Urban Institute experts weigh in on current social and economic policy issues.
Basis Reporting: Lessons Learned and Direction Forward Steven Rosenthal Posted: April 16, 2012Stockbrokers began reporting sales proceeds and cost basis to the IRS and taxpayers this year. This article describes how those information reports came about and discusses the issues they raise. It also argues that compliance gains and simplification benefits justify the reporting burdens that come with advances in information technology, but asserts that Congress and the IRS should take steps to alleviate the burden.
US Corporate Tax Rates Must Come Down Donald Marron Posted: March 21, 2012
In a contribution to the Christian Science Monitor, Donald Marron discusses the U.S.'s controversial coporate income tax rates.
US Budget: Fiscal Showdown or Kick the Can? Donald Marron Posted: February 22, 2012In a contribution to the Christian Science Monitor, Donald Marron discusses the six-pack of expiring temporary tax cuts which could provide the incentive to reshape the tax code and boost the budget.
Streamlining Access to Work Supports: A National Issue for Low-Income Families Olivia Golden,
Heather Sandstrom Posted: February 20, 2012States can both save money and serve low-income families better if they create integrated eligibility systems for all the support programs they administer, propose Olivia Golden and Heather Sandstrom in this commentary for Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity.
Underwater Mortgages Causing Downward Economic Spiral Peter A. Tatian Posted: February 06, 2012
Underwater mortgages are depressing housing demand by creating blockages in the mortgage finance system. Families in trouble because of a loss of income can't make their monthly payments, refinance, or sell their homes. By coupling effective counseling with robust solutions for troubled homeowners-such as loan modifications, refinancing, and rental housing options-we can get on the road to economic recovery much faster, writes Peter Tatian in a commentary for U.S. News & World Report's Debate Club.
Angelina Jolie: History Teacher? Charles Cadwell,
Jack Goldstone Posted: February 09, 2012Angelina Jolie's movie, "In the Land of Blood and Honey," does not purport to tell us how conflicts like the one in Bosnia in the early 90's can be avoided, but it builds a mighty strong case for worrying about that question. It cries out for us to think about which present-day tensions or low-level conflicts are Bosnias-in-waiting, says the Institute’s Center for International Development and Governance director Charles Cadwell in this commentary for the McClatchy News Services.
Can Tax Reform Save the U.S. Economy? Rudolph G. Penner Posted: February 15, 2012
The Bowles-Simpson tax reforms make sense, but nothing about tax reform is politically easy.
Can Tax Reform Save the Economy? Donald Marron Posted: February 15, 2012In a contribution to the International Economy magazine, Donald Marron offers his perspective on tax reform.
America Owes $10 Trillion! No, $50 Trillion! Let Me Explain. Donald Marron Posted: January 26, 2012In a contribution to the Christian Science Monitor, Donald Marron discusses the estimates of America's debt which vary by tens of trillions of dollars, depending on how you count. The bottom line: It's deep but not yet fatal.
Opportunity Still Has Racial Hue Margaret Simms Posted: January 19, 2012
Children are more likely to succeed if they have a stable home environment, adequate nutrition and the opportunity to get a good education. Unfortunately, nearly 50 years after the march on Washington, opportunity still has a racial dimension, argues Institute fellow Margaret Simms in this commentary for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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