The Epidemic Preceding the Pandemic: Will Utah's Progress Hold?
Falling overdose death rates in natural and semi-synthetic opioids, which include most prescription opioids, led the Utah decline. In contrast, the overall U.S. drug overdose death rate is still rising, led by synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
How Removing Tariffs Would Create Jobs and Boost the Recovery
The United States is facing an unprecedented crisis. As we work toward recovery, it is counterproductive to keep tariffs in place that hinder economic growth. Removing these trade barriers would lower costs for businesses and increase affordability for families during the recession. It would also st...
The Epidemic Preceding the Pandemic: Opioid Overdoses Surge Again
Though a new year brings with it the hope for a better future, the COVID-19 pandemic inflicted incalculable pain and loss over the past year. That pain and loss came in a variety of forms, including a rise in drug overdoses. The opioid epidemic, already on a virulent upswing immediately prior to the...
Did COVID-19 Lead to a Rise in Domestic Violence?
With the spread of COVID-19 across the United States, 2020 has been a bleak year for many Americans. The JEC has discussed the adverse effect of COVID-19 on employment and mental health, suggesting that feeling disconnected, stressed, and mentally unwell can lead to other dangerous consequences. In ...
Seniors’ Emotional and Social Health During the Pandemic: Most are Faring Well though Some Face Greater Challenges
Early in the pandemic, it became clear that seniors are among the groups most at-risk for experiencing adverse health outcomes due to COVID-19.
Marital Health, Parental Well-being, and Family Bonds during the Pandemic: Findings from the 2020 American Family Survey
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging the strength of some marriage and family relationships, the American Family Survey indicates marriages and families in America are doing well and may be stronger in some ways than before the pandemic started.
A Case for Thoughtful Reopening: The Value of Work and Mental Health Impacts of Unemployment
As states continue to move forward weighing the costs and benefits of reopening, it is important to not only consider the economic and health consequences, but also how government shutdowns harm Americans’ mental health due to a loss of income, work, and social connections.
Cars, Kids, and Unintended Costs
Policy analysts on both the left and right are increasingly giving attention to the implications of falling birth rates and considering policies to reverse them.
Saving and COVID-19
One unusual feature of the U.S. economy during the COVID-19 pandemic is a massive increase in saving. Saving nearly tripled over the first two quarters of 2020.
An Update on Charitable Giving
The good news is that charitable giving last year rose overall, making 2019 giving the second highest to date in real terms (after 2017)
