TTR prepares to celebrate Veterans' Day with, what else, the latest public policy research. Check out the latest on the potential for clean energy to revitalize manufacturing, an argument for increased multilateralism in Asia, an update on the demographics of union workers, and an evaluation of charter schools.
- Clean Energy To the Rescue. A policy paper from the Center for American Progress shows that the dismal unemployment numbers could be remedied by a boost in clean energy manufacturing. CAP outlines several bills currently pending in the House and Senate that would revive American manufacturing. Beyond the obvious benefits to the economy, a strong manufacturing sector will make us competitive in the future, since nations like Germany and China have already invested substantially in manufacturing. As Congress mulls over comprehensive climate legislation, establishing a green manufacturing sector should be a top priority for labor as well as the environment. -- PL
- A new strategy for Asia. In advance of President Obama's visit to Asia later this week, a Council on Foreign Relations report advises the administration to take Asian multilateralism and regional institutions seriously. The old model of U.S. involvement in Asia solely via bilateral ties is no longer sustainable due to the increasing centrality of Asia in the world and China’s economic rise. Rather than imposing US ideology on the region, the report recommends engaging with organizations such as ASEAN and APEC in a way that allows us to guide the streamlining and enforcement capabilities of these regional institutions. -- LL
- State of the Unions. A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research sums up changes in the makeup of labor unions over the last quarter century: In 2008, union workers tended to be older (average age: 45) and more educated (38 percent hold a 4-year degree) than their 1983 counterparts. Minorities are also on the rise, with Latinos and Asian Americans reporting increased memberships as the number of White members declines. More than 45 percent of unionized workers are women -- a ten-percent jump since the ‘80s. CEPR predicts that if current growth rates continue, women will make up the majority of union workers before 2020. -- MH
- Charting the School Divide. In a recent RAND research brief, charter schools were revealed to have little to no effect on the performance and racial composition of nearby public schools. Suggesting that the two forms of public education can exist mutually, charter schools do not induce a flight of the best students from nearby public schools and performance achievements are similar. Crucially, the findings do reveal charter school students in Chicago and Florida are 7 to 15 percent more likely to graduate high school, while their college matriculation rate increases by 8 to 10 percent compared to traditional public schools. This study,the authors say, demonstrates the need to examine performance indicators in “a broader and deeper range of student outcomes.” -- MZ
-- TAP Staff
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