons.popcouncil.org/topics_safe-abortion-pac/1/ The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience To support the channel: Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912 Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:30 Social Stigma around Abortion 6:00 Married couples mostly get abortions 10:30 Post Abortion Care and Misoprostol 16:39 Teaching girls about Periods 20:50 Condoms, Contraceptives and IUDs 27:00 Islamic and Legal view of Abortion 31:00 Birth Spacing and Family Planning 37:49 Attitudes about Women in Pakistan 41:40 Audience Questions The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC44l9XMwecN5nSgIF2Dvivg/join

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie invites Bruegel's own Simone Tagliapietra and Cecilia Trasi, as well as Jacob Werksman, Principal Adviser of European Commission's DG Clima, to examine the EU's global green agenda and the challenges of balancing decarbonisation, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy. They discuss how the EU's green geoeconomic approach should support global decarbonisation efforts and strengthen the EU's strategic position. Relevant publications and events: Sgaravatti, G., S. Tagliapietra and C. Trasi (2024) ‘Re-energising Europe's global green reach', Policy Brief 11/2024, Bruegel Re-energising Europe's global green reach, Bruegel event with Anthony Agotha, Norbert Gorissen, Simone Tagliapietra, Cecilia Trasi and Jacob Werksman Bolton, P., A.M. Kleinnijenhuis and J. Zettelmeyer (2024) ‘The economic case for climate finance at scale', Policy Brief 09/2024, Bruegel

Most people have a complicated relationship with their body, with many of us wishing we looked different. Fad diets, intermittent fasting, excessive exercise, weight loss injections, and liposuction abound as we search for perfection. The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) recently published a research and policy brief summarizing the findings from a complex study of body image in the Church, which is the topic of this episode. In this episode, I am joined by two guests, both professors in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University: Dr. Sarah Coyne, Associate Director of the Department and a Professor of Human Development, and Dr. Lauren Barnes, an Associate Clinical Professor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. This is such an interesting conversation and research!   UWLP Research & Policy Brief: https://www.usu.edu/uwlp/files/briefs/58-bodies-at-church-latter-day-saint-doctrine-teaching-culture-body-image.pdf Utah Women & Leadership Project: www.utwomen.org A Bolder Way Forward: www.abolderwayforward.org

Pesquisadora fala sobre a monotonia do sistema agroalimentar e possíveis melhorias propostas pelo Think20 Brasil

By 2030, the European Union must reduce emissions from the heating and cooling of buildings – responsible for 13 percent of EU emissions – by the equivalent of the annual emissions of Slovakia. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie sits down with Michael Pahle, Marion Santini and Giovanni Sgaravatti to discuss how greener buildings can play contribute to Europe's decarbonisation efforts. They discuss new EU rules, expanding the emissions trading scheme, and the need to find financing for energy-friendly renovations, as well as how to shield households and small companies from the impact of higher carbon prices. Relevant publication and event:  Keliauskaitė, U.,B. McWilliams, G. Sgaravatti and S. Tagliapietra (2024) ‘How to finance the European Union's building decarbonisation plan', Policy Brief 12/2024, Bruegel How to finance building decarbonisation in the EU, Bruegel event, 2 July 2024

"The fifth instalment of the ‘FSR Policy Briefcase' explores the why, when, and how of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) in Europe. For this episode, regular hosts Leonardo Meeus and James Kneebone are joined by part-time Professor of FSR Christopher Jones. The conversation builds on the recent publication of Christopher's Policy Brief on this subject, linked below. CCUS technology and infrastructure has the highest value-add in the period during which Europe is still transitioning from fossil value chains to fully decarbonised value chains. For this reason, it needs to be deployed quickly, often retrofitted to existing industrial facilities. Christopher's Policy Brief presents a tentative vision for how a regulatory framework could be establsihed in time to maximise the effectiveness of CCUS technologies. See below for a link to the original Policy Brief https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/76181;jsessionid=9E2F6DCA9B2A1A82BF25195BD7A0034B"

Bruegel and the Financial Times partnered up to host a debate featuring lead candidates from major EU political parties on EU economic issues, namely growth, the single market, economic security and the EU budget. The participants of the debate were: Sandro Gozi, Renew Europe Now Ursula von der Leyen, The European People's Party Nicolas Schmit, the Party of European Socialists Anders Vistisen, Identity and Democracy Party In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie sits down with Bruegel Senior fellow Maria Demertzis, FT Brussels bureau chief Henry Foy, also moderators of the debate, to unpack the views they gathered from the event, discuss how the elections are likely to turn out and what will happen afterwards.    Relevant events and publications: Economic choices for Europe: EU leadership debate 2024, Bruegel-Financial Times event, 21 May 2024 Visions for Europe: Economic expert debate for the 2024 EU elections, Bruegel-Financial Times event, 15 April 2024  Saint-Amans, P. (2024) ‘Broader border taxes: a new option for European Union budget resources', Policy Brief 06/2024, Bruegel

In a world of increasing uncertainties, the European Union's need to protect itself from new shocks is on the rise. Pandemic-related supply disruptions,  the energy crisis provoked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and economic coercion coming from China have all shown that the EU needs to do more to prepare itself for what may come. But how should Europe de-risk its external relationships without foregoing the benefits of trade? Rebecca Christie talks to Bruegel Director Jeromin Zettelmeyer and CEPR President Beatrice Weder di Mauro about their new report, “Paris Report 2: Europe's Economic Security”. Relevant publications: Pisani-Ferry, J, B Weder Di Mauro and J Zettelmeyer (eds) (2024), ‘Paris Report 2: Europe's Economic Security‘, CEPR Press, Paris & London Pisani-Ferry, J., B. Weder di Mauro and J. Zettelmeyer (2024) ‘How to de-risk: European economic security in a world of interdependence', Policy Brief 07/2024, Bruegel

Connectivity initiatives have become a major instrument in the competition among major powers. What are the implications of an exclusively geopolitical reading of connectivity? How should the EU position itself in this context? In this episode of the ReConnect China podcast, Mario Esteban, Senior Analyst at Elcano Royal Institute, interviews Aurelio Insisa, Senior fellow at the Istituto Affari Internazionali. Both have recently authored a Policy Brief arguing that a geopolitical framing of the EU's Global Gateway is counterproductive for the EU. In this conversation they discuss why this is the case and how a more positive framing of the initiative can help improve the Global Gateway's standing in the Global South. Transcript: https://www.utu.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/podcast/reconnect

The fourth instalment of the ‘FSR Policy Briefcase' explores the subject of methane emissions, specifically the establishment of a Methane Regulation in the EU, as well as the increasing attention methane is receiving in the maritime sector, both maritime fuel emissions and leakages from LNG shipments. For this episode, regular hosts Leonardo Meeus and James Kneebone are joined by Andris Piebalgs of FSR and Maria Olczak of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES), the conversation builds on the pair's recent publication of a Policy Brief on this subject. In a wide-reaching episode, the group discuss the extent of the methane emissions problem and why it has gained so much attention in recent years, the landmark inclusion of methane under the EU ETS, the complexity of regulating in an international sector like maritime, as well as some of the measurement technology used to ensure accountability. See below for a link to the original Policy Brief https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/the-decarbonisation-of-maritime-transport-navigating-between-a-global-and-eu-approach/

