We Don’t Need More Babies (February 2022)
In my February 2022 Letter to the Editor of the Washington Post, I suggested that growing the US population to 800 million is a lousy idea.
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Jan 1, 20224 min read
Youth and Sports in the Middle East (January 2022)
One of my Peace Corps group mates had the idea of building a sports complex in Palestine for Middle East youth. Here is our elevator pitch.
Jan 1, 20224 min read
Constitutional Amendment (January 2022)
A friend had the brilliant idea for an amendment that would stop campaign financing by corporations. Here is our elevator pitch.
Dec 1, 20214 min read
Myanmar Update (December 2021)
I try to send updates to family and friends at least twice a year covering the ongoing conflict and progress in building Parami University.
Oct 19, 20212 min read
The World of Economics and Finance
Here are my notes for the online 8-week course I taught in 2021 for students in Myanmar. A Parami University continuing education project.
May 5, 20211 min read
The USA Doesn't Need a Bigger Population
Before deciding on a migration policy, the USA should have a policy aimed at stabilizing our policy around the 330 million level.
Apr 30, 202127 min read
China’s Relations with the Paris Club
The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing many countries to the edge of default. Workouts will use Paris Club rules, but China is not a member.
Mar 1, 20214 min read
Getting More Eggs from Happier Hens
The Peace Corps sent me to India in 1965 to introduce modern poultry keeping. Here’s a short account of my unimpressive accomplishments.
Feb 12, 20211 min read
China's Falling Birth Rate
In my February 2021 Letter to the Editor of the Financial Times, I wrote that China’s falling birth rate is a positive, not negative, trend.
Jan 27, 20212 min read
Youth Social Enterprise Forum in Community Development
Remarks for a youth forum in January 2021 via Zoom.
Jul 12, 202010 min read
The Peace Corps in the Post-Pandemic World
The Covid19 pandemic forced the evacuation of all Peace Corps volunteers overseas. And prompted thoughts on the future of the Peace Corps.
May 1, 20205 min read
Indonesia's New Capital
I co-authored an essay, published by East Asia Forum in May 2020, on how to make Indonesia’s project to build a new capital successful.
Dec 6, 20192 min read
Peace and war in Myanmar
In a December 2019 blog post for Brookings, three months before the Covid-19 pandemic, I wrote about the coexistence of peace and war.
Mar 6, 20193 min read
Indonesia’s imminent presidential election
In this Brookings blog post, co-authored with Alex Arifianto, we called the upcoming election a “statistical dead heat”.
Dec 12, 20183 min read
The Global Compact on Migration: Dead on arrival?
In a December 2018 blog post for Brookings, I predicted that the UN’s new Global Compact on Migration will fail due to political resistance.
Jun 27, 20183 min read
Institutions are under existential threat, globally
In a June 2018 blog post for Brookings, I wrote that “deinstitutionalization” is leading to lives that will be nasty, brutish, and short.
May 1, 20184 min read
Urban youth unemployment: A looming crisis?
This Brookings blog post sketched out my rationale for a new policy research project on the global challenge of urban youth unemployment.
Jan 18, 20185 min read
Myanmar economy grows despite refugee crisis
In a January 2018 blog post for Brookings, I noted how strong the economy is despite the ethnic cleansing operation against the Rohingya.
Nov 29, 20174 min read
On the ground in Myanmar: The Rohingya crisis and a clash of values
In a November 2017 blog post for Brookings, returning from a visit to Myanmar, I wrote about US policy in reaction to the Rohingya crisis.
Sep 19, 20171 min read
The humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya in Myanmar
In a Brookings podcast in September 2017, I was interviewed about the merciless ethnic cleansing operation against the Rohingya in August.
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