Reallocation shocks spurred on by economic downturns have historically hurt workers—often leading to permanent job loss or forcing workers to move to new companies, new places, or new industries to get rehired. Robert Maxim, Mark Muro, and Yang You discuss why the COVID-19 recession is so different and what the country can do to help workers transition and lock in their new gains.
As Syria’s conflict nears its 11th year, the country’s economy is in tatters, millions are food insecure, and insurgencies have flared up in areas previously retaken by regime forces. Despite the dire situation, Bashar al-Assad has notched significant diplomatic wins over the past year, with several Arab governments normalizing their relations with his regime. Steven Heydemann explains why this is happening and what it means for sanctions policy.
“The frustration many Americans experience in even the most basic interactions with government—like renewing a driver’s license or filing taxes—fractures trust in our institutions, which is already near historic lows.” Sha Hwang and Annelies Goger write about President Biden’s recent executive order to improve the customer experience of government services.
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