In this episode of the sound of economics, Rebecca Christie invites Georg Zachmann and Christian Zinglersen to talk about the ambitious idea of creating a more integrated European electricity market. They discuss the drastic change in Europe's energy outlook, as we switch from a world of fossil imports to mostly domestic electricity production. They address the benefits of a better-coordinated European energy system, as well as the need for improved communication between member states, harmonised market instruments, and joint investment in infrastructure to achieve greater efficiency and resilience. They lay out the complexity of this cross-sectoral challenge and stress that this needs strong political will and trust to move forward. Relevant publication and event:  Zachmann, G., C. Batlle, F. Beaude, C. Maurer, M. Morawiecka and F. Roques (2024) ‘Unity in power, power in unity: why the EU needs more integrated electricity markets', Policy Brief 2024/03, Bruegel Why the EU needs more integrated electricity markets, Bruegel event, 28 February 2024

The third instalment of the ‘FSR Policy Briefcase' explores European industrial policy following the energy crisis of 2021/22, specifically the role of clean hydrogen in the protection and continuation of existing energy-intensive industrial sectors as well as in generating new, clean industrial growth. For this episode, regular hosts Leonardo Meeus and James Kneebone are joined by Ilaria Conti of FSR and Jan Cornillie of the EUI's School of Transnational Governance (STG). The conversation builds on the recent publication of a Policy Brief on this subject, written by Jan, James, Ilaria, and Jos Delbeke. In a wide-reaching episode, the group discuss the state of play with the hydrogen sector in 2024, including the economic conditions, project-level progress, regulatory status, and the importance of capturing the intersectional and nuanced 'value' of clean hydrogen as not only a clean energy vector but also a vector for industrial transformation. See below for a link to the original Policy Brief https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/76564

Please join Lynn Grubb and I as we discuss Chapter 1 of Conceiving Christian America; Embryo Adoption and Reproductive Politics by Risa Cromer, and the intersection with the impact on adoptees. While embryo adoption is not legally adoption, but rather a property transfer, the fertility industry deliberately uses the language of adoption to obscure this fact. Lynn can be found online as The Adopted Genealogist, and is the President of the Adoptee Rights Coalition. Home | ARC (adopteerightscoalition.com) Ande Stanley is a Late-Discovery, transnational, same race adopted person. Mentioned in the show: Conceiving Christian America; Embryo Adoption and Reproductive Politics by Risa Cromer Conceiving Christian America: Embryo Adoption and Reproductive Politics (Anthropologies of American Medicine: Culture, Power, and Practice) - Kindle edition by Cromer, Risa. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Parents welcome twins from embryos frozen 30 years ago | CNN The Family Preservation Project The Family Preservation Project – Where Moms and Resources Meet https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-with-katie-nelson-burns-of-the/id1598023322?i=1000647934005 There are many articles out there on the lack of regulation and oversight for the ART industry. Here is just one that popped up in a Google search: Navigating the Ethical and Legal Maze of IVF: A Closer Look at Industry Challenges – Health Law & Policy Brief (healthlawpolicy.org) The opinions of the host and the co-host are just that, our opinions. The host is not a lawyer,or a fertility specialist.

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan invites Alessia Amighini and Alicia García-Herrero to discuss China's latest push to internationalise its currency, the Renminbi. They talk about China's previous two attempts, its approach to internationalise the RMB this time around and the wider implications of a strengthened RMB. This might prompt other countries to try and strengthen their own currencies, which could lead to a more fragmented financial system. Our experts discuss how the euro, compared to the dollar, might be more affected by this. Relevant publications:  Amighini, A. and A. García-Herrero (2023) ‘Third time lucky? China's push to internationalise the renminbi', Policy Brief 20/2023, Bruegel China's second attempt to internationalise the RMB by launching its own digital currency, ZhōngHuá Mundus newsletter, April 2021 This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics. ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe. Sign up now to receive it in your mailbox!

In this episode, Anushka Saxena and Amit Kumar discuss a proposal for the G20 to develop a transparent and collaborative data-sharing mechanism to reduce vulnerabilities induced by supply chain disruptions. The ideas discussed here are part of a Policy Brief submitted to the G20's working group, Think20, and can be perused here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/618a55c4cb03246776b68559/t/645f7f66f46ae72ee221a24d/1683980136318/T20_PolicyBrief_TF1_Data-Asymmetry-SupplyChain.pdf. Do check out Takshashila's public policy courses: https://school.takshashila.org.in/courses We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks!        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This session of the radio show shares some Mass Property Tax Data Insights as analyzed by Max Morrongiello. We had our conversation in the Franklin TV studio on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Max shares some insights from the linear regression analysis he performed with the available data from the US Census and Mass Dept of Revenue among other resources.For example, Franklin property tax bills are about 4% less than the linear regression analysis would predict them to be.The recording runs about 28 minutes. Let's listen to my conversation with Max on Thursday, August 10, 2023--------------Policy Brief on per pupil spendinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1LP5fI1Gm0NKkUuAYaWTKF2HSadjfinNY/view?usp=drive_link Are Franklin's taxes low?https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LJHukt7tGB3-dTLWyX5NoIJE8J8jZib3/view?usp=drive_link Data files used for the analysisMicrosoft Excel format ->https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uQE3e2_4RSj3zZRQ-9p7biDI-3Kk6E6d/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101938843903614700481&rtpof=true&sd=true Comma Separated Value format (CSV)https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E90EFjLb0GkMrAFy75zXR7wqHHh5XgTV/view?usp=drive_link Info on JASP -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JASP and https://jasp-stats.org/jasp-materials/Max's LinkedIn profile -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxmorrongiello/ And specifically on metrics and statistical analysis -> Maxwell Metrics: Policy Analytics & Consulting--------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.How can you help?If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto,...

In this episode, Fredrik Erixon and Oscar Guinea speak about relative economic decline – more specifically the decline of the European economy in comparison to the American economy. This conversation is based on a recent ECIPE paper on Europe’s poor economic growth and its consequences for prosperity. The Policy Brief...

The Chinese economy is at a crossroads. The investment-driven growth model, which the government had relied on for the last four decades, is running out of steam. Fiscal deficits are widening and public debt is rising. Furthermore, population aging is becoming more visible and the pandemic had some scarring effects which have taken a toll both on consumer and business confidence.  The very rapid rise in wages since the global financial crisis is pushing China to get ahead in its production capabilities so it will be productive enough to continue to raise wages and avoid the middle-income trap. Pressure on the economy is further intensified by the recent increase in geopolitical tensions and fears of decoupling between the US and China.  As the Chinese economy continues to decelerate, the central government is investing heavily in innovation, doubling down on research and development (R&D) spending and STEM-oriented human capital. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Giuseppe Porcaro invites Alicia García-Herrero and Robin Schindowski to discuss the challenges China faces, including three potential bottlenecks that might be hindering the translation of China's innovation efforts into productivity growth, with a specific focus on whether Chinese growth can defy gravity.  Relevant publication Schindowski, R. and A. Garcia-Herrero (2023) ‘China's quest for innovation: progress and bottlenecks', Working Paper 08/2023, Bruegel Garcia-Herrero, A. (2023) ‘Can Chinese growth defy gravity?' Policy Brief 14/2023, Bruegel This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics. ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe. Sign up now to receive it in your mailbox! This is an output of China Horizons, Bruegel's contribution in the project Dealing with a resurgent China (DWARC). This project has received funding from the European Union's HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions under grant agreement No. 101061700.

