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The latest in wonkish activities from the policy front. It's just not a good morning unless you get your daily dose of employment research.
- A Mixed Bag for Boomers. According to the Urban Institute, as many as 68 percent of baby boomers may be willing to work past their retirement age, due factors including improved health, a decline in physically demanding jobs, and reductions in health care and pension funding. However, employers view these workers as insufficiently trained and more costly to employ than their younger counterparts. The report recommends that policymakers pass clearer phased retirement legislation and expanded government training and employment services to make the most of this vast human resource.
- Forgetful even in recession. No one can say for sure whether the economic stimulus payments had any positive impact on the economy. But that may be because millions of Americans never claimed theirs. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities has compiled data to show which states have the most "non-filers" and state-by-state data on the value of these unclaimed payments.
- Contraception: It works! Here's a sobering fact: 30 percent of teenage girls in the U.S. become pregnant. But Brookings researchers report that providing contraception through Medicaid is a cost-effective policy option that reduces unplanned pregnancies. While this might seem like a no-brainer, the report notes that there was concern that women were insufficiently committed to family planning and might not take advantage of available contraception options. Apparently, that isn't the case: providing this option reduces unplanned pregnancies by 15 percent.
- Prosecuting Mugabe. Center for American Progress has released a report on the various mechanisms for bringing Robert Mugabe and his allies in Zimbabwe to justice, assuming they leave power. While the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over the crimes Mugabe committed prior to July 2002, an international or domestic court based in Harare would be capable of holding him and his associates accountable for crimes throughout their tenure. However, the report emphasizes that any court action will only be taken as a result of political and diplomatic efforts by actors in the region and in the international community.
--TAP Staff
