Ben White is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a first-year MPP student. Under most circumstances a 46% decrease in cancer diagnoses would be cause for great celebration, but in the era of COVID-19 this data is deeply concerning. These large decreases in cancer diagnoses are not the outcome of a new form…

Sean Parker is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a second-year ENRP student. The following is an op-ed and does not necessarily reflect the views of Policy Perspectives or the Trachtenberg school. Houston, We Have a Problem On February 16th, 4.5 million Texan households lost power in the middle of one of the…

Emma Dewhurst is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a first-year MPP student. With summer rapidly approaching and warmer weather on the horizon, health, wellness, and beauty industries have already launched ads evoking the elusive “perfect beach body.” Commercials and social media posts promising that their product will get you “bikini ready” inundate society like clockwork every…

Brett Litzler is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a first-year MPP student. Over the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought millions of Americans into financial hardship and exposed how precarious the lives of so many had been prior to massive unemployment and dampened economic activity. Americans increasingly report that they would…

Julia Vanella is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a first-year MPP student. History of Chemical Flame Retardants in the United States As part of the post-World War II development of the chemical industry, the production of flame retardants began in the 1960s. From 1969 through 1973, children’s sleepwear accounted for 32% of…