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Americans Are More Worried About Health Care Costs Than Gas or Groceries
The price of health care tops the US public’s long list of economic worries ahead of the midterm elections, according to new polling data, as “affordability” has become a buzzword championed by politicians on both sides of the aisle.
Medicare Advantage Insurers Face New Curbs on Overcharges in Trump Plan That Reins in Payments
Proposed Trump administration changes to federal Medicare Advantage payments would stop health insurers from mining patient data for extra medical diagnoses that generate more bills to taxpayers even without treatment.
The cost of health care, not food or rent, is now Americans’ top worry
As politicians prepare their pitches for the midterm elections, a survey finds that about 1 in 3 Americans are “very worried” about health care costs.
Health Care Costs Tops the Public’s Economic Worries as the Runup to the Midterms Begins; Independent Voters Are More Likely to Trust Democrats than Republicans on the Issue
Heading into this midterm election year, the cost of health care tops the public’s economic anxieties and more than 4 in 10 voters say the issue will have a major impact on their vote, this KFF Health Tracking poll finds.
KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs, Expiring ACA Tax Credits, and the 2026 Midterms
Looking ahead to the midterm elections, health care costs are the public’s top economic concern, and many voters say the issue will have a major impact on their vote. On health care issues, including the cost of health care, voters currently trust Democrats more than Republicans, though neither party has an advantage on addressing the overall cost of living. Following the expiration of the ACA enhanced tax credits, two-thirds of the public say Congress did the “wrong thing” by not extending them.
Should We Treat Political Violence as a Public Health Crisis?
Thinking of political violence solely as a safety issue is not enough to address the harm that follows. “The patient is the community.”
Why I decided to share all my health information with ChatGPT Health
“I don’t think people should have to go through 18 years of brain cancer to understand their own health records,” writes Liz Salmi.
Opinion: Colorado’s plan to cut sexual health education funding would erase real gains for rural students
The statewide program is a key element in Colorado’s commitment to support the mental health and well-being of our young people.
Inside Maryland’s High-Stakes Bid for Trump’s $50 Billion Rural Health Fund
The White House asked states to compete for a rare pot of new money dedicated to transforming health care across rural America.
Iconic sports bar in Palo Alto reopens and prepares for the Super Bowl
Businesses are getting ready for big crowds and watch parties; that includes an iconic spot in Palo Alto that just reopened in time for the Super Bowl.
Turmoil at homeless program is a sign of harsh fiscal times
It is shameful that our nation is unable to support health care for all of its citizens in a meaningful way.
Survey of over-50s women finds almost two in three struggle with mental health
Of those affected by midlife challenges such as menopause, nine in 10 do not seek help, therapists’ organisation says
Science for Living: How digital health tools strengthen care when patients are the core focus
Daniel Amante, PhD, MPH, discusses how digital health tools are most effective when they’re designed with patients at the center.
Science for Living: How digital health tools strengthen care when patients are the core focus
Daniel Amante, PhD, MPH, discusses how digital health tools are most effective when they’re designed with patients at the center.
Behavioral Health as Economic Infrastructure
As behavioral health shapes productivity and inclusion, Catalight is building sustainable care models fit for the global economy
'Let them sue us': Residents outraged over proposed mental health facility in Horry Co.
A town hall meeting turned heated as residents and mental health advocates debated the location of a proposed mental health facility.
Health officials report new measles exposure in Mesa
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health says there was an exposure at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24.
Defining Lung Health Through the Lifespan
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is hosting the virtual workshop "Defining Lung Health Through the Lifespan" on March 4–5, 2026.
LeBron James scores only 11 points in what could be his final game in Cleveland, as Cavs throttle Lakers
It wasn't LeBron's night, although Bronny James scored eight points down the stretch of the blowout.
Tri-County Community Health Coalition releases first unified health report in Fox Valley
With the Unified Health Report, organizations across the Fox Valley now have the same information on local health problems and can plan together.
WSOC-TV & KFF Health News Win Prestigious duPont-Columbia Award
The SSA's practice left millions of Americans, including some in the Carolinas, facing unexpected financial hardship and prompted sweeping policy changes in the nation’s capital.
Prosecution requests July 1 state trial for Mangione in health care executive's killing
Defense attorneys for Luigi Mangione, charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, said the date is unrealistic with a federal case also pending.
Older adults’ driving habits offer window into brain health, cognitive decline
Research Highlights: A study of over 200 adults followed for five years found that greater white matter damage in the brain was linked to decreased driving, fewer trips, repetitive routes and having more driving errors, especially in those who later ...
U.S. health officials monitor deadly virus
Authorities in India have confirmed two cases of nipah virus, often carried by fruit bats. The CDC says it is monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist as needed. NBC News’ Raf Sanchez has more.
