All Articles

The Policy Initiatives Institute

Inclusive Urban Planning for Sustainable Cities

Noura Bhatia // Urban Migration, City Design, and Transportation

How can inclusive urban planning accommodate sustainability principles?

The University of California Teacher Assistant Strike

Anonymous // Graduate Student Unions, University of California, and Strikes

What is the California Teacher's Assistant's Strike?

Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights [Part 1] EXPLAINEd

Nrvika Choudhury // Artificial Intelligence, Algorithmic Discrimination, and Safe Systems

What is the AI Bill of Rights?

Redistribution of income

Anonymous // Wealth Redistribution, Economic Theory, and Philosophy

What is redistribution of income and how can it be appiled to economic theory?

Proxy War between the US & China in the Middle EasT

Param Naik // China, United States, and Middle East

What is the Proxy War between the US & China in the Middle East?

The Waves of Democracy

Anonymous // History, Democracy, and Politics

Was the third wave of democracy a revolutionary democratizing process worldwide or a limited expansion of democratic institutions?

The Implications of the FTx Crash

Jake Fenster // Sam Bankman-Fried, Cryptocurrency, and Investments

What are the implications of the November 2022 FTX crash?

Hobbes's laws of nature

Anonymous // History, Political Philosophy, and Human Nature

What were Hobbes's laws of nature; how can they be applied to contemporary individuals?

The Death Penalty Revisited

Pranay Shah // Death Penalty, Criminal Punishment, and Systemic Racism

What is the anti-capital punishment perspective in the United States?

The Magna Carta

Anonymous // European History, Constitutions, and England

What is the Magna Carta and why is it important?

The rise of islam

Anonymous // History , Religion , and Early Society

How did Islam originate and rise?

The Future of Affirmative Action in College Admissions

Param Naik // Universities , Supreme Court, and Equity

What is the future of affirmative action in college admissions?

The Biden Administration and Semiconductor Export Control

Param Naik // Semiconductor, China-US, and Tech Trade

What is the the Biden Administration’s semiconductor export control polich?

Inflation: What has the government done?

Clement Lebon // Inflation, Spending, and Government Balances

What has been the US Federal Government's recent inflationary policy?

FDA’s Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Products

Samarth Ghodke// Healthcare, FDA, and Artificial Intelligence

How does the FDA regulate artificial intelligence in medical products?

Policy Brief: H.R.5376 - Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

Pranay Shah // Inflation, Biden, and Build Better Act

What is the Inflation Reduction Act?

A History of U.S.-Russia Hostage Relations

Vivek Yarlagadda // International Affairs, Law, and Justice

What is the history of international hostage trading?

Skincare Industry Underregulation

Dhiyana Sheth // Skincare, Makeup Regulation, Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act

What has been Congress's approach regarding skin care product regulation?

Federal Government Debt in the United States

Param Naik // Federal Debt, Debt Ceiling, and Welfare Programs

What is the current state of the US national debt?

THE U.S. AND PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Anonymous // Elections, Democracy, and Proportional Representation

What are the argument for US proportional representation system?

A Comparative Study on Capital Punishment: Taiwan and Saudi Arabi

Samarth Ghodke // Capital Punishment, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia

How does Saudi Arabia's capital punishment legislation compare to the Taiwanese policy?

THE JACKSON WATER CRISIS and Mobilization of Black Voters

Vivek Yarlagedda // Jackson Mississippi, Systemic Racism, and Underfunding

What is the Jackson Water Crisis and it's relation to systemic racism?

The rise of Boko Haram and Nigeria

Pranay Shah // Nigeria, Boko Haram, and Terrorism

What is the Boko Haram group and their goals, history, and actions in Nigeria?

Israel and cybersecurity

Clement Lebon // Israel, Cyber Security, and Cyber Warfare

What accounts for Israel's governmental and political cyber security prominence?