Welcome to the first episode of the environmental transformation series of the Sciences Po's podcast “Conversations with Sergei Guriev”. In this series, Sergei Guriev talks with our best researchers to understand the fundamental issues of environmental transition. Let's start with the decisive role of cities in building a sober world. Cities are the main sources of pollution, but they also are the major actors for struggling against it. What are the challenges ? How to meet them ? Can cities be sober and low-carbon?  Whereas cities are so different from each other, how can we devise common solutions? How to combine solutions to be implemented immediately and a long-term strategy? Answers by Charlotte Halpern, a researcher at  Sciences Po's Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, who has been working on these issues for years.  Transcription Additional Resources European project CIVITAS SUMP-PLUS website Building Governance Capacity To Achieve Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions, a Policy Brief by Charlotte Halpern, Dan Broghan, Anna Emilie Wehrle)Enabling Governance to Support Sustainable Mobility Planning, a presentation by Charlotte Halpern  Recorded on 17th March 2023 Conversations with Sergei GURIEV is a podcast by Sciences Po. Hélène NAUDET supervised the production of this series, accompanied by Anaelle VERGONJEANNE. The Sciences Po audio department produced and mixed it.     Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In recent years, European Commission borrowing on behalf of the European Union has changed significantly in both scale and nature. This is mainly due to the financing of the Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) and NextGeneration EU (NGEU) instruments introduced in response to Covid-19. For the first time, the EU is now faced with its own debt, which will have to be paid for through the EU budget. When these programmes were launched, interest rates were at historic lows. However, they have since risen rapidly, both in absolute terms and as compared to sovereign borrowers like Germany and France. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Maria Demertzis invites Grégory Claeys and Conor McCaffrey to discuss the causes of this rise in EU borrowing costs, as well as its wider implications on the EU budget, indicated in their latest paper. Relevant piece: Claeys, G., C. McCaffrey and L. Welslau (2023) ‘The rising cost of European Union borrowing and what to do about it' Policy Brief 12/2023, Bruegel

In this episode, Cynthia Nzuki explores copyright law and the right to research in Kenya, with a focus on text and data mining research. Gain valuable insights into Kenya's legal landscape and technology-enabled research.Resources: Policy Brief - Right to Research and Copyright Law in Kenya: Text and Data Mining. https://cipit.strathmore.edu/right-to-research-and-copyright-law-in-kenya-text-and-data-mining/Exploring the Intersection of Copyright Law and Text and Data Mining Research in Kenya: CIPIT's Policy Brief. https://cipit.strathmore.edu/exploring-the-intersection-of-copyright-law-and-text-and-data-mining-research-in-kenya-cipits-policy-brief/Celebrating World IP Day: Promoting Access to Knowledge and the Right to Research Seminar. https://cipit.strathmore.edu/celebrating-world-ip-day-promoting-access-to-knowledge-and-the-right-to-research-seminar/The Role of Copyright Law in Text and Data Mining Research. https://cipit.strathmore.edu/the-role-of-copyright-law-in-text-and-data-mining-research/CIPIT Participates in the Right to Research in Africa Conference: A Week of Debates on Copyright and Access to Knowledge. https://cipit.strathmore.edu/cipit-participates-in-the-right-to-research-in-africa-conference-a-week-of-debates-on-copyright-and-access-to-knowledge/This episode was edited by Tevin SudiMusic:Intro/Outro  – https://pixabay.com/music/id-102694/

In 2022, Europe managed to safeguard the security of energy supply during a turbulent time for the energy sector. Moreover, the EU industry has, also thanks to public support, remained resilient beyond expectations. As the peak of the crisis seems to be behind us, Europe now needs to assess its longer-term industrial repercussions. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Jeromin Zettelmeyer invites Georg Zachmann and Giovanni Sgaravatti to explore the impact of energy crises on European industry and how to address these challenges.    Relevant publication: Sgaravatti, G., S. Tagliapietra and G. Zachmann (2023) ‘Adjusting to the energy shock: the right policies for European industry' Policy Brief 11/2023, Bruegel

EU finance ministers met at the April 2023 informal ECOFIN meeting to discuss the reform of the fiscal governance framework as proposed by the European Commission. Bruegel researchers were asked to contribute to this discussion by providing information on the long-term fiscal needs that countries will have and how well they may be able to meet these needs. In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Maria Demertzis invites Zsolt Darvas and Jeromin Zettelmeyer to share their insights on the implications of long-term fiscal challenges facing the European Union.  In their latest report, the authors identify that the pandemic and subsequent price shocks triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have increased longer-term fiscal pressures in the European Union through higher debt, higher expected real interest rates and higher public investment needs.  Relevant publication: Zettelmeyer, J., G. Claeys, Z. Darvas, L. Welslau and S. Zenios (2023) ‘The longer-term fiscal challenges facing the European Union' Policy Brief 10/2023, Bruegel This Policy Brief is a version of a paper prepared for the Working Session II of the Informal Meeting of EU Economy and Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, Stockholm, 29 April 2023.

Susan and Renee welcome guest Kris Nordstrom to talk about the (very bad) school funding overhaul bill filed by the GOP.  Read Kris' report on the bill here: https://www.ncjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Senate-Bill-670-Policy-Brief-4-13-23.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=f029d843-21dd-4fab-bb4a-3b514812d240  

Cryptocurrencies have become more popular and established in recent years. Simultaneously, crypto financial services, like lending, have also emerged. Given the increasing importance of digitalisation, it is fair to ask whether these digital decentralised services will become established and normalised. In this episode of The sound of economics, Giuseppe Porcaro invites Maria Demertzis and Catarina Martins to discuss the current and future role of decentralised finance in the financial system. Together they examine whether and how the crypto world contributes to the main objectives of the financial system: reducing search costs and financing growth. Relevant publication: Demertzis, M. and C. Martins (2023) ‘Decentralised finance: good technology, bad finance' Policy Brief 09/2023, Bruegel 

Dr. Masson is the Director of Gender Policies within the National Directorate of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law for the Ministry of Defense of the Argentine Republic. Dr. Masson is a social anthropologist who has specialized in gender perspectives, feminism with a focus on women's social and political participation in Argentina as well as the integration of women in the Argentine armed forces. Dr. Masson has authored many books and articles, and has a special piece in and is a good friend of the Inter-American Defense College, participating as a guest speaker in our recent Women, Peace and Security Workshop and the Gender Integration and Perspectives in the Armed Forces course. SPANISH/ESPAÑOL-> 37:34 The IADC Podcast is Produced & Edited by Frieda Garcia Castellanos Resources: Laura Masson POLICY BRIEF 11-2021 Perspectiva de género en las fuerzas armadas y de seguridad  Gender Perspectives in the Armed and Security Forces https://www.instituto-capaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Policy-Brief-11.web_Laura-Masson.pdf Masson Laura (Ed.) Libro Militares Argentinas.  Military Women - Book: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/militares-argentinas Masson, Laura y Dominzain, Julia. “Mujeres militares, la batalla por la igualdad”. Anfibia. Revista digital de la UNSAM. Mayo, 2016. http://www.revistaanfibia.com/cronica/la-batalla-por-la-igualdad/ Masson, Laura. “Romper el pacto de silencio”. En: Anfibia. Revista digital de la UNSAM. ISSN: 2344-9365. http://revistaanfibia.com/ensayo/romper-el-silencio/ Masson, Laura. “Los hechos no alcanzan”. En: Anfibia. Revista digital de la UNSAM. Junio, 2016. http://www.revistaanfibia.com/ensayo/los-hechos-no-alcanzan.

