Monthly archives: August, 2013

2013 Academic Ranking of World Universities

ARWU 2013 Press Release: “The 2013 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) is released today by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Starting from a decade ago, ARWU has been presenting the world Top 500 universities annually based on transparent methodology and reliable data. It has been recognized as the precursor of …

Subjects: Education, Knowledge Management

Google Maps Adds Public Transport Routes, Schedules for MA

Google Maps now includes routes, schedules for all public transportation authorities in Mass. by Matt Rocheleau: “Google Maps now includes routes and schedules for all of the public transportation authorities in Massachusetts, including the MBTA and 15 regional transit authorities, state officials say. The move will allow Bay State travelers to use just one tool …

Subjects: Search Engines

How Do Global Banks Scramble for Liquidity?

How Do Global Banks Scramble for Liquidity? Evidence from the Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Freeze of 2007, by Viral V. Acharya, Gara  Afonso, and Anna Kovner. August 2013  Number 623 “In August of 2007, banks faced a freeze in funding liquidity from the asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) market. We investigate how banks scrambled for liquidity in …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System

Longevity risk transfer markets: market structure, growth drivers and impediments, and potential risks – consultative report

“The ageing population phenomenon being observed in many countries poses serious social policy challenges. Longevity risk – the risk of paying out on pensions and annuities longer than anticipated – is significant when measured from a financial perspective. Longevity risk transfer markets: market structure, growth drivers and impediments, and potential risks  is a forward-looking report …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

Point of Sale disclosure in the insurance, banking and securities sectors – consultative report

Point of Sale disclosure in the insurance, banking and securities sectors [August 2013] identifies and assesses differences and gaps in regulatory approaches to point of sale (POS) disclosure for investment and savings products across the insurance, banking and securities sectors. The report considers whether regulatory approaches to POS disclosure need to be further aligned across …

Subjects: Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

The State of the Birds 2013. Report on Private Lands

“Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell … announced the release of the State of the Birds 2013 Report on Private Lands. A collaborative effort as part of the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, involving federal and state wildlife agencies and scientific and conservation organizations, the report shows how private land conservation …

Subjects: Government Documents

Where Teens Seek Online Privacy Advice

Where Teens Seek Online Privacy Advice – by Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Sandra Cortesi, Urs Gasser, Aaron Smith, August 15, 2013 “Many teens ages 12-17 report that they usually figure out how to manage content sharing and privacy settings on their own. Focus group interviews with teens suggest that for their day-to-day privacy management, teens …

Subjects: Internet, Privacy

Immigration Facts: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Immigration Facts: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) By: Audrey Singer and Nicole Prchal Svajlenka “As Congress debates the fate of the “DREAMers”—those undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children—the one-year anniversary of the start of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program occurs on August 15. The DACA program—an initiative …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Legal Research

SIGTARP Audit Treasury’s injection of Troubled Asset Relief Program Funds in GM

Treasury’s Role in the Decision for GM to Provide Pension Payments to Delphi Employees SIGTARP 13-003 August 15, 2013 “The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (“Treasury”) injection of Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) funds in General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Chrysler Group LLC (“Chrysler”) was the only bailout with a President’s Designee overseeing the companies’ …

Subjects: Government Documents, Legal Research

Mature Driver Laws

“More and more Americans are outliving their ability to drive safely. As a result of impairments in three functions that are important for driving – vision, cognition and motor function – older drivers have a higher crash risk than middle aged adults. To address this issue, many states have have enacted laws that contain specific …

Subjects: Government Documents, Legal Research

CDC state data shows high costs due to excessive alcohol use

“Excessive alcohol use causes a large economic burden to states and the District of Columbia, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Excessive alcohol use cost states and D.C. a median of $2.9 billion in 2006, ranging from $420 million in North Dakota to $32 billion in California. …

Subjects: Government Documents, Health Care, Legal Research