VA reorganization aims to shift health care workforce to hubs with growing veteran population
Congress directed the VA to make similar changes under the first Trump administration, but blocked it from implementing them under the Biden administration.
Floods push crocodiles into Mozambican towns as health concerns rise
Floods in Mozambique have led to a new threat. Crocodiles are appearing in submerged towns and have killed at least three people. Torrential rains and severe flooding over the past month have killed more than 100 people in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Thousands of homes have been destr...
Sergey Brin Spends $20 Million on California Political Effort Amid Wealth Tax Debate
Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, is donating toward campaigns to solve California’s housing crisis, spurring other billionaires to pitch in. Their efforts may also help ward off a wealth tax.
Chicago mother claims unsafe conditions in apartment are harming her children's health
A mother of four living in a subsidized housing apartment on the 4800 block of North Avers says unsafe conditions inside her unit are putting her children’s health at risk — and despite months of repair requests, she says little has changed.
Tenor Health's acquisition of Moses Taylor, Regional and Wilkes-Barre General hospitals gets OK by state, foundation executive says
Teen Mental Health and School-Based Services in California
About 3 in 10 California teens report serious psychological distress, yet significant gaps exist between the need for mental health care and receipt of services. This report examines teen mental health and access to care across demographic groups and describes how state and district funding have expanded school-based solutions.
Policy Brief: Teen Mental Health and School-Based Services in California
Rates of chronic sadness and suicidal thoughts in teens have been rising in California—and nationwide—since about 2009. Significant gaps exist between the reported need for mental health care and receipt of services. The state has recently invested $8 billion for child and teen mental health, including school-based services.
Ray J Says He’s in His ‘Last Days’ Due to Deteriorating Heart Health: ‘I F-cked Up’
Ray J said he has months to live due to a heart condition stemming from substance abuse and claimed his sister Brandy is covering his medical bills.
Tigers Pounce on Pilots for 74-51 Victory on Dignity Health Night
Taking control early in the game, the Pacific men's basketball program overwhelmed Portland in a 74-51 win Wednesday on Dignity Health Night at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
How violent videos on social media affect mental health
Dr. Varsha Radhakrishnan of Tufts Medical Center discusses how watching violent and distressing videos on social media can have harmful health effects.
How Do Menopause and a Treatment to Manage Its Symptoms Affect the Brain and Mental Health?
New research suggests an association between menopause and anxiety, depression and shrinkage in certain brain regions—which hormone replacement therapy might not mitigate
$10 million gift to fuel transdisciplinary data science
Tom and Cathie Woteki, an alumni couple who made profound contributions to the fields of public health and applications of enterprise computing in their careers, have made a $10 million estate gift commitment to endow multiple faculty positions or fellowships, as well as create graduate fellowships, in the College of Science and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Newcastle get ‘justice’ after ‘ridiculous’ VAR penalty decision against PSG
Lewis Miley was bafflingly penalised for handling the ball as PSG were given an early spot-kick
The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas marks two years and formally welcomes Bolivia and Uruguay as members
PAHO, the World Bank, and the IDB initiative has driven health system transformation and aligned more than one billion dollars in investments across five countries. Brazil expressed its support, signing a letter of intent.Rio de Janeiro, 28 January 2026 — The Alliance for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas, a joint initiative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Bank (WB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is celebrating its second anniversary with achievements in transforming health systems across the region.
Pa. county commissioners call for $40M increase to support mental health services
HARRISBURG — County leaders from across Pennsylvania on Wednesday called on legislators and Gov. Josh Shapiro to provide an additional $40 million in funding for county mental health services in
Madina Ismail joins Essentia Health-Fargo to provide hospitalist care
Essentia Health-Fargo is proud to welcome Madina Ismail, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner who will provide hospitalist care.
These two viruses may become the next public health threats, scientists say
Two emerging pathogens with animal origins—influenza D virus and canine coronavirus—have so far been quietly flying under the radar, but researchers warn conditions are ripe for the viruses to spread ...
Legionella detected in North Oakland Health Center and the Resource and Crisis Center in Oakland County
Oakland County is taking proactive measures after routine water testing detected Legionella bacteria at the North Oakland Health Center (NOHC) and the Resource and Crisis Center (RCC).
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth under new ownership, and the transaction is made-for-TV drama
Bridgette Bello’s departure from the magazine turns out to be more than what it seemed.
Eau Claire County Health Department releases measles and respiratory update
The Eau Claire City-County Health Department’s communicable disease team released statements about both measles and a respiratory update.
Hearing on Veterans Affairs Health Care System
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will hear testimony from Secretary Doug Collins on proposed changes to the department's health care system.
