News Room

As an econ guy, I LOVE this conversation. Why are global supply chains such a mess? When will it get better including, in particular, the supply chains for automobiles? How much of the problem is COVID and how much is other things? A truly fascinating conversation with UCLA Distinguished Professor Chris Tang, one of the world's leading experts on supply chains.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data required by states to draw their new congressional district maps. This will begin the decennial effort of congressional mapping when state legislative or independent redistricting committees draw maps in anticipation of the midterm elections in 2022. The high stakes involved in drawing such maps typically lead to partisanship divides, making the entire process highly contentious and controversial.    

Workers who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 could soon be paying as much as $50 more per paycheck for health insurance as companies across the U.S. try to protect their employees — and themselves — from outbreaks of the disease.

People tend to overestimate or underestimate risk. The pandemic brings this into stark relief. Picture someone wearing an N95 mask while walking their dog through a deserted park. Contrast that with someone entering a crowded bar maskless in an area with high coronavirus transmission rates.

Every year the flu threatens the health of millions of people. Experts continue to recommend annual flu vaccination as the best line of defense, but despite these recommendations, flu vaccination rates haven’t broken 50% in more than a decade. New research in the INFORMS journal Management Science seeks to overcome this. The study finds that performance feedback at healthcare clinics can significantly increase vaccination rates. This has important public policy implications. Citing other research, the authors highlight that even just a 1% increase in U.S. adult flu vaccination rates could translate to some $400 million in societal benefits.