Seit Oktober 2022 ist Giorgia Meloni Ministerpräsidentin Italiens. Zum ersten Mal seit 1945 wird Italiens Regierung von einer Partei angeführt, die direkt aus dem Mussolini-Regime hervorgegangen ist - Fratelli d'Italia. Mit ihrem Sieg waren die schlimmsten Befürchtungen verbunden. Nichts weniger als ein Kurswechsel in der Migrationspolitik war erwartet worden. Doch wie radikal fällt dieser bislang aus? Das analysiert Giovanni de Ghantuz Cubbe in unserem neuen Policy Brief. Zusammen mit unserem wissenschaftlichen Koordinator Oliviero Angeli spricht er in unserem Podcast "Talking Democracy" über Meloni und die Migrationsfrage. Hier gehts zur Publikation: https://forum-midem.de/cms/data/fm/us... Website: https://forum-midem.de/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ForumMIDEM

Der European Council on Foreign Affairs (ECFR), eine paneuropäische Denkfabrik mit Hauptsitz in Berlin, publizierte jüngst einen bisher von der europäischen Öffentlichkeit unbeachteten „Policy Brief“, der es in sich hat. Es handelt sich um eine Umfragestudie mit dem vielsagenden Titel: „United West, divided from the Rest“ (Der Westen vereinigt, aber vom Rest getrennt”). DemnachWeiterlesen

Thirteen years ago, President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress fundamentally transformed the U.S. health care system by providing health insurance coverage that curbed costs and expanded access to millions of Americans. While challenges remain to strengthen the legislation, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains entrenched as a permanent feature of America's hybrid, public-private health care system, and continues to deliver on its promise to provide near-universal coverage to Americans at an affordable cost. As we look back on the successes and challenges of the Affordable Care Act, the Progressive Policy Institute's Director of Health Care Erin Delaney sits down with former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to reflect on the landmark passage of the ACA and the critical role it played in providing essential coverage to millions of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Delaney and Secretary Sebelius look back on the path — 13 years ago — that led to one of the most consequential pieces of health care legislation to be enacted in this country. Read PPI's Policy Brief on the Affordable Care Act here. Learn more about the Progressive Policy Institute here. Follow the Progressive Policy Institute here.

I bet you didn't know that 10% of all emissions come from the fashion industry. Or that 75 million people are employed in manufacturing plants for the fashion industry, with only 2% of them being paid a living wage.This episode highlights these and many other global issues with fast fashion.Learn More:What Is Fast Fashion—and Why Is It a Problem? (treehugger.com)The 10 Essential Fast Fashion Statistics | Earth.OrgThe Fashion Industry Waste Is Drastically Contributing To Climate Change (pirg.org)10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics | Earth.OrgHow Much Do Our Wardrobes Cost to the Environment? (worldbank.org)Fast Fashion Getting Faster: A Look at the Unethical Labor Practices Sustaining a Growing Industry | International Law and Policy Brief (gwu.edu)mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issuesmosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news podcastListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify TAG: Talking About Guns“Talking About Guns” (TAG) is a podcast created to demystify a typically loaded and...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Nicole Hughes, Karen Heim, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery address topical energy issues and share stories in the latest episode of Public Power Underground.06:43 - debrief from The NY Times article on the opportunities awaiting electric utilities How utilities can maximize IIJA and IRA benefits a new way to reference the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (aka the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) 24:34 - another run at transmission siting reform SEEC releases Policy Brief on Permitting Reform for the Clean Energy Future REPEAT project report on Electricity Transmission Michael Cembalest's 12th annual energy report We recorded on Monday December 5th. Permitting reform legislation has gained some momentum in the days since. If we recorded again today, we'd probably have more to say! 39:34 - Southwest Power Pool Markets+ detailed design proposal  Coverage in Utility Dive by Robert Walton Coverage in Clearing Up by Dan Catchpole 57:11 - Short to Ground; where we TL;DR our way through the rest of the news BPA Proposes New Transmission Line Near Tri-Cities by Stever Ernst in Clearing Up NuScale SMR Project Still on Track, While Costs Rising by Steve Ernst in Clearing Up Southern California Natural Gas Supplies Good, Barring Extreme Cold by Linda Dailey Paulson in California Energy Markets CPUC Allows PG&E to Exit Enhanced Oversight Process by Anne Ernst in California Energy Markets Clark Public Utilities Acquires Output From Box Canyon Dam by Steve Ernst in Clearing Up Hydropower Uneconomical in Willamette Project, DEIS Says by KC Mehaffey in Clearing Up NuScale, Shell, others to develop hydrogen production concept with heat from small modular reactor by Stephen Singer in Utility Dive Spot Market Power La Nina NOAA Climate Forecasts WY2023 Water Supply Forecast You can find our merch on shopify. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to share this with any friends you have that are electric utility enthusiasts like us!Public Power Underground, for electric utility enthusiasts! Public Power Underground, it's work to watch!

Esta semana en Planeta Educativo. Horrorizados por la creciente escases de talento humano que atraviesa a nuestro “planeta” (pun intended!), buscamos respuestas y soluciones en la teoría generacional. Con especial cariño a nuestra generacion “les millennials”, discutimos algunos textos y reportes para identificar estrategias para atraer, retener y desarrollar profesoras y profesores. Reportes Reporte “Leading Gen Y Teachers: Emerging Strategies for School Leaders. TQ Research & Policy Brief” https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED520777 Columna “Requisitos y niveles involucrados para estudiar pedagogía en Chile: Una discusión sin certezas” https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/artes-y-cultura/actualidad-cultural/2022/09/27/requisitos-y-niveles-involucrados-para-estudiar-pedagogia-en-chile-una-discusion-sin-certezas.shtml Noticia “Congreso despacha a ley proyecto que suspende este año la evaluación docente, debido a la pandemia” https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/congreso-despacha-a-ley-proyecto-que-suspende-este-ano-la-evaluacion-docente-debido-a-la-pandemia/ITWYQJ2QDBEBFMJZWDVZLUC5J4/ Artículos de los que hablamos así de la'ito Galdames, S. (2019). Trabajo duro, una sed por aprender y un poco de suerte: La trayectoria laboral de los directores de la generación milenio en las escuelas públicas de Chile. Perspectiva Educacional, 58(1), 69–91. https://doi.org/10.4151/07189729-Vol.58-Iss.1-Art.821 Galdames, S. (2020a). Invisible Leaders: the rise of millennials headteachers. The Language of Respect. https://languageofrespect.blogspot.com/2020/07/invisible-leaders-and-sometimes-cool-cow.html Galdames, S. (2020b). The Headship through the eyes of Time : A Multiple Case Study of The Careers of Boomer , GenerationX and Millennial Headteachers [University College London, Institute of Education]. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10094648/ Galdames, S., & Gonzalez, A. (2019). Directores fantásticos y dónde encontrarlos: lecciones sobre la promoción interna de directivos elegidos por Alta Dirección Pública en Chile. Calidad En La Educación, 51(51), 131. https://doi.org/10.31619/caledu.n51.673 Galdames, S., & Guihen, L. (2022). Millennials and leadership: a systematic literature review. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 33(1–2), 146–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2020.1812380 Galdames, S., Opazo, M.-J., & Morales, P. (2022). Una decisión (inter)personal: estudio comparativo generacional de la trayectoria laboral de directores en Chile. Revista de Liderazgo Educativo, 1(1), 85–111. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.29393/RLE1-5UDSP30005

