America’s Widening Mortality Gap, Voting Rights in Texas, and More

September 28, 2023

The U.S. economy has recently outperformed other advanced economies, but mortality data paint a different picture for American prosperity and health. In their contribution to the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (BPEA), Anne Case and Angus Deaton raise the alarm about the recent trends in U.S. life expectancy.

📅 Hear directly from the paper authors at our Fall 2023 BPEA conference starting today at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

There is a trial underway in Texas that will likely have lasting repercussions for voting rights. Vanessa Williamson and Ellis Chen explain the state law being challenged and write that though earlier court decisions out of Texas bode well for voting rights, the law in question has already disenfranchised thousands of voters.

Typical solutions for combating summer learning loss include summer school, summer homework assignments, and tutoring. But there are other ways to engage children in summer learning activities. Katelyn Fletcher, Molly Scott, Sarah Lytle, and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek highlight a Philadelphia program that is embedding fun learning experiences in the city’s everyday spaces.

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