Psychiatrists plan to overhaul the mental health bible—and change how we define ‘disorder’
The American Psychiatric Association has announced big upcoming changes to psychiatry’s big book of mental disorders, the DSM
Sacramento Bee adds political reporting firepower at California Capitol
Ben Paviour will join The Bee next month as California Political Power Reporter, delivering exclusive storytelling on Statehouse politics.
Geauga County’s largest behavioral health provider to merge with Ashtabula agency
Ravenwood Health will merge with Ashtabula County’s Community Counseling Center as longtime CEO Vicki Clark retires, expanding behavioral health services.
Fact check: Trump says Democrats don’t talk about affordability anymore (they do) because inflation is over (it isn’t)
President Donald Trump tried Tuesday to concoct an alternative reality on the subject of “affordability” – piling lie on top of lie to try to convince Americans that the issue has vanished.
Roadkill is a surprising and untapped source for scientists
Millions of animals unfortunately die on roads each year, but the casualties hold important data.
How your health is being commodified by social media
From heath tech developers to influencers, our health is being monetised – and we need to be aware of what's going on, says Deborah Cohen
How Oprah Winfrey has turned her weight-loss journey into a business
Oprah Winfrey's newest book, "Enough," is about her relationship with weight-loss drugs. Since the '90s, she has been combining her health with business.
Dispatch is censored on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch
Although there was initially speculation about Dispatch being censored on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, it’s now confirmed that this is indeed the case. In the PC and PS5 versions, the game featured a “Visual Censorship” setting. This is gone on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, so you’re always getting the censored experience. All scenes are in tact, but there...
Cleveland Browns to hire Todd Monken as new coach
The Cleveland Browns agreed to hire Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their head coach, a league source told UPI on Wednesday.
Healthy Returns: Botox, Trulicity among 15 drugs added to Medicare price negotiations
The Trump administration kicked off another round of Medicare drug price negotiations, while Kaiser Permanente agrees to pay a historic settlement.
Exclusive: Bertelsmann launches $200M health tech fund
The fund launch reflects growing international investor interest in digital health.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx Appoints Grace Hyun, MD as Chief of Urology and Nassir Mansour, MD as Chief of Neurosurgery - NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx today announced the appointments of Grace Hyun, MD as Chief of Urology and Nassir Mansour, MD as Chief
Premise Health and Crossover Health sign an agreement to create one unified company
/PRNewswire/ -- Premise Health and Crossover Health today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. The unified organization will...
Here's what to know about the $50 billion states are getting for rural health
To satisfy Republicans opposed to last summer's cuts to health care, the Trump administration launched an ambitious 5-year initiative known as the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Wilmington basketball tournament puts focus on raising funds for mental health
The two-day SL24 Basketball Classic returns to the Chase Fieldhouse to honor Sean Locke, raise funds for mental health programs and encourage open conversations.
Beyond testosterone: The real crisis in men’s health
Increasing testosterone in men ignores deeply rooted cultural and social factors at the center of this health emergency.
KPN Consulting Services Announces Over 20M USD in Business Acquisitions and Launch of Financial Wealth Symposium
CHARLOTTE, NC, UNITED STATES360-Degree Consulting Firm Expands Economic Empowerment Footprint Through Strategic
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retiring as retailer gains more wealthy shoppers amid inflation
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retires after 40 years, leaving behind a transformed retail giant that attracts higher-income shoppers through convenience.
Shadowing program inspires future health care professionals
ECU Health’s shadowing program is shaping the next generation of caregivers.
Health insurers dodge Trump's pricing crackdown, for now
While the president's ire can return on a whim, the prospect of an Oval Office dressing down appears, for the moment, off the table.
‘A sacred space of healing’: Church of Jesus Christ transforms health center in Liberia
A health center in Liberia was in ruins until it was transformed into “a sacred space of healing” through a project funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Unsettling Experience of Reporting on Trump’s Health
Chatting with Intelligencer’s Ben Terris about presidential hand bruises and White House sycophancy.
AEYE Health Expands Epic Integration for Portable Fully-Autonomous AI Eye Screening Across the US Healthcare System
/PRNewswire/ -- AEYE Health, the leading company in retinal diagnostics and developer of AEYE-DS, the fastest growing solution for diabetic eye exams in the...
Sword Health plans to acquire Kaia Health for $285M
Sword aims to raise about $500 million to fund more deals in the U.S. and Europe.
Our Darwinian Approach to Health Care Costs
In his latest column, President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman presents his Venn diagram of health care cost problems and shows how, in our fragmented health system, reducing one health cost problem often makes another worse.
California mental health hospitals warn over cuts after state hands down staffing rules
Psychiatric hospitals could close beds under proposed state rules if regulators don’t allow implementation time, facilities warn.
