The benefits of pre-schooling may extend for generations

Me, in The Economist, on pre-K.

Examining the Impact of E-Procurement in Ukraine

A CGD Working Paper  examines the impact of Ukraine’s ambitious procurement reform on outcomes amongst a set of procurements that used competitive tendering. The ProZorro system placed all of the country’s government procurement online, introduced an auction approach as the default procurement method, and extended transparency. The reform was introduced with a dramatic increase in the proportion of government procurement that was conducted competitively. This paper examines the impact of ProZorro and reform on contracts that were procured competitively both prior to and after the introduction of the new system. It finds some evidence of impact of the new system on increasing the number of bidders, cost savings, and reduced contracting times.

Depression is increasing among Americans reaching middle age

For The Economist.  Across genders and race/ethnicities, Americans get more miserable as they reach middle age.  White men still kill themselves more often, though.

Fighting crony capitalism at the World Bank

In The Hill, railing about the the IDA Private Sector Window.

Why illegal crossings on America’s southern border have hit an 11-year high

In large part because the administration is turning away asylum seekers at regular crossing points.  Me in The Economist.

How welfare reform has had a negative effect on the children of single mothers

The 1996 welfare reform effort in the US shrank welfare rolls, moved people into work, increased the number of very poor and led to more antisocial behavior among children.  For the Economist.

Why Are Apple and Google Hosting an App That Subjugates Saudi Women?

Me in Slate: Absher  is used for a number of government services in Saudi Arabia, but it also allows Saudi men to specify when and where adult women under their “guardianship,” including unmarried daughters and wives, are allowed to travel. It is hosted by both Google and Apple.  This is bad.  

Women and the Future of Work: Fix the Present

A note for CGD.  There is a lot we don’t know about what automation will mean for jobs in the future, including its impact (if any) on gender inequality. This note reviews evidence and forecasts on that question and makes four main points: (i) Past automation has been (broadly) positive for women’s average quality of life, economic empowerment, and equality. (ii) Forecasts of the gendered impact of automation and AI going forward based on the current distribution of employment suggest considerable uncertainty and a gender inequality of impact that is marginal compared to the potential impact overall. (iii) The bigger risk—and/or opportunity—is likely to be in the combined impact of automation, policy, and social norms in changing the type of work that is seen as male or female. (iv) Minimizing any potential aggravating impact of automation and AI on inequalities in economic power in the future can best be achieved by maximizing economic equality today.

How immigration-law enforcement can affect high-skilled American women

Undocumented immigrants provide a lot of child care.  If they aren't around, it is harder for working mothers.  For The Economist.

The Trump administration is driving up citizenship applications

Scare people that they may not be able to apply for citizenship later, they will apply for citizenship now.  Me in the Economist.

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