The article argues that the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike decision, while justifiable on inflation grounds, highlights a critical lack of an underlying, transparent policy framework. The core problem is that the Fed's decisions appear discretionary, leading to market uncertainty because the committee's judgment, rather than clear data, dictates policy shifts. The author proposes that the Fed adopt a formal monetary policy rule—an algebraic formula linking the target rate to indicators like inflation and unemployment—to replace subjective guidance. Implementing such a rule would provide market predictability, enhance transparency, and shield the Fed from political attacks by making deviations from the standard easily quantifiable.
Gender Norms Survey Measurement in Very Young Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of Survey Efforts and Synthesis of Best Practices
English Summary
The RAND report, published in 2026, synthesizes existing efforts to measure gender norms in very young adolescents (VYAs) – aged 10-14 – within low- and middle-income countries. It highlights significant gaps in understanding VYA experiences and the need for improved measurement strategies to assess the impact of entrenched norms and evaluate intervention effectiveness. The analysis identifies key survey initiatives like GEAS and GAGE, while acknowledging limitations in global measures. Recommendations emphasize tailoring survey instruments to specific age contexts, integrating qualitative data, and measuring norms across families and communities to enhance validity and reliability.
中文摘要
2026 年 RAND 報告綜匯了針對非常年輕青少年（VYAs，即 10-14 歲）在低收入和中等收入國家中的性別規範衡量現有努力。報告突顯了對 VYA 經驗理解的重大差距，以及改進測量策略以評估根深蒂固規範的影響並評估干預效果的必要性。分析闡述了關鍵調查項目，如 GEAS 和 GAGE，同時承認全球衡量標準的局限性。建議強調根據具體年齡情境量身定制調查工具、整合定性數據，以及在家庭和社區層面衡量規範，以提高有效性和可靠性。
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