First Tuesdays

Our time has witnessed the unprecedented combination of tax reductions at home and war abroad. War and Taxes, released May 6 by the Urban Institute Press, chronicles the political arguments, economic conditions, and public opinions that made it possible for previous presidents and Congresses to raise taxes, sell bonds, and cut domestic spending to pay for wars.

In a policy field notoriously beset by ideological and partisan division, one of the few ideas enjoying support across the philosophical spectrum is the use of federal income tax credits to cover the uninsured. The only credit of this sort now available—the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), serving workers displaced by international trade—aids no more than 15 percent of eligible households. Our expert panel considered what is behind the HCTC's problems and successes; whether Congress should abandon tax credits; and how (if at all) should future tax credits included in health reform be structured to replicate the HCTC's accomplishments and avoid its problems?

Contrary to what many policymakers and citizens may think, complex social forces are not always behind a rise or fall in the crime rate. An Urban Institute analysis (available at http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=411552) offers evidence that the explosion in the use of iPods and other new devices may have triggered the spike in violent crime in 2005 and 2006.

Children with disabilities are more likely than other children to live in poverty, live with only one parent, or have parents who are in poor health or unemployed. Our panel of experts discussed the maze of programs and problems confronting children with disabilities and recommended some ways to better coordinate services for this special population.

Panelists discussed the needs of the frail elderly and homeless populations, the missing pieces in housing options, design solutions that can improve accommodations, and ways to better a delivery system that is highly fragmented across jurisdictions and target populations.

In recent years, the century-long trend toward lower labor force participation rates at older ages has reversed course, while improved health, jobs' reduced physical demands, relatively lower Social Security benefits, and a continued decline in traditional pension benefits will encourage more people to work longer. But will the right jobs for older workers be there?

Fifty years after Sputnik went into space and launched thousands of young men and women into science and engineering careers, many are calling for a new "Sputnik Spike" to ensure America's continuing supremacy in global science, engineering, and innovation. But a growing number of researchers contend that U.S. students do quite well compared with students in other countries.

Panelists discussed what is missing from the debate about improving the income, benefits, and related work supports for low-wage workers, especially those with children.

Panelists considered a variety of policy responses to global climate change, including a tax on the carbon content of fuels, tax incentives for alternative energy sources, and cap-and-trade systems to limit carbon emissions. Listen to the podcast.

Providing long-term care to frail older adults is a crucial challenge for American families. About 10 million people 65 and older now need such services, and the number is expected to rise to more than 20 million by 2040 as the population ages. Panelists discussed the financial burdens of caring for family members, the impact on Medicare, Medicaid, and families, and the roles of government and private insurance. Listen to the podcast.