Maxwell School News and Commentary

Len Burman, Paul Volcker Chair in Behavioral Economics, says there are potential legal issues with characterizing taxes one owes to the state as a gift to charity.

Don Mitchell, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography, discusses how the nature of riots and rebellions has changed over the centuries, New York’s place within the history of protest, and how Tompkins Square Park on the Lower East Side has always been a hotbed of defiance.

Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, says that, compared to other recent presidents, Trump’s pardons appear "more politically oriented. He is focusing on people whose political actions are consistent with his own, in that they have been advancing points of view that he shares, or working toward his goals."

Gary Engelhardt, professor of economics, and his co-authors found that the introduction of the early retirement option lowered the average age of those claiming Social Security by about a year and a half and lowered Social Security income by an average of 1.5 percent for male-headed retired households.

U.S. tariffs will “drive up costs for U.S.-based manufacturers and disadvantage American workers competing in global markets,” due to the additional costs they will inject into the supply chain, according to Mary Lovely, professor of economics.

"We've come to expect this type of ebb and flow in terms of the threat of levying trade protections against our trading partners from this administration," says Mary Lovely, professor of economics.

Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science, says those who pay attention to politics tend to be more partisan and often set aside information they find inconsistent with their beliefs. "To the extent that you like this administration," she says, "you might say this is just the way business is done. This isn’t a concern."