How to Teach American History (David Davenport and Gordon Llyoyd)

Given the myriad crises our country now confronts, who would haveguessed that among them would be how we teach American history? Nevertheless, as a new school year begins, the content, presentation and teaching of US history are in the news almost daily. Should statues honoring civilwar figures—at least those from the losing side—or former slaveholders …

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A technical AI government agency plays a vital role in advancing AI innovation and trustworthiness (Mark MacCarthy)

The current AI Safety Institute is a vital new agency currently established on a temporary basis in the Department of Commerce’s National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). This agency is key to U.S. leadership in the development of secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence. The Trump administration should work with Congress to continue the scientific and technical …

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THE ESG IMPERATIVE: Ipsos Foundational Perspectives (ESG Series, 2023)

PURSUE THE PILLARS OF ESG TOGETHER, NOT INDIVIDUALLY The long-term future for business, in any recognisable form, can only be a sustainable one. “There is no company whose business model won’t be profoundly affected by the transition to a net zero economy.” It has, “become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects,” and “no issue …

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The judiciary’s role (German Lopez, NY Times)

President Trump’s latest adversary is the judicial branch. Yesterday, Trump called for the impeachment of a judge who had ruled against him, earning a rare rebuke from the chief justice of the Supreme Court. The administration had ignored the judge’s order to stop deportations over the weekend, saying the government would heed only his written command, not a …

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Viral narratives could be the missing link between emotions and economic fluctuations (Joel Flynn and Karthick Sastry)

Storytelling is central to how we interpret economic events. We recall economic history through haunting images of anxious crowds waiting to take money out of banks during the Great Depression or dejected office workers carrying cardboard boxes out of Lehman Brothers in 2008. We gauge inflation by comparing shopping baskets with friends and family. We …

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Pufendorf’s Moral and Political Philosophy (Michael Seidler)

First published Fri Sep 3, 2010; substantive revision Wed Mar 31, 2021 Samuel Freiherr von Pufendorf (1632–1694) was almost as unknown during most of the 19th and 20th centuries as he had been familiar during the preceding hundred years and more. His fate shows well how philosophical interests shape historical background narratives. More or less …

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The Urgency of Conflict Prevention – A Macroeconomic Perspective (Hannes Mueller,Christopher Rauh,Benjamin R Seimon,Raphael A Espinoza)

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management. Summary Can macroeconomic policy effectively help prevent …

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How Sound Economic Policy Can Help Prevent Conflict  (Franck Bousquet, Paul M. Bisca, Christopher Rauh, Benjamin Seimon)

Simulations that incorporate machine learning-based predictions of conflict suggest large payoffs from preventive policies, including efforts to promote macroeconomic stability and growthMacroeconomic policy can play a key role in preventing armed conflict, in turn saving lives and avoiding injuries, forced displacement and migration, and vast damage to the economy. That’s according to new IMF research, based on …

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