public policy

Dec 8, 2010

Milk, Bread, Researchers: Stocking Up On Disaster Experts

September 11. The Gulf oil spill. Earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. The 2004 tsunami. Given the stakes involved, you would think that research into hazards and disasters (H&D) would be teeming with hordes of young scholars, trying to improve our understanding of how people prepare for (and respond to) catastrophic events. And you’d be wrong.… 

Sep 28, 2010

Study Finds National Debt ‘Tipping Point’ That Slows Economic Growth

Researchers from North Carolina State University have identified a “tipping point” for national debt – the point at which national debt levels begin to have an adverse effect on economic growth. The findings could influence economic policy discussions globally, and will be distributed at the upcoming meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World… 

Aug 12, 2010

Burning Biomass With Coal Could Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Across the Southeast, mixing wood and other forest biomass with coal to create energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions when compared to just burning coal alone, according to a new working paper by researchers at North Carolina State University and Duke University. “If we look at all the coal-fired boilers in the Southeastern United States… 

May 11, 2010

Better Enforcement Of Existing Migrant Worker Protection Laws Needed

A new paper from North Carolina State University argues that federal farm subsidies contribute to the migration of both legal and illegal farm labor into the United States and that, since federal actions are an impetus for the influx of migrant labor, the federal government should do a better job of enforcing laws designed to… 

May 11, 2010

NC State Experts Offer Insight On Fallout From Greek Economy

Greece is the focus of global attention as observers try to determine the economic, financial and political fallout stemming from instability in the Greek economy. North Carolina State University researchers can help explain exactly what happened, and offer insights into what is likely to happen next. 

May 4, 2010

NC State Experts Can Offer Insight into Gulf Oil Spill

The recent British Petroleum oil spill will have a major environmental impact on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and beyond. North Carolina State University experts can address issues pertaining to the spill, from how ocean currents may carry it beyond the Gulf, to how long and difficult the clean-up process may be, as well as effects… 

May 4, 2010

Survey: Hiding Risks Can Hurt Public Support For Nanotechnology

A new national survey on public attitudes toward medical applications and physical enhancements that rely on nanotechnology shows that support for the technology increases when the public is informed of the technology’s risks as well as its benefits – at least among those people who have heard of nanotechnology. The survey, which was conducted by… 

Mar 16, 2010

NC State Experts Can Address ‘No Child Left Behind’ Overhaul

North Carolina State University researchers can help explain the impact an overhaul of “No Child Left Behind” may have on the nation’s K-12 schools. President Barack Obama and Congress are debating a plan to overhaul “No Child Left Behind.” The revised law, according to Obama, will ask states to ensure that their academic standards prepare… 

Feb 1, 2010

Research Shows Profit, Not Politics, Drives Sovereign Wealth Fund

Investment funds owned by national governments – known as “sovereign wealth funds” – now wield trillions of dollars in investment power globally, raising concerns that the funds could be used for political purposes and leading to calls for limits on where these funds can invest. But new research from North Carolina State University indicates that… 

Jan 19, 2010

Judges On Trial: How To Promote Judicial Accountability

Public employees have long been subject to performance reviews that evaluate how well they are performing their jobs. But can judges, public employees who literally hold the power of life and death in their hands, be assessed in the same way? New research from North Carolina State University and East Carolina University shows that there… 

Jan 13, 2010

NC State Experts Can Offer Insight On Haiti Disaster

The eyes of the world are now focused on Haiti, and the effects of the recent earthquake disaster on the island nation are still unfolding. North Carolina State University researchers can help explain what happened and what it could mean for Haiti’s political and economic future. 

Jan 13, 2010

NC State Research May Help States Address Unfunded Retiree Liabilities

Research shows that, nationally, states are facing more than $550 billion in unfunded liabilities associated with health care and other non-pension benefits for retired state employees, a situation many states are now struggling to fix. New research from North Carolina State University has identified a number of trends that are consistent among those states with… 

Dec 15, 2009

Study Shows Health Care Spending Spurs Economic Growth

As the national discussion of health care focuses on costs, a new study from North Carolina State University shows that it might be more accurate to think of health care spending as an investment that can spur economic growth. The study also shows that government projections of health care costs and financing may be unduly… 

Dec 8, 2009

NC State Vets Lead Way in Disaster Response for Animals

Most people can picture the first responders who come to the rescue in the wake of a natural disaster. But who provides emergency help for the dogs, cats and horses that people love? And who takes care of the cows, poultry and hogs that form the backbone of animal agriculture? North Carolina State University’s College… 

Dec 3, 2009

New Data Support Use Of Instant Run-Off Voting

New data collected as part of a North Carolina State University study during the 2009 municipal election in Hendersonville, N.C., show that voters prefer instant run-off voting (IRV) to traditional voting – a finding that may build support for IRV. The use of IRV precludes the need for a second run-off election, saving voters time…