Como vai evoluir o mundo do trabalho?O avanço da tecnologia vai constituir uma ameaça ou uma enorme oportunidade?Como é que a diminuição da natalidade nos vai afectar?A emigração é uma solução ou um problema?E como é que tudo isto se relaciona com a performance do Estado Social?Acredite ou não, o filme Top Gun Maverick tem muito mais a ver com o futuro do Estado Social do que alguma vez pensou. Quem o disse à Ana Markl foi o Amílcar Moreira; e esta ‘in pertinência' não é apenas uma forma de criar mais interesse por este episódio, mas uma chamada de atenção a como o futuro vai influenciar tantos sectores da nossa vida e, por consequência, o Estado Social. Não perca o último episódio desta trilogia especial.REFERÊNCIAS E LINKS ÚTEIS:LIVROS, CAPÍTULOS & ARTIGOS:Moreira, A. (Coord), Azevedo, A., Manso, L., Nicola, A. (2019) Sustentabilidade do sistema de pensões português, Lisboa: Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos.https://ffms.pt/pt-pt/estudos/sustentabilidade-do-sistema-de-pensoes-portuguesPereira da Silva, J., Almeida Ribeiro, G. (2017) Justiça intergeracional e sustentabilidade, Lisboa: Justiça intergeracional e sustentabilidadehttps://www.ffms.pt/pt-pt/estudos/justica-intergeracional-e-sustentabilidade Ribeiro Mendes, F. (2011) Segurança Social: o Futuro Hipotecado, Lisboa: Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos.https://www.ffms.pt/pt-pt/livraria/seguranca-social-o-futuro-hipotecado  Moura Ferreira et al (2018) Portugal e o 2018 Ageing Report. Policy-Brief 2018, Instituto do Envelhecimentowww.ics.ulisboa.pt/flipping/ie2018_2/ VÍDEOS & PODCASTS:Estado Social - Todos por Todos (Documentário)https://www.rtp.pt/play/p9602/estado-socialO que podemos fazer pelo futuro do Estado Social?Da Capa À Contracapa: https://rr.sapo.pt/artigo/da-capa-a-contracapa/2021/12/14/o-que-podemos-fazer-pelo-futuro-do-estado-social/264526/      Fronteiras XXI: Que apoios sociais teremos?https://www.ffms.pt/pt-pt/ffms-play/fronteiras-xxi/que-apoios-sociais-teremosTrinta Por Uma Linha: Estado Social devia ser repensado?https://pod.link/1536727944/episode/23672f40fc8a81aa5054cf8b8ea29934 OUTROS:O Sistema Complementar de Pensões: Ainda é possível recuperar o tempo perdido?O Sistema Complementar de Pensões: Ainda é possível recuperar o tempo perdido? – CCP BIOSANA MARKLAna Markl nasceu em Lisboa, em 1979, com uma total inaptidão para tomar decisões, pelo que se foi deixando levar pelas letras: licenciou-se em Línguas e Literaturas Modernas porque gostava de ler e escrever, mas acabou por se formar em Jornalismo pelo CENJOR. Começou por trabalhar no jornal Blitz para pôr a render a sua melomania, mas extravasou a música e acabou por escrever sobre cultura e sociedade para publicações tão díspares como a Time Out, o Expresso ou até mesmo a Playboy. Manteve o pé na imprensa, mas um dia atreveu-se a fazer televisão. Ajudou a fundar o canal Q em 2010, onde foi guionista e apresentadora. Finalmente, trocou a televisão pela rádio, um velho amor que ainda não consumara. Trabalha desde 2015

In the latest episode of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts Leo Goldsmith of ICF and  Dr. Michael Mendez, Assistant Professor of Environmental Planning and Policy at the University of California, Irvine, to discuss their new paper, Queer and Present Danger: Understanding the Disparate Impacts of Disasters on LGBTQ+ Communities. Mike and Leo discuss the unique vulnerabilities of this community in disaster relief; the myth of gay affluence; how faith-based groups have a history of discriminatory practices in disaster relief; how cohesive is the LGBTQ community and how race is a problem even in LGBTQ groups. Mike and Leo also lay out specific policy recommendations on how adaptation planners can properly consider this community in their planning. Topics covered: This paper was the first highlighting the lack of laws and policies protecting the LGBTQ community in disaster relief. What is the myth of gay affluence? How faith-based groups are on the front lines of disaster relief and how some of them discriminate against the LGBTQ community when providing that relief. The evolution of the word ‘queer' and what it means to the LGBTQ community. Examples of discrimination in disaster relief to the LGBTQ community. Is the LGBTQ community a cohesive group? Incorporating language recognizing the LGQBT+ Community would lead to more holistic adaptation planning. Discussion of latest federal executive actions to protect the LGBTQ community. Policy recommendations on how adaptation planners can incorporate the concerns of the LGBTQ community. (Cover photo by Cecilie Johnsen) Sign up for a free two-week trial of Wondrium. Stream video lectures, documentaries & more! Make sure you use the America Adapts link when you register here: Wondrium.com/adapts Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-m%C3%A9ndez-1b754b4/ https://twitter.com/MikeMendezPhD https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-goldsmith-21a37910a/  Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! Links in episode: https://www.whitehouse.gov/equity/#environmental-justice https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FEMA-EO13985-equity-summary.pdf http://www.michaelanthonymendez.com/about-michael-a.html https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/disa.12509 https://www.kqed.org/news/11906110/disaster-planning-leaves-out-queer-people https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300232158/climate-change-streets/ https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/hrc-releases-competency-guide-for-emergency-responders “When people are planning for social vulnerability, they totally discount the LGBTQ+ community because it's characterized as being white & wealthy." https://www.kqed.org/.../queer-communities-often-left-out...   Queer and Present Danger: Understanding the Disparate Impacts of Disasters on LGBTQ+ Communities  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/disa.12509  Policy Brief on The Need for Equitable Disaster Response for LGBTQ+ Communities  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T2vODQCT_XOXvXW4q61WZ5ksus0fDm2A/view?usp=sharing  Queer & Present Danger - Understanding the disparate impacts of disasters on LGBTQ+ communities.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xHTa7dAwkE Climate Justice Must Include All Womenhttps://atmos.earth/climate-change-womens-rights-justice-trans/ America Adapts was published in the Federal Reserve Newsletter! Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Strategies to Address Climate Change Risk in Low- and Moderate-income Communities - Volume 14, Issue 1 https://www.frbsf.org/community-development/publications/community-development-investment-review/2019/october/strategies-to-address-climate-change-low-moderate-income-communities/ Podcasts in the Classroom – Discussion guides now available for the latest episode of America Adapts. These guides can be used by educators at all levels. Check them out here! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders The best climate change podcasts on The Climate Advisor http://theclimateadvisor.com/the-best-climate-change-podcasts/ 7 podcasts to learn more about climate change and how to fight it https://kinder.world/articles/you/7-podcasts-to-learn-more-about-climate-change-and-how-to-fight-it-19813 Directions on how to listen to America Adapts on Amazon Alexa https://youtu.be/949R8CRpUYU America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts!  Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.   Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Executive Producer Dr. Jesse Keenan Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

On this new Addiction Psychologist segment, we talk to experts about new policy developments to get a better understanding of the implications for our work, our clients, and our personal lives. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Adam Leventhal about the October 12, 2021 announcement that the FDA has authorized the marketing of three new tobacco products, marking the first set of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products ever to be authorized by the FDA through the Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) pathway. Dr. Adam Leventhal is a Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Psychology in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and a member of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee for the Food and Drug Administration. You can read the full FDA press release here. In the days after the recording of this episode, the FDA made a similar announcement authorizing several oral tobacco products, suggesting that authorizations may occur at a rapid pace in the coming weeks.

Australia's multi-billion-dollar offshore processing system has demonstrably failed to stop boats, save lives or break the business model of people smugglers, according to a new policy brief from UNSW's Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law. Released at a pivotal moment when the policy is drawing political interest elsewhere as an ‘Australian model', ‘Cruel, costly and ineffective: the failure of offshore processing in Australia' marks nine years since Australia resumed its bipartisan policy of intercepting asylum seekers at sea and forcibly transferring them to the Pacific nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea. For the first time, Kaldor Centre researchers Madeline Gleeson and Natasha Yacoub break down the common perception of offshore processing as a single policy, explaining how instead it has unfolded in four distinct phases since August 2012. Critically, they note that Australia has been caught up in the fourth and final phase – in which the government stopped transferring people offshore and has been trying to extricate itself from the arrangements – for more than seven years now. Read the policy brief: https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/sites/kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/files/Policy_Brief_11_Offshore_Processing.pdf

In April, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs released the long awaited after action review of the City of Columbus response to summer 2020 protests.  Dean Trevor Brown and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Carter Stewart led the investigative team. In this episode of Policy Brief, Brown and Stewart discuss findings from the report including schisms that existed between the community, police and city leadership, as well as report recommendations for tactical solutions, reconciliation and policy changes to help the city prepare for and respond to future protests.

The Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) is a major Australian government foreign aid initiative that commenced in 2008, that has spent over $350 million, and that has turned out over 15,000 graduates with Australian qualifications. In a recent Devpolicy Discussion Paper, Richard Curtain and Stephen Howes analyse graduate tracer surveys and show that employment outcomes for APTC graduate job-seekers have worsened over the last decade. This is mainly because of falling demand for the trades and hospitality qualifications APTC has offered since inception. They suggest a more demand-led approach to course selection and a greater focus on promoting international migration opportunities to improve employment outcomes for APTC graduates. In a related Policy Brief they propose that APTC should redirect its labour mobility efforts and focus on the Temporary Skill Shortage visa and those graduates who are eligible to migrate to Australia as skilled workers.>> view presentation>> view Discussion Paper>> view Policy BriefSpeakers:Dr Richard Curtain is a Research Fellow specialising in Pacific labour mobility at the Development Policy Centre, The Australian National University.Professor Stephen Howes is Director of the Development Policy Centre and Professor of Economics at the Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.Chair:Sadhana Sen is Regional Communications Adviser at the Development  Policy Centre, The Australian National University. Photo credit: Flickr/DFAT

Guest: Drew Willison, MPA ’90, Former Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate With over 2,000 officers sworn to protect and defend the U.S. Capitol, it is hard to imagine the building could be overrun by America’s own citizens. John Glenn College of Public Affairs alumnus, Drew Willison, joins Dean Trevor Brown in the latest edition of Policy Brief to discuss the duties of the sergeant at arms in safeguarding and securing the Senate and what may have caused the lack of preparation on January 6. Willison shares his expertise on the inside workings of the Senate, observations from the insurrection and thoughts about what should happen next.

Policy Brief's January guest is Tom Wheeler, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Wheeler will discuss the important work that goes into serving on a presidential transition team from his experience serving on the Obama-Biden Transition in 2008-09.

The UN Secretary General’s Policy Brief on COVID-19 in an Urban World reckons that urban areas are at the epicentre of the pandemic, accounting for an estimated 90 per cent of cases. Overcrowding and urban areas with poor infrastructure and housing or weak local governance leads to higher virus transmission.Solutions start at the local level which is why cities and local communities are uniquely placed to protect and support displaced people. The Global Compact on Refugees recognizes the crucial role mayors and local authorities play as first responders, a role even more critical now when we are all faced with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing shelter, health care, food and assistance are how a number of cities in South Africa are helping those forcibly displaced to cope through the pandemic.On 20 November 2020, we organized a conversation between UCLG Africa, UNHCR, a refugee representative, and city authorities to discuss the commitment to create inclusive cities despite the challenges that COVID-19 presentsFor more information, go to https://phap.org/20nov2020

This week, we take a break from our normal Policy Brief episodes to celebrate service. The Glenn College is proud to present these three remarkable public-sector professionals with our alumni awards.

How do you carry out research in the middle of one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world: the civil war in Yemen? This episode features IFPRI Research Fellow Sikandra Kurdi (https://www.ifpri.org/profile/sikandra-kurdi) who, in a conversation with Sivan Yosef ( https://www.ifpri.org/profile/sivan-yosef), tells the story of how Yemen’s Social Fund for Development and IFPRI partnered on the evaluation of a project that gave cash transfers and nutrition education to women in rural Yemen. But when civil war broke out across the country, the Social Fund had to figure out how to keep the project going, and even expand it. The story reflects the determination of IFPRI’s partners in reaching the most vulnerable people in the world and how, against all odds, research showed that nutrition interventions can still work in humanitarian settings. Interviewee: Sikandra Kurdi Interviewer: Sivan Yosef Producer: Sivan Yosef Editor: Jennifer Weingart Promotions: Drew Sample Music/Credits (if any): News Clip from CNN. 2015. Houthi rebels seize airport; U.N. envoy warns Yemen at 'edge of civil war'. https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/22/middleeast/yemen-unrest/. To learn more: Blog post [link forthcoming] Policy Seminar: https://www.ifpri.org/event/impacts-cash-transfers-preventing-malnutrition-yemen Journal Article: https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12973 Policy Brief: http://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/133205/filename/133416.pdf Full Report: https://www.ifpri.org/publication/cash-nutrition-intervention-yemen-impact-evaluation-study Donors & Partners: Yemen Social Fund for Development: http://www.sfd-yemen.org/index.php Yemen Emergency Crisis Response Program: https://www.ye.undp.org/content/yemen/en/home/projects/yemen-emergency-crisis--response----wb.html#:~:text=Through%20the%20Yemen%20Emergency%20Crisis,shore%2Dup%20SFD%20and%20PWP.&text=Our%20work%20brings%20together%20humanitarian,from%20falling%20into%20further%20fragility. The World Bank: http://projects.worldbank.org/P159053?lang=en United Nations Development Programme: https://www.undp.org/ CGIAR Program on Institutions and Markets: https://pim.cgiar.org/ Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit: https://www.giz.de/en/html/index.html Nordic Trust Fund

In this CQ Roll Call's Policy Brief, Shawn Zeller examines how Congress has been stripped of power in favor of the White House and what a new administration could do for lawmakers next.

In this CQ Roll Call's Policy Brief, Shawn Zeller examines how Congress has been stripped of power in favor of the White House and what a new administration could do for lawmakers next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russ and the Gwartney team discuss the talk that Dr. McCullough had to Kansas policy makers on an economic recovery plan with COVID. Dr. Russ McCullough catches the policy makers attention with his presentation on, "Healthcare Capacity as a Policy Tool." Here is the link to the testimony, Dr McCullough starts at 1:42:35: https://youtu.be/7iq9N-SLgwE And a link to the Policy Brief can be found here: https://kansaspolicy.org/surveying-small-businesses-covid-reopening-the-kansas-economy/

Esya's Mohit Chawdhry speak with Saket Gupta, Technical Architect at GreyOrange, on Non-Personal Data Governance Framework. This is the fourth episode in our series on the topic: 'Non-Personal Data.' To know more on this, read our Policy Brief here. Follow us on twitter: @esyacentre

How has COVID-19 effected the workforce world in Central Ohio? Lisa Patt-McDaniel, CEO of Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio discusses early moves her organization, and its partnering agencies, made to address unemployment issues related to the pandemic. 

Will Columbus need to tap into a rainy day fund to make up budget shortfalls amid the pandemic?  Columbus City Auditor Megan Kilgore joins Dean Brown to discuss how the city is positioned financially to weather COVID-19, what revenue adjustments are on the horizon, and the data available to help city leaders and policymakers reach the most equitable and longterm solutions.

The boys tackle policing and defund the police in this bonus policy brief.

Kim Murnieks, director of Ohio's Office of Budget and Management discusses Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and what the outlook is for the state's budget.

In Policy Brief, Part 1 with Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, he explains the city of Columbus' responses to COVID-19 and what the plans are for getting Columbus opened for business. This discussion took place a few weeks before protests began in Columbus and the United States in response to the killing of George Floyd.

