Better living through better policy.

Category: Poverty and Inequality

Shocking Decline in Academic Scores Revealed: Are Our Schools Failing?

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date July 6, 2023
No Comments on Shocking Decline in Academic Scores Revealed: Are Our Schools Failing?

Recent data from the National Assessment of Academic Progress (NAEP), also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” reveals a significant decline in reading and math scores for 13-year-olds. The results highlight the academic failures caused by COVID lockdowns and school closures. The average scores in reading have dropped to levels last observed in the 1970s, […]

Tags Catholic School, COVID-19, COVID-19 Recovery, Learning, Learning Loss, Mathematics, National Assessment of Academic Progress (NAEP), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Reading, School Closures, Schools, Students

Domestic Policy Economy Government Regulation Markets and Finance New Mexico Poverty and Inequality Top Issues

RealClearMarkets: Need a $200 Loan? You’re Mostly Outta Luck

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date July 1, 2023
No Comments on RealClearMarkets: Need a $200 Loan? You’re Mostly Outta Luck

In this June 15, 2018 file photo, twenty dollar bills are counted in North Andover, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Originally published at realclearmarkets.com on June 21, 2023 In New Mexico, an interest rate cap on specialized emergency loans when into effect in January. Since then, big-bank promoters have endorsed the small-dollar short-term loan products offered by U.S. Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Huntington Bank, and others as alternatives. Recently, those same activists have thrown in support for […]

Tags Bank of America, Banking, Credit, Huntington Bank, Lending, No Loan For You, Specialized Emergency Loans, The Pew Charitable Trusts, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo

Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Press Progressivism Public Opinion Reports Top Issues Updates

Report: No Loan for You, Too!

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date June 15, 2023
1 Comment on Report: No Loan for You, Too!

Patrick M. Brenner stands outside Del Norte Credit Union during our "No Loan For You, Too!" experiment.

The unintended consequences of price controls on consumer access to credit.

Tags American Southwest Credit Union, Bank of America, Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), Credit, Del Norte Credit Union, Everyone’s Federal Credit Union, FirstLight Federal Credit Union, Four Corners Credit Union, Internationalites Federal Credit Union, Lending, Mountain America Credit Union, National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), Navy Federal Credit Union, No Loan For You!, Nusenda Credit Union, Otero Federal Credit Union, Payday Alternative Loan, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Specialized Emergency Loans, The Pew Charitable Trusts, U-1st Community Federal Credit Union, U.S. Bank, U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union, Veridian Credit Union, Wells Fargo

Culture Domestic Policy Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty and Inequality Top Issues

American Banker: If I Can’t Get An ‘Emergency’ Loan From A Bank, It’s Not Clear Who Possibly Can

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 27, 2023
No Comments on American Banker: If I Can’t Get An ‘Emergency’ Loan From A Bank, It’s Not Clear Who Possibly Can

We tested the prediction that banks will step in when payday lenders face restrictions. They didn’t want our business.

Tags American Banker, Bank of America, Credit, Lending, Specialized Emergency Loans, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo

Arizona Budget and Spending California Colorado Debt Government Spending Medicare Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Social Security Texas Top Issues Utah Welfare

Surviving D.C.’s Debt Disaster

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date March 20, 2023
1 Comment on Surviving D.C.’s Debt Disaster

Utah’s chances are good — but New Mexico…

Tags Entitlements, National Debt

Arizona California Colorado Data Economy Government Spending Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Poverty and Inequality Texas Top Issues Utah

Diversity, Economics, and Income

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date March 8, 2023
No Comments on Diversity, Economics, and Income

What states are best-positioned to face the challenges to come?

Tags Economic Development

Report: No Loan for You!

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date March 2, 2023
25 Comments on Report: No Loan for You!

How the war on specialized emergency loans has hurt New Mexicans.

Tags Bank of America, Credit, Lending, No Loan For You!, Specialized Emergency Loans, The Pew Charitable Trusts, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo

Conservatism Domestic Policy Education Life New Mexico Political Thought Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues

School Choice and Education Freedom: A Case for Change

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 2, 2023
1 Comment on School Choice and Education Freedom: A Case for Change

Senator William Soules tables Senator Craig Brandt’s Education Freedom Act, a bill aimed at giving parents the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children.