China’s latest war game uses hospital and science ships for espionage
It is self-evident that Beijing is not promoting peace, health or scientific research.
After D.C. clears homeless encampments, health workers warn of growing risks
While Trump administration officials say that sweeps of homeless encampments make public spaces safer, health workers say they are disrupting care for people with serious medical needs and increasing the risk of illness and death.
Kemi Badenoch apologises for Suella Braverman mental health claim
But she branded defectors from the Conservative party "drama queens", saying people who did not agree with the direction she was taking the party "need to get out the way".
Mental health cases in Israel surged 30% during Gaza war, Health Ministry reports
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‘Shameful’: Trump’s EPA accused of prioritizing big business over public health
A year into Trump’s second term, critics say the EPA is rolling back dozens of protections and giving a leg up to polluters
‘Shameful’: Trump’s EPA accused of prioritizing big business over public health
A year into Trump’s second term, critics say the EPA is rolling back dozens of protections and giving a leg up to polluters
‘Rodent droppings, live roach’: Jefferson County’s worst January 2026 restaurant health ratings
In January, 11 restaurants, convenience stores and other food establishments received scores of 84 or below.
What Happens to Your Body When You Take Vitamin D Supplements Every Day Long Term?
A daily vitamin D supplement can support bone strength, muscle function, and balance—especially in people who are vitamin D deficient.
Top Five Moments: Budget Committee Hearing on Skyrocketing Health Care Costs
The Official U.S. Congressional website of The Republican Budget Committee
National Institutes of Health Need Agencywide Strategy to Prioritize and Fund Pediatric Research, Says New Report
Childhood health is foundational to lifelong well-being. A new National Academies report makes recommendations on how NIH and Congress can best support pediatric health research and improve health outcomes through childhood and beyond.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Scotts Valley solar cell company goes dark; passing the torch at Alta Organic Coffee
In her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the demise of Ambient Photonics, notes a generational shift at a local coffee roaster and delivers names, numbers and events to know.
HIV and Heart Health: What You Need to Know
In our latest blog post, we re highlighting the link between HIV and heart health. Explore why people living with HIV face a higher risk of heart disease and...
Inside the reincarnation of Palo Alto's beloved sports bar
The beloved Stanford spot has a lot of homages to its former version inside.
As the U.S. bids adieu to the World Health Organization, California says hello
In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, California is the first state to participate in the agency's disease monitoring network. Are others following?
Night Owls Have Worse Heart Health, Study Finds
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Do you prefer to stay up late, living it up through the night while everyone else is snoozing away? You might be doing your heart health a disservice, a new study says. Middle-aged and older night owls appear to have ...
Who was Ajit Pawar, the Indian politician killed in plane crash?
Pawar was a key political figure and served as second-highest elected official in Maharashtra, India's wealthiest state.
Why it’s so hard to uncover the truth about a president’s health
Bruises on Trump’s hands and other apparent ailments have invited speculation. But secrecy, politics, and the vagaries of aging make drawing conclusions difficult.
New Jacksonville health center to bring expanded services, welcome patients regardless of insurance
A Jacksonville health center is expanding its reach to treat more people, especially those who do not have insurance.
Health inspections lead to 4 Central Florida restaurant shutdowns last week
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shut down four Central Florida dining venues for health code violations during the week from Jan. 18-24.
Exclusive: Climatic inhales $10M for respiratory wellness
Lerer Hippeau led the consumer health startup's seed round.
Expiration of federal health insurance subsidies: What to know in California
Thousands in California who rely on the state-run health insurance marketplace face premiums that are thousands of dollars higher as federal subsidies expire.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Thousands of Californians move to Idaho every year. Who are they?
They’ve faced, at times, a chilly welcome from Idahoans. What the data tell us about the state’s largest group of newcomers.
Scientists say these two viruses may become the next public health threats
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Two emerging pathogens with animal origins — influenza D virus and canine coronavirus — have so far been quietly flying under the radar,…
Doctors, veterans fear near-total abortion ban at VA will put women’s health at risk
The VA’s new rules prevent abortions even in the case of rape or incest. VA Sec Doug Collins is expected to be questioned about it when he testifies Wednesday.
Doctors, veterans fear near-total abortion ban at VA will put women’s health at risk
The VA’s new rules prevent abortions even in the case of rape or incest. VA Sec Doug Collins is expected to be questioned about it when he testifies Wednesday.
Three-time UT San Antonio graduate advances health research across South Texas
Alumna Rebecca Jones' path to public health research at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine began at UT San Antonio.
A CT health care system achieved a first-of-a-kind status in nation. What it is and why it matters.
This “will have significant impact on patients and their families throughout Connecticut,” a hospital president said.