DeSantis' Political Leadership Among Hurricane Ian

Jake Fenster // Ron DeSantis, Hurricane Ian, and Florida

What was the DeSantis Administration's response following Hurricane Ian?

Economic IMPLICATIONS of Saudi Arabia’s Energy Policy

Samarth Ghodke // Saudi Arabia, Energy Policy, and Inflation

What are Saudi Arabia's energy goals and the possible economic implications?

What happened to the Green New Deal?

Pranay Shah // Green New Deal, CO2 Emissions, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Why did the Green New Deal fail and what is the foreseeable future for federal climate change legislation

War in Transcaucasia: Armenia and Azerbaijan

Param Naik // Transcaucasia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan

What are the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflicts and how have they impacted on global affairs?

The Queen’s Death: Implications in a Post-Colonial World

Vivek Yarlagedda // Post Colonialism, Queen Elizabeth, and Commonwealth of Nations

What are the implications of the Queen's Elizabeth II death through a post colonial perspective?

Puerto Rico’s Economic Crisis

Puerto Rico, Budget Practice and Predatory Lending

What are the causes and background of Puerto Rico's current economic troubles?

H.R.4130 - American Music Fairness Act

Samarth Ghodke // Music, Radio Stations, Padilla and Blackburn

What is the American Music Fairness Act?

China’s Expanding Transoceanic Fishing Fleet

Jake Fenster // China, Fishing Industry, Environmental Conservation

What are the impacts of China's growing fishing industry for environmental conservation and geopolitics?

Russian Sanctions: Less impactful then hoped?

Param Naik // Russia, Russia Ukraine War, Sanctions

What is the current state of Russian sanctions and how can sanctions be designed more effectively in the future?

The Afghan Economic Crisis

Anonymous // Afghanistan, Poverty, Taliban

What are the causes of Afghanistan’s economic deterioration and how is it related to the ongoing nationwide humanitarian crisis?

Rare Earth Elements: the New Fossil Fuels?

Param Naik // Earth Elements, Mining, Fossil Fuels

What are rare earth elements and their geopolitical role?

the US-Taiwan relationship and the World’s economy

Clement Lebon // Taiwan, Technology, China

What is the effect of the US Taiwan Relationship on the world economy, especially as it relates to technology production?

New York Gun Laws and the Second Amendment

Pranay Shah // New York, Gun Regulation, Second Amendment

What is the current state of New York Gun Legislation and the Supreme Court's Position?

The Biden Administration and the Mexican-American Wall

Jake Fenster // Biden, Mexican American Wall, Trump

What changes were enacted to the Wall under the Trump and Biden Administrations' policies? Additionally, what policy recommendations can guide the US?

Current State of the Changing South Carolina Abortion Legislation

Anonymous // Roe v. Wade, Abortion, South Carolina

What is the current state and background of the precarious abortion legislation in South Carolina?

The CHIPS Act and American Semiconductor Manufacturing

Vivek Yarlagedda// Semi-Conductors, Manufacturing Output, President Biden

What is the Chips Act, its indented causes, and results?

Controversy Over Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

Anonymous // Student Loan, Higher Education, President Biden

What is the background and current state of Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan?

celebrities, government, and climate change

Clement Lebon // Climate Change, Celebrities, Environmental Policy

What is the current state of climate action and how have celebrities both reacted to and influenced it?

US Anti-Trust Legislation and Big Tech

Jake Fenster // Tech Law, Anti-Trust, Big Tech

What progress has been made in regards to antitrust legislation and what is the Big Tech response? What does this mean for the economic integrity of the United States?

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and The US: An Economic Perspective

Anonymous // Russia and Ukraine, United States, Economic Turbulence

How has the U.S. responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how has it affected America’s economics?

Not Taking Deposition Summaries Seriously Is a Mistake

Sheila LaCivita // Deposition, Summaries, Law Proceedings

Both lawyers and paralegals know all too well about deposition summaries. If you don’t summarize a deposition, you won’t be able to narrow down a witness’s testimony into a definitive picture of the event..

