Tunisia’s Political Crisis, On line Price Algorithms, and More

July 8, 2022

Rather than relying on humans, retailers in online markets are increasingly using algorithms to set prices. These algorithms can quickly monitor the pricing landscape and adjust costs in near real-time. Using evidence from major online retailers, Zach Brown and Alexander MacKay examine the impacts of pricing algorithms on consumers and discuss the competition concerns that have arisen.

In June, Tunisian President Kais Saied released the draft of a new constitution that will be put to a referendum on July 25. The document envisions an authoritarian, hyper-presidential system with few checks on Saied’s power. Sharan Grewal, Salah-Dean Satouri, and Ian DeHaven discuss the draft and its implications for the country’s democracy.

Congress has a chance to reduce child poverty by about one-third by making the 2021 changes to the Child Tax Credit permanent. The benefits of doing so would far outweigh the costs, William Gale and Ian Berlin argue.

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