Zimbabwe to Print Its Version of U.S. Dollar
Zimbabwe, which uses a multicurrency system, has run out of physical cash, so its central bank plans to design and circulate new currency worth the equivalent of the U.S. dollar—but it won't actually be certified American currency. Russell Green, Will Clayton Fellow in International Economics, comments in The Atlantic: http://theatln.tc/1O4ysWl.
Voter ID Laws Could Alter Elections
Mark Jones, fellow in political science, discusses the impact new voting laws could have on election outcomes in swing states. Los Angeles Times: http://lat.ms/1WNwsDs
Health Care Cuts for Oil & Gas Workers
Once-generous employer-sponsored health plans for Houston's besieged oil and gas industry are under rigorous review for next year and beyond, the Houston Chronicle reports.
"As an economist, I think (high-deductible plans) are great. They force the consumer to be price sensitive, which will also force providers to think twice before raising their prices on commonly used tests and treatments," said Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics. Houston Chronicle: http://bit.ly/1TLrbd3 (subscription required)
Cruz Suspends Campaign
Political science fellow Mark P. Jones comments on the departure of Ted Cruz from the Republican presidential race. USA TODAY: http://usat.ly/1SLdko6
Remembering Sir Harold Kroto
Baker Institute Rice faculty scholar Robert Curl issued a statement on the passing of Nobel laureate Sir Harold Kroto. Kroto, Curl and Rice colleague Richard Smalley were credited with the discovery of the carbon-60 molecule, commonly known as the buckyball, in 1985. The trio was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1996.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Harold Kroto," Curl said. "Long before the buckminsterfullene, we were in the same field of molecular spectroscopy and well aware of each other's work. We first met in person in the summer of 1977 at a meeting in New Forest in England. Harry invited me to come visit him at his home in Lewes, Sussex.
"It happened that my schedule permitted a few extra days in the U.K., and I happily accepted for a very pleasant nonscientific visit with him and his wife, Margaret. Harry had an impish sense of humor fed by his favorite comedians, Monty Python, an aspect of his personality that I greatly appreciated.
"Harry was a great scientist. He had a creative mind and tremendous energy. His completely independent works, subsequent to the joint C60 discovery of the Rice-Sussex team, on the properties of the fullerenes...