Revisiting the Marshall Plan, and More from CRS
The Marshall Plan, the program of U.S. financial assistance that helped spark the economic recovery of western Europe following World War II, is considered to be one of the most successful U.S. foreign policy initiatives ever and one that might have implications for today.
“Although the Marshall Plan has its critics and occurred during a unique point in history, many observers believe it offers lessons that may be applicable to contemporary foreign aid programs,” according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service that reviews its achievements. See The Marshall Plan: Design, Accomplishments, and Significance, January 18, 2018.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Temporary Protected Status: Overview and Current Issues, updated January 17, 2018
Government Contract Bid Protests In Brief: Analysis of Legal Processes and Recent Developments, January 19, 2018
Highway Bridge Conditions: Issues for Congress, updated January 17, 2018
Prevalence of Mental Illness in the United States: Data Sources and Estimates, updated January 19, 2018
Iran’s Foreign and Defense Policies, updated January 19, 2018
NLRB Rejects Former Standards Following Appointment of New Members, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 18, 2018
These ideas aim to advance the detailed policy solutions needed to foster public trust and implement fairness in the adoption of AI across diverse domains, from healthcare and government benefits to rural access, education, and worker protections.
The evidence is clear: algorithmic pay-setting is established in app-based work, and payroll/timekeeping failures show how software can produce systemic wage harm at scale
While a few states have taken steps to implement decision-making mechanisms for certain AI systems, too many leaders are simply accepting narratives about AI’s purported public benefit at face value – jumping to the “how” of AI implementation before thoroughly vetting potential systems and deciding whether they are appropriate to use at all.
When properly structured — with specific numeric targets, secured financial obligations, independent monitoring, and meaningful enforcement — CBAs transform data center deals into durable community partnerships.