Shortly after the first Policy Brief with Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin was recorded, protests began in Columbus and the United States in response to the killing of George Floyd. In Part 2 of Policy Brief with President Hardin, he discusses what needs to happen in Columbus and the nation to address systemic racism.

Can impact evaluation drive changes in the design of social safety net programs? This episode features Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity Nivine El-Kabbag along with IFPRI researchers Clemens Breisinger and Hoda El Enbaby. In a conversation with Sivan Yosef and Drew Sample, they share the story of how IFPRI collaborated with the government of Egypt to evaluate the country’s first national conditional cash transfer program, Takaful and Karama. The research results had a powerful impact, prompting policymakers to allocate more funds to protecting the poor. The evaluation was commissioned by the World Bank and funded by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office. To learn more: -Blog post : https://www.ifpri.org/blog/evaluation-finds-successes-egypts-first-conditional-cash-transfer-program -Book Chapter : https://www.ifpri.org/publication/targeting-social-safety-nets-using-proxy-means-tests-evidence-egypts-takaful-and-karama -Policy Brief : https://www.ifpri.org/publication/egypts-takaful-and-karama-cash-transfer-program-evaluation-program-impacts-and Donors & Partners: - United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office : https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office - World Bank : https://www.worldbank.org/ Interviewees: Nivine El-Kabbag, Clemens Breisinger, Hoda El Enbaby Interviewers: Sivan Yosef, Drew Sample Producer: Sivan Yosef Editor: Jennifer Weingart Promotions: Drew Sample

Brian Perera, Associate Vice President for State Relations in the Office of Government Affairs at The Ohio State University, talks with Dean Trevor Brown about the budgeting process for the state of Ohio and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the state budget in the future.

Esya's Mohit Chawdhry speaks to Sahil Deo, Co-Founder, CPC Analytics, about the role data can play in policy formulation and potential issues associated with the same. The need for Open Access to certain kinds of data to promote innovation is also discussed. This is the third episode in our series on the topic: 'Non-Personal Data.' To know more on this, read our Policy Brief here. Follow us on twitter: @esyacentre

The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) released the new Policy Brief, “A New Policy Toolkit Is Needed as Countries Exit COVID-19 Lockdowns,” by Olivier Blan

Esya's Mohit Chawdhry discusses issues associated with access to and use of Non-Personal Data by academicians and researchers with Mr. Chaitanya Murti, a computer engineer currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber-Physical Systems, IISc. Bengaluru. This is the second episode in our series on the topic: 'Non-Personal Data.' To know more on this, read our Policy Brief here. Follow us on twitter: @esyacentre

Esya's Aishwarya Giridhar and Mohit Chawdhry discuss, Non-Personal Data: Policy and Regulatory Considerations. This is the first episode in our series on the topic: 'Non-Personal Data.' To know more on this, read our Policy Brief here. Follow us on twitter: @esyacentre

Paolo DeMaria, Ohio’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, discusses the impact COVID-19 has had on Ohio's school systems and issues and challenges the systems face in the fall.

Tracy Najera, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund - Ohio, talks about the effects of COVID-19 on families.

Dr. Ned Hill, professor of Economic Development in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and in Knowlton College of Architecture’s section on City and Regional Planning, discussed the economic implication of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lt. Col. Scott is a strategist at the United States Southern Command. He discusses the state of national security in the time of a pandemic.

Policy Brief with Jen Miller, Executive Director, Ohio League of Women Voters. Miller discusses the postponement of Ohio's primary election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting by mail, and what is needed to have a successful fall election. 

Drs. Alyson L. Lavigne & Thomas L. Good sit down with host Jeff Greene to discuss their Division 15 Policy Brief, "Addressing Teacher Evaluation Appropriately."

Im Gespräch mit dem Konfliktforscher Denis Tull und dem Diplomaten David Remmert diskutiert Sarah Brockmeier in dieser Folge den Konflikt in Mali. Wer hat ein Interesse daran, das Friedensabkommen von 2015 in Mali umzusetzen – und wer nicht? Welche Rolle hat die UN-Mission MINUSMA dabei? Was machen deutsche Soldaten vor Ort und welche Aufgaben hat ein ziviler Berater mit dem Kontingent der Bundeswehr in Gao in Mali? Welche Druckmittel und Anreize haben die Bundesregierung und andere Geberländer in Mali, um darauf hinzuwirken, dass vereinbarten Reformen wie eine neue Verfassung und Dezentralisierung durchgeführt werden? Dr. Denis Tull forscht seit 2004 bei der Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) zu Afrika südlich der Sahara, innerstaatlichen Konflikten und u.a. zu Mali. Zur Zeit ist er in Paris beim „Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l'Ecole Militaire“ (IRSEM). Dr. David Remmert war im Auftrag des Auswärtigen Amts von 2017-2019 ziviler Berater im deutschen Einsatzkontingent der Bundeswehr in Gao in Nordmali und arbeitet jetzt wieder im Auswärtigen Amt in Berlin. Weiterführende Links: - Denis Tull auf dem PeaceLab-Blog: "Wie geht Ertüchtigung (nicht)? Erfahrungen aus Mali": https://peacelab.blog/2018/05/wie-geht-ertuechtigung-nicht-erfahrungen-aus-mali. - Policy Brief von Denis Tull zur UN-Mission in Mali: https://www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/vn-peacekeeping-in-mali/ - Dissertation von David Remmert zu Auswirkungen von UN-Missionen auf Korruption: https://www.nomos-shop.de/Remmert-Effects-of-International-Peace-Missions-on-Corruption/productview.aspx?product=41204 - Buch von Sarah Brockmeier und Philipp Rotmann "Krieg vor der Haustür: Die Gewalt in Europas Nachbarschaft und was wir dagegen tun können" (mit Kapitel zu Mali): http://dietz-verlag.de/isbn/9783801205485/Krieg-vor-der-Haustuer-Die-Gewalt-in-Europas-Nachbarschaft-und-was-wir-dagegen-tun-koennen-Sarah-Brockmeier-Philipp-Rotmann.

According to Kenya's Social Protection Policy, poverty, disease, and ignorance were identified at the time of independence in 1963 as the critical challenges facing the new nation of Kenya. While some degree of success has been achieved in the area of education, progress in reducing poverty and providing healthcare has barely been made. 56 years after independence, “poverty and vulnerability remain major challenges, with almost one in every two Kenyans trapped in a long-term, chronic and inter-generational cycle of poverty." Our Constitution in Article 43 guarantees all Kenyans their economic, social, and cultural rights. It asserts the "right for every person...to social security and binds the state to provide appropriate social security to persons who are unable to support themselves and their dependents." This right is closely linked to other social protection rights, including the right to healthcare, human dignity, reasonable working conditions, and access to justice. Article 21 establishes the progressive realization of social and economic rights and obligates the state to "observe, respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights.” We’re joined by Pauline Vata, Executive Director of Hakijamii Trust, to discuss social protection in Kenya. Resources Kenya National Social Protection Policy (2012) Article 43, Constitution of Kenya (2010) National Social Security Fund Act (2013) National Hospital Insurance Fund Act (2013) Social Assistance Act (2013) Analytical Review of the Pension System in Kenya Social security reforms in Kenya: Towards a workerist or a citizenship-based system? Policy Brief on National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) NHIF Strategic Plan 2014 - 2018: Sustainable Financing Towards Universal Health Coverage in Kenya HEALTHY AMBITIONS? KENYA’S NATIONAL HOSPITAL INSURANCE FUND (NHIF) MUST BECOME MORE TRANSPARENT IF IT IS TO ANCHOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE Extending Social Security and Fighting Poverty: Two reform proposals to extend social security in Kenya The Right to Social Security in Kenya: The gap between international human rights and domestic law and policy PARTICIPATION OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THEIR OWN PROGRAMMES: THE CASH TRANSFERS IN KENYA Political Economy of Cash Transfers In Kenya Kenya’s Social Cash Transfer Program From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub-Saharan Africa The Short-term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers to the Poor: Experimental Evidence from Kenya The Long-Term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Experimental Evidence from Kenya. Income Changes and Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Unconditional Cash Transfers in Kenya Scaling up Cash Transfer Programmes in Kenya The Evolution of the Government of Kenya Cash Transfer Programme for Vulnerable Children between 2002 to 2006 and prospects for nationwide scale-up Episode 44: The State of Kenya's Healthcare Episode 21: #LipaKamaTender Image Credit: Business Insider

