The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Falling behind? State and local government employee compensation since the Great Recession
English Summary
Research finds that state and local government employee compensation has fallen substantially relative to comparable private sector wages since the Great Recession. Evidence shows the total compensation differential dropped from 13% above private wages in 2011 to 3% below by 2023, driven by falling public wages, reduced pension benefits, and diminished job security. The decline is particularly acute for college-educated workers lacking union representation. This trend poses a significant threat to the administrative capacity of state and local governments, potentially hindering their ability to recruit and retain the qualified personnel needed to deliver essential public services.
中文摘要
研究發現，自大衰退以來，州和地方政府員工的薪酬待遇相較於同等私營部門的薪資出現了顯著下降。證據顯示，總薪酬差異從2011年的高於私營部門薪資的13%，下降至2023年的低於3%。這一趨勢的驅動因素包括公務薪資的下降、退休金福利的縮減，以及工作保障的降低。對於缺乏工會代表的大學畢業工作者而言，這種衰退尤為嚴重。此趨勢對州和地方政府的行政管理能力構成重大威脅，可能阻礙其招募和留用合格人員，進而影響提供必要的公共服務。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
The publication argues that current efforts to improve the well-being of men and boys of color are too fragmented, failing to account for the structural linkages between systems like education, employment, and criminal justice. It proposes a new, holistic framework that traces how structural conditions flow through multiple domains to measurable outcomes, such as longevity. Key reasoning emphasizes the need to treat 'place' as a fundamental actor and to identify successful communities where these populations are already thriving. Policy implications require shifting away from individual-focused interventions toward developing structural, place-based agendas that address systemic inequities.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.