Better Protecting the Family in Kenya: A National Priority For President uhuru kenyatta

Morgan Mwenda Kiambi // Kenya, Family, Stable Nuclear Family Units

According to Chapter 45 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, the family is the core unit of Kenyan society. Even universally, the family is the source of the ...

How the explosion in Beirut had ripples throughout Lebanon's society and economy

Smriddhi Nair // Lebanon, Beirut, Economic Devastation

Over the past months, the world has seen a multitude of disasters we all seek to recover from. On August 4th, 2020, Lebanon came face to face ...

“THE GREAT TRAGEDY OF THIS CENTURY”: THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS AND WHAT COULD BE DONE

Keevan Martanto // Syria, Refugees, Humanitarian Campaign

The Syrian Civil War is a multi-sided conflict and proxy war that has been a major focus for news stations, policy analysts, and government officials ...

THE “WORLD’S WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS” - What can be done about YEMEN's VIOLENCE, DISEASE, & FAMINE

Haiyue Ma, Anna Elesinmogun, Ayushi Bhardwaj // Yemen, Crisis

The Yemen conflict has resulted in the most severe humanitarian crisis of recent times. Fueled by sectarianism, conflict of national interests, foreign...

"I GOT SICK, TOO." - HOW DETAINEES ARE SUFFERING IN CENTERS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE BORDER CRISIS

Cristell Bacilio, Sadie Rose Honchock // Border Crisis, Immigration

When a person crosses the U.S. southern border illegally, their main reasons for crossing can range from fleeing from their dangerous country to seeking...

“GENOCIDAL INTENT” - How can we end the clashes on both sides implicating THE ROHINGYA PEOPLE

Hriday Unadkat // Rohingya Crisis, Myanmar, Humanitarian Campaign

In South-East Asia, conflicts have broken out between a Buddhist-Majority government and a Muslim Minority people known as the Rohingya. Millions...

"A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY" - WHY THE LIBYAN SLAVE TRADE IS HORRIFIC AND WHAT CAN BE DONE

Jonathan Lam, Maegan Noche, Mrudula Rapaka // Libya, Slave Trade

In modern media, the concept of slavery is often portrayed as something that has happened centuries ago, as something seemingly “ancient” ...

THE 30 ARTICLES OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (UDHR)

Anonymous // United Nations, Human Rights, UDHR

In 1948, representatives from the 50 member states of the United Nations came together to develop this document that outlines rights that all hum...

MARS 2020: How the PERSEVERANCE Mission intertwines Tech and Policy

Ninna Flores // Mars 2020, Perserverance, Outer Space Treaty

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is making dreams come true by bringing us to Mars along the Mars 2020 (Perseverance) mission. Over 10.9 million names will be sent out to the ...

Understanding the General Data Protection Regulation as a Case Study for Data Protection

Morgan Mwenda // GDPR, Data protection, Internet Privacy

The impact the internet has had in recent decades is phenomenal. That this very article can be read by people around the world is a marvel in its own right. However, I need not abuse this privilege nor shall I enumer ...

UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY OF XENOBOTS: THE WORLD’S FIRST LIVING ROBOT

Hwa-Jin Kwak // Xenobots, Robots, FDA Application

Researchers at University of Vermont made a living robot called the Xenobot, capable of healing, moving, and changing the future of technology forever. While possible of becoming the next big innovation ...

The intertwined issue of covid-19 and homelessness and what can be done

Shira Burns & Frankie Stavro // Homelessness, COVID-19, California

Walking through the streets of San Francisco or Oakland, California, one is guaranteed to encounter homeless citizens sleeping on park benches, ...

How Virtual Reality is becoming the new reality for healthcare

Hwa-Jin Kwak // VR, Virtual Reality, Tech, Hospitals, Healthcare

Starting in 1968, Virtual Reality became a real concept, mostly dedicated for entertainment purposes. As of today, one of the most common ways to use Virtual Reality (VR) is to play games. However, there has been an ...

