Alcohol-related disorders in the United States cut across gender, race and other demographic lines, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In the United States, 17.6 million people (about one in every 12 adults) abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent.
The size and rate of malpractice suits against United States physicians has long been the subject of controversy; the issue has played a strong role in the political debates over health care reform and the continuing rise of insurance costs.
From the Scholars Strategy Network, written by Bruce Peabody, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Highly skilled foreigners are behind some of America’s most celebrated innovations. A new study suggests they drive down native workers’ wages, but benefit consumers overall.
The death of Osama bin Laden and the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks have prompted public reflection on the costs, both political and economic, of the wars and counter-terrorism operations that have taken place during this era.
Public debt levels in many of the world’s advanced economies, including the United States, have risen to levels not seen since World War II. History suggests that reversing this trend will not be painless and will require a number of years to accomplish. Indeed, the examples of debt crisis and bailouts in countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal may portend a difficult future for other countries.
International trade was one of the many victims of the 2009-2010 global financial crisis. World trade flows declined by up to 9% in 2009, a third more than the 6% drop in industrial output and three times the 2.5% decrease in per-capita income. Countries with smaller economies suffered even more, with some showing a 30% decrease in the second half of 2008.