From trade to immigration, the Trump administration takes a much broader view of national security than prior administrations. Cato Senior Policy Analyst Alex Nowrasteh joins Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford to talk about the links between immigration and national security.Show Notes:Alex Nowrasteh’s bioAlex Nowrasteh, “Incarcerated Immigrants in 2016: Their Numbers, Demographics, and Countries of Origin,” Immigration Research and Policy Brief, June 4, 2018Alex Nowrasteh, “How Trump Is Really Changing Immigration: Making It Harder for People to Come Here Legally,” Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2018 Alex Nowrasteh, “Terrorism and Immigration: A Risk Analysis,” Policy Analysis See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

East Asia’s security environment is changing rapidly. China’s power and confidence is rising, the US is increasingly introspective and uncertainty abounds about its power and purpose. India and Russia also clamour for influence. Regional powers are entering a period of growing rivalry and animosity, nationalism is an increasingly pervasive force, and prompted by a pervasive sense of strategic uncertainty, military spending is ramping up in many countries. As a new equilibrium has yet to be established in the security order, how can middle ranking countries like Japan and Australia manage their interests? The two countries have developed a close and cooperative security partnership since 2007. The changing environment is challenging but they can better navigate it by working together in a closely coordinated manner involving both diplomatic and security policy tools. Speakers: Professor Nick Bisley (Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Dr Rebecca Strating (Lecturer in Politics, La Trobe University) Daniel Flitton (Managing Editor, The Interpreter Lowy Institute)(Chair). The launch of La Trobe Asia's first policy paper, authored by Nick Bisley, Rebecca Strating, Chisako Masuo and Nobuhiro Aizawa. Held at the City Campus of La Trobe University on 7th September, 2018.

Policy Brief 6: Making the Global Compacts Work: What future for refugees and migrants? by Kaldor Centre UNSW

The EU's transport sector is now a significant burden in the context of commitments made under the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions. Transport is the only sector in which Europe's CO2 emissions are now higher than in 1990. Countermeasures are imperative, but it is not a simple challenge to abandon car-friendly policies; policymakers are not blind to economic benefits brought about by the automotive industry in the past. In this episode of 'The Sound of Economics', Bruegel fellows Simone Tagliapietra and Georg Zachmann discuss the findings of a Policy Brief that they have co-written containing policy prescriptions for cleaning up Europe's transport sector. Utilising taxation, as well as funds already allocated within the current multiannual financial framework, the EU can incentivise change not only in the habits of Europe's citizens but its industry leaders too, promoting the policy discussion at country- and city-level where locally appropriate plans and changes can be introduced. Though the EU's research and development funding for transport is dwarfed by that of the continent's automotive sector, there are fields in which the EU can take the lead – fields which private money would otherwise leave undeveloped.

Today we're discussing the differences between the state House and state Senate budget plans in the Washington Legislature. We've got a handy new Policy Brief with a bar graph and chart comparing the two. With a scheduled April 23 adjournment date looming, and the House proposing $1.5 Billion more in tax revenues than the Senate, it seems unlikely lawmakers will complete their business in the regular session; a "special" session appears likely. To read our policy brief comparing the House and Senate budget plans, click here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/04/opsidebyside.pdf

In this episode we offer a brief overview of the four-year balanced budget requirement passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in 2012. To read our Policy Brief on the requirement (from May 2012), click here: https://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2013/08/2012balancedbudget.pdf To read our blog post (from April 2016) defending the four-year balanced budget requirement, click here: https://researchcouncil.org/2016/04/05/what-good-is-the-four-year-balanced-budget-requirement

The biggest job for the Washington state Legislature this year is public school funding for grades K through 12. Right now there are four major plans before lawmakers, all responding to the state Supreme Court's McCleary ruling, which found that the state is not fully funding basic education. We discuss all four plans in this episode. To read our Policy Brief offering a side-by-side comparison of the four plans click here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/03/sidebyside.pdf To read our Policy Brief on Gov. Inslee's and the state House-passed plans, click here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/02/gov1843.pdf To read our Policy Brief on the state Senate-passed plan, click here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/02/ssb5607.pdf To read our blog post on another plan in the state Senate, click here: http://researchcouncil.org/2017/02/27/another-education-funding-plan-in-the-mix

On today's InFocus podcast we're covering the latest news, including our new Policy Brief on business taxation in Washington state. Washington businesses pay 58 percent of state and local taxes, and have some of the highest tax burdens in the country. We also talk about the latest state budget outlook, and problems many school districts are facing with Washington's land-use law, the Growth Management Act. (Note: after we recorded this podcast, state Senate Republicans released their proposal for funding K-12 education. Here is The Seattle Times' article on it: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-senate-gop-releases-sweeping-schools-funding-plan/ And here is an article from The News Tribune of Tacoma: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article129141854.html)

This week Gov. Jay Inslee proposed a state operating budget for 2017-19. It would increase spending by $8.2 billion over the previous biennium - including $3.9 billion more for K-12 education - and raise taxes by $4.4 billion. His tax proposal includes a new capital gains tax. We delve into the details in this podcast. You can read our quick analysis of his budget proposal here: http://researchcouncil.org/2016/12/14/gov-inslee%E2%80%99s-proposed-budget-would-increase-spending-by-82-billion Our quick analysis of his education funding proposal is here: http://researchcouncil.org/2016/12/13/gov-inslee%E2%80%99s-education-proposal-would-increase-spending-by-39-billion-and-add-44-billion-in-new-taxes Our February 2015 Policy Brief on Gov. Inslee's previous capital gains tax proposal is here: https://researchcouncil.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/insleecapitalgainstaxfinal.pdf

Technology transfer is one of the most potentially beneficial aspects of the China-Africa relationship, but how many training centers, visits to China, etc. actually deliver on that promise? June Sun, who is a MPhil candidate at University of Oxford's Oxford Department of International Development (ODID) where she studies international development joins us to discuss that topic. She recently authored a Policy Brief on that subject for the Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies' China-Africa Research Initiative entitled "Technology Transfer in Telecommunications: Barriers and Opportunities in the case of Huawei and ZTE in South Africa."

SPERI Research Fellow Craig Berry responds to Osborne’s budget announcement in both the latest Policy Brief series and in this video, arguing that changes to tax allowances will not help the lowest paid in Northern regions. The SPERI Policy Brief series are available at http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/publications/policy-briefs/.

SPERI Research Fellow Craig Berry responds to Osborne’s budget announcement in both the latest Policy Brief series and in this video, arguing that changes to tax allowances will not help the lowest paid in Northern regions. The SPERI Policy Brief series are available at http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/publications/policy-briefs/.

Australia spends $4.6 billion a year on private health rebates. Dr Terence Cheng discusses his policy brief on the options for Australian policymakers. Log onto melbourneinstitute.com for more from the Policy Brief series

Former State Department official Matthew Hoh and former CIA agent Robert Baer answer the question: What is fueling the insurgency in Afghanistan?