November 13, 2020
World Trade Organization (WTO)President Trump’s decision to levy tariffs on China highlights concern about the ongoing role of the WTO and the future of global trade rules.
August 6, 2019
United StatesHigh-profile mass shootings in the United States in recent years have rekindled the gun control debate and raised comparisons of policies around the world.
March 8, 2019
United StatesPresident Trump has made reducing the U.S. trade deficit a priority, blaming trade deals like NAFTA, but economists disagree over how policymakers should respond.
February 2, 2005
IraqThis publication is now archived. How much has the war in Iraq cost?Congress has so far appropriated about $123 billion for the war in Iraq in addition to the military’s standard operating expenses c…
July 11, 2012
Financial MarketsControversies over too-big-to-fail financial institutions continue to mount. The Basel Accords represent the latest effort to ease risk and restore confidence, as this Backgrounder explains.
November 7, 2011
United StatesLawmakers are considering sharp cuts to defense spending as part of mandated deficit-reduction efforts. This Backgrounder discusses the effects of such major cuts and implications for U.S. military s…
July 22, 2010
United StatesThe global financial crisis prompted Congress to press for stronger U.S. financial regulations. But experts debate what level of government involvement will help the economy long term.
October 7, 2009
PakistanPakistan’s poor public education system has been exploited by extremist groups and slowed the country’s development. Analysts say education reform is an essential element in stabilizing the country.
May 29, 2007
IraqSome U.S. analysts recommend a national ID database with biometric cards to identify insurgents in Iraq, but the proposal faces resistance from the U.S. military.
October 3, 2008
Elections and VotingSen. John McCain’s Republican presidential campaign has a group of foreign policy advisers reflecting both realist and neoconservative views of the world.