A changing US political landscape, AI's impacts, and more

Welcome to our second edition of Brookings Insights! Below, we share some of our experts’ recent research and commentary on the U.S. presidential election, inclusive economic development, AI issues, and more.

Are there topics you'd like to see covered in future editions of this newsletter? Let us know in the comments.

A whirlwind month for US politics

America’s political landscape was upended in July by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, current President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would withdraw from the 2024 race, and the rise of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrats' presumptive nominee.

Governance Studies experts weighed in on Harris’ quick ascension, the historical significance of Biden's decision, Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate, and Trump’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.

Amid the month’s chaotic political news, our experts were also focused on pressing issues that the next administration will face, including the future of U.S. nuclear policy, U.S. policies on North Korea, America's role in NATO, and sanctions targeting Russia.

Embracing community-led neighborhood development

“Through collaborative efforts and targeted policy interventions, we can build resilient neighborhoods that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our communities,” write Brookings Metro’s Andre M. Perry and Manann Donoghoe.

In their recent research, Perry and Donoghoe look at how community-led solutions can disrupt harmful cycles of property devaluation in majority-Black neighborhoods. They also show how communities bolster disaster resilience efforts and share an innovative approach to help Black homeowners realize the true value of their assets.

And in a separate report from Lyneir Richardson and Tracy Hadden Loh, see lessons from the “Buy Back the Block” lab and actionable steps to unlock capital for commercial real estate ownership in majority-Black neighborhoods.

Opportunities for economic growth in Africa

Recently, Africa has faced several significant shocks—such as the COVID-19 pandemic, droughts, floods, the war in Ukraine, and high global inflation. As part of our annual Foresight Africa report, contributors offer their recommendations to enhance the continent’s economic and political strength.

Recent viewpoints highlight how Africa's prosperity is tied to investing in democracy, the importance of mobility for Africans, and how women entrepreneurs are creating their own income and employment opportunities.

And on the Foresight Africa podcast, learn about the costs of bias in African credit ratings and ways to make these ratings more objective.

AI and public policy

You’re probably getting used to seeing artificial intelligence (AI) everywhere these days, but what are some important issues to watch as this technology becomes more advanced?

Over the past month, Brookings experts explored AI’s impact on U.S. income inequality, ways to support AI research outside of America’s usual tech hotspots, and what happens if AI creates a trade secret that no person is aware of.

In additional pieces, Niam Yaraghi and co-authors look at how to balance the potential advantages and pitfalls of AI in health care, while Tom Wheeler and Blair Levin stress the need for both competition and safety with AI.

Economic policies explained

If you didn’t know, the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy at Brookings publishes a helpful explainer series to break down various economic policy topics.

In the latest batch, see who must leave the U.S. Federal Reserve next, learn the facts on tariffs, and find out about U.S. Treasury borrowing in the bond market.

Want summaries of interesting economic research delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Subscribe to the Hutchins Roundup.

We hope you enjoyed the July edition of Brookings Insights! Let us know your thoughts and help us get the word out by sharing the newsletter with your network.