Policy Matters

Houston’s Third Ward is a historically African American neighborhood with a long tradition of community pride and civic engagement.  A major report issued in October provided a detailed, data-driven analysis of the neighborhood.  The study, entitled “Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment Data Report,” was produced by the Baker Institute’s Center for Health and Biosciences in partnership with a community-based organization, the Sankofa Research Institute.  What are the report’s key findings policy implications?   This episode’s guest is Dr. Quianta Moore, the Baker Institute’s Fellow in Child Health Policy. She is co-author of “Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment Report.”                                  

Unrest is sweeping Latin America. Recent months have seen demonstrations in Chile and Ecuador.  In Bolivia, demonstrations triggered a constitutional crisis and the departure of long-time President Evo Morales. What explains this explosion of popular discontent?  Are the demonstrations unique to their country’s circumstances or do they reflect broader trends in Latin America? This episode’s guest is Dr. Francisco Monaldi.  He is the Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy at the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy studies. 

Mass demonstrations have roiled Hong Kong for six months.   Beginning as protests against a piece of legislation proposed by the Hong Kong government, the demonstrations have grown both in scale and in demands.   What are the goals of the protesters?    How is Beijing reacting to rising unrest?    How has the United States responded to the protests?   Are there prospects for a peaceful resolution of the crisis? This episode’s guest is Dr. Steve Lewis.   He is the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The United States is experiencing an obesity epidemic – with up to 38 percent of Americans falling into this category.   Obesity, in turn, is linked to such health impacts as heart disease and diabetes.   Experts believe that sugary drinks are a significant driver in unhealthy weight gains among Americans.   This has led to calls for “soda taxes” to discourage consumption. This episode’s guest is Dr. Joyce Beebe.   She is a fellow in the Center for Public Finance at the Baker Institute and an expert on taxation. 

Healthcare is a hot topic in the ongoing race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.  It is likely to be so in the 2020 general election.    Several major candidates – notably Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders – have proposed a universal government-financed program called “Medicare for All.”  What is Medicare for All?   What is it designed to do?   How much will it cost?   And are there other, less sweeping suggestions to reform our health-care finance system? This episode’s guest is Dr. Vivian Ho, Director of the Center for Health and Biosciences here at the Baker Institute.  Vivian is an expert on the US healthcare system in all its bewildering complexity.  Note:   This episode was recorded before Senator Warren released her Medicare-for-All plan. 

Recent months have seen a number of dramatic developments in the Arabian Peninsula. The strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in mid-September sparked concern about regional security and global oil prices alike. In Yemen, the civil war that is seen by many as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran continues to fuel a humanitarian disaster. And, as outside powers such as Russia seek to consolidate influence in the Persian Gulf, what does this mean for U.S. power in the region? Our guest is Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a Fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute and one of the country’s top experts on the geopolitics of the Persian Gulf.

In its efforts to reduce the number of asylum applications in the United States, the Trump Administration is seeking so-called “safe third country agreements” with Mexico and Guatemala.   What are “safe third country agreements?”   Does the 2016 agreement on refugees between the EU and Turkey offer any useful lessons?   And what are we to make of Turkish President Erdogan’s plan to resettle refugees in parts of Northeastern Syria being occupied by Turkish military forces? Our guest in this episode is Dr. Kelsey Norman. She is an Institute Fellow for the Middle East and director of our Women’s Rights, Human Rights and Refugees Program. Her research focuses on women’s rights, human rights, and refugee and migration issues in the Middle East and North Africa.

US Federal debt is at its highest level as a percentage of GDP since the World War II era.   What explains its recent acceleration?    Why should we be worried about the debt, especially given historically low interest rates?   What impact have the Trump tax cuts had on it?    And what, if anything, should we do to put our fiscal house in order? Our guest in this episode of Policy Matters is Dr. Jorge Barro, fellow in public finance here at the Baker Institute. His area of research involves the development of dynamic macroeconomic models for fiscal policy evaluation.

In the last five years, we’ve seen a proliferation of body cameras for police officers.  They are seen by many as an important tool in ensuring accountability by discouraging misconduct – up to and including unjustified shooting of suspects – by police personnel. But could there be a negative side effect? Specifically, could we see an increase in minor drug arrests among officers who feel compelled to act once a camera captures an interaction with an offender?  What can be done, if anything, to limit the impact of body cams on increasing arrest rates?  This episode’s guest is Dr. Katharine Neill Harris.  She is the Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow in Drug Policy at the Baker Institute.  

On November 5, Houstonians go to the polls to elect a mayor and a city council.   What are the likely results – especially for Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is seeking reelection?   In other political news, Houston was the venue for a September 12 debate among top Democratic candidates for their party’s nomination.   Did the debate alter the dynamics of the race?    What are the 2020 prospects for Democrats and Republicans in Texas?   Could Texas really “go blue”? Our guest in this episode of policy matters is Dr. Mark Jones.   He is the fellow in political science at the Baker Institute, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies and a professor in the Department of Political Science at Rice University. He also helps direct the Baker Institute’s Presidential Elections Program.