Getting to better health outcomes, dealing with the Islamic State group, and accelerating digital cash transfers to the world’s poorest.
Accelerating digital cash transfers to the world’s poorest 17% of the world’s population received at least one COVID-related cash payment between 2020 and 2021. However, delivery of these funds was uneven across the globe—particularly in low-income countries. Homi Kharas and co-authors explain how digital cash payments can enable more effective social protection for the poor. Read more | Not by counterterrorism alone: Root causes and the defeat of the Islamic State group America’s shifting counterterrorism strategy in Syria is a signature component of the broader recalibration of U.S. foreign policy away from failed efforts at nation building and toward limited, more sharply defined objectives that the Biden administration presents as more achievable and realistic. But has Washington over-calibrated in narrowing its objectives in Syria? Steven Heydemann discusses the effectiveness of America’s new strategy. Read more | The pandemic showed why social and structural determinants of health matter With the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately harming America’s Black and Latino communities, it is critical for leaders to address underlying structural issues that contribute to poor health outcomes, including health care gaps, environmental exposure and air pollution, and food insecurity. Anthony Barr and Ariel Gelrud Shiro outline policies to address these lingering issues. Read more | Help support Brookings with a donation Brookings is committed to making its high-quality, independent policy research free to the public. Please consider making a contribution today to our Annual Fund to support our experts' work. | The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. | |