Michael S. Barr

On March 11, The Hamilton Project hosted a forum and released three new papers focusing on how the U.S. economy can be strengthened by expanding labor market opportunities. United States Vice President Joe Biden delivered remarks.The first panel discussed a new proposal suggesting four major reforms to occupational licensing policies. The second panel discussed two papers that seek to strengthen unemployment insurance and increase the rates of minority entrepreneurship.

The United States has an enviable entrepreneurial culture and a track record of building new companies.Yet women and minority entrepreneurs often face even greater obstacles. In this discussion paper, Michael Barr calls for an expanded State Small Business Credit Initiative and an enlarged and permanent New Markets Tax Credit to encourage private sector investment in new and small businesses.

The Project released new discussion papers and hosted panel discussions on housing and credit markets. The first panel explored ways to reform low-income housing assistance, while the second focused on innovative mortgage ideas to help protect consumers.

This paper develops a new framework for understanding the mortgage markets based on behavioral economic insights and proposes a ‘sticky’ opt-out mortgage system.

The Hamilton Project hosted a conversation on proposed policy responses to the mortgage-foreclosure problem. Many Americans now owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth; however, which policies provide the most effective remedy to the problem remains unanswered.