Public Policy
Ideas and insights about public policy from MIT Sloan.
‘Energy poverty’ hits US residents more in the South and Southwest
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The LIHEAP formula for calculating energy aid was written in the 1980s. Researchers propose a solution that recognizes the cost of cooling a warming south.
Nobel winners propose fixes for democracy’s ’tough stretch’
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MIT economists Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson say good jobs and the equitable deployment of technology can help restore people’s faith in democratic institutions.
4 ways the US election could impact 2025 climate policy
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A Republican sweep could reverse the Biden administration’s signature 2022 climate law. MIT Sloan economist Catherine Wolfram analyzes four potential outcomes.
An AI chatbot can reduce belief in conspiracy theories
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The artificial intelligence-powered “DebunkBot” reduced individuals’ belief in conspiracy theories and lessened their conspiratorial mindset, according to a new study.
5 new cybersecurity regulations to know about
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Company leaders need to be on top of best practices and legal requirements for data protection, including mandatory incident reporting and bans on ransomware payments.
GDPR reduced firms’ data and computation use
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A new study finds a 26% decline in data storage and a 20% increase in the cost of data.
How business innovation can help solve the housing crisis
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National Housing Trust CEO Priya Jayachandran sees a role for business and venture capital in increasing access to affordable housing.
The case for taxing digital advertising
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Social media platforms make money off sensational content. Taxing digital ads is one way to encourage different business models, according to two MIT economists.
Black bankruptcy filers more likely to be denied debt relief
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Bankruptcy is designed to give distressed Americans a fresh financial start, but new research shows that Black filers are more likely to have their cases dismissed than whites filers.
Federal spending was responsible for the 2022 spike in inflation
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Many experts and observers blamed 2022’s high inflation on the pandemic’s backlogged supply chain. New research shows that assessment is inaccurate.