WHAT IS THE HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA) AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

Hwa-Jin Kwak // HIPAA, Health, Hospitals, Privacy

The HIPAA act was introduced more than 20 years ago to help protect patient privacy and increase security. Patient privacy has been an issue ...

OP-ED: HOW NEW REGULATIONS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNDERMINE TRANSGENDER HEALTH

Shira Burns // LGBTQIA+, healthcare, transgender regulations, ACA

The Trump administration recently passed a law that would remove anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ people when it pertains to ...

HOW PRISONS BECAME HOTSPOTS FOR COVID-19 AND WHAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN DO ABOUT IT

Tomoni Majarucon // COVID-19, CJS, prison system, preventative measures

With the rapid outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19), the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in the United States of America has chang...

An OVERVIEW of the GREEN NEW DEAL - CAN IT REVIVE EARTH OR WILL IT LET THE PLANET CONTINUE TO DIE?

Smriddhi Nair // Green New Deal, Environment, AOC, Greenhouse Gas

A changing climate is changing our world. It is directly hurting our forests, causing sea levels to rise, creating storms the like of which we have never seen before, droughts, and other extreme weather events. Such cha ...

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A COMPARISON OF PESTICIDE REGULATIONS BETWEEN THE US AND OTHER MAJOR NATIONS

Yonis Ali // Pesticide Usage, Population Growth, Food Growth, Comparison

The world's population is already over 7.7 billion, and is projected to reach around 11 billion by 2100. With a growing population, it is necessary to increase the crop yield of our farms every year, but is the best way to do ...

A Plan to Change the DIscussion of Climate Change

Doyup Kwon // Renewable Energy, Climate Change, Greenhouse Gasses

Climate change was regarded as a national issue as far back as the 1960s. It seems that we are seeing more and more news on the subject--what it is, why it’s real, why we should care, what’s being done to stop it, ...

California's Recycling Dilemma: Should the state enact Sweeping change?

Doyup Kwon // California, Recycling Industry, Revitalization

Hurting from a dying recycling industry, the state of California has a decision to make--whether or not to pass bills Assembly Bill 1080 and Senate Bill 54. The decision could determine if California can remain at ...

A Free Verse on Socialism and the Welfare State in the united states

Morgan Mwenda // US, Welfare State, Marginal Tax Rates

The government was primarily a political institution in the period before the Great Depression. However, the national carnage witnessed in the Depression’s reign of terror required a receptor for the blame. Fingers ...

HOW CAN KENYA PROTECT ITS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS (FDI) -- THE FOREIGN INVESTMENTS PROTECTION ACT

Morgan Mwenda // Kenya, Foreign Direct Invesments, End Corruption

The Foreign Investments Protection Act (1964) of Kenya was the child of a young, but optimistic government. The country was only a year into independence and the Act was a statement of high expectations. ...

A Sign of the TimeS - THe CRISIS AFTER COVID-19: Ballooning Debt

Suhani Agrawal // Debt, Stimulus Packages, Financial Crises

The COVID-19 pandemic and the induced lockdown and/or curfew measures that have been implemented have crippled the economy of countries around the world. To combat this problem and to prevent the ...

HOW TO SAVE A COVID-STRICKEN ECONOMY ~ The CARES ACT in ACTIOn

Ayushi Bhardwaj // CARES Act, COVID-19, Economy, Aid Package

Despite its prowess, the American economy is weakening under the unprecedented burden of a global pandemic. The economy can’t practice social isolation, wash its hands every 20 minutes or access a basic mask ...

UNDERSTANDING THE UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME: Can It truly solve inequity?

Hriday Unadkat, Roshan Arokiaraj // UBI, Cash Dividends, Andrew Yang

What is a Universal Basic Income (UBI) and why has it come under the national stage at this time? To fully comprehend the relevance of the Universal Basic Income at this time and its potential in developing the ...