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Emily  Klancher Merchant

Emily Klancher Merchant

I am a historian of science and technology in the 20th century, focusing on the human sciences and technologies of human measurement. My current project, Prediction and Control: U.S. Demography and Global Population in the Twentieth Century, examines how human population became a subject of scientific expertise and how demography shaped population dynamics during a period of unprecedented growth. This project combines archival research, oral history, and computational textual analysis to develop an intellectual, institutional, and material history of the science and politics of global population in the twentieth century. Past projects include studies of the historical demography and environmental history of the United States West, which use computational methods to explore Mexican migration to the United States, the environmental consequences of agriculture on the Great Plains, and the changing living arrangements of older women. These projects have resulted in publications in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, International Migration Review, and Population Research and Policy Review, as well as the production of public-use datasets for historical demography and environmental history.

The problem with pronatalism: Pushing baby booms to boost economic growth amounts to a Ponzi scheme

Aug 12, 2024 10:54 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

In the face of shrinking populations, many of the worlds major economies are trying to engineer higher birth rates. Policymakers from South Korea, Japan and Italy, for example, have all adopted so-called pronatalist...

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Economy

UK Inflation Stabilizes: November CPI at 2.6%, Signaling Economic Recovery

In November 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the UK was reported at 2.6% compared to the same month last year, which matched what experts had predicted. This is an increase from October 2024, when the CPI was at...

China's Tightened Export Controls Disrupt U.S. Tech Firms' Production Plans

China is intensifying scrutiny of exports by U.S. tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Dell, delaying their production shifts to Southeast Asia and India, according to Nikkei Asia. Since December, dual-use technology...

Trump's Economic Policies to Face New Challenges in 2025

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to inherit a strong economy, but his aggressive policiestariffs, immigration restrictions, and tax cutsmight disrupt growth. With output above trend, near full employment, and...

U.S. Stock Futures Rise Amid Tariff Speculation and Key Data Focus

U.S. stock index futures gained on Monday evening as reports eased fears of disruptive trade tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump. Bloomberg reported that his team may propose a gradual tariff increase of 2%-5%...

UBS Predicts Potential Fed Rate Cut Amid Strong US Economic Data

UBS strategists foresee the Federal Reserve implementing an additional 50 basis points (bps) rate cut later this year, despite persistent inflationary pressures. Last week, US stocks dipped as a robust December jobs report...

Politics

South Korean Ex-President Yoon Arrested After Martial Law Attempt

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday following a failed attempt to impose military law in late 2024, according to local media reports. Investigators successfully executed an arrest...

Biden Moves to Normalize U.S.-Cuba Relations Amid Major Policy Shifts

The Biden administration announced plans to remove Cuba from the U.S. terrorism blacklist, signaling a major policy shift that could reshape U.S.-Cuba relations. The move reverses sanctions imposed by former President...

Iranian President Denies Plot to Kill Trump, Refutes U.S. Claims

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed allegations that Iran plotted to assassinate U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. In an NBC News interview, Pezeshkian stated, We have never attempted this to begin with and we...

Pete Hegseth Faces Tight Confirmation Battle for Secretary of Defense

President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, endured intense scrutiny during his confirmation hearing, highlighting sharp partisan divides. Hegseth, a decorated veteran and former Fox News...

SEC Accuses Elon Musk of Securities Law Violation Over Twitter Stake Delay

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of delaying the disclosure of his substantial stake in Twitter, now known as X, in 2022. The SEC alleges Musk violated...

Science

Explosive CIA Whistleblower Claims Havana Syndrome Victims Face Cancer, Dementia, and Government Betrayal

A former CIA operative has come forward with alarming allegations, claiming that victims of the mysterious Havana Syndrome are now battling devastating health issues, including cancer, dementia, and Parkinsons disease. The...

FDA Approval of Opdivo Injection Sparks Hope for Cancer Patients with Revolutionary Treatment Update

In a significant advancement for cancer care, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an injectable version of Bristol Myers Squibbs blockbuster cancer drug Opdivo. Branded as Opdivo Qvantig, the new...

Public Health Experts Warn of ‘Quad-Demic’ as Flu, COVID, RSV, and Norovirus Threaten Winter Surge

Public health experts are raising alarms over a potential quad-demic this winter, with flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus all expected to surge simultaneously. This unprecedented convergence of...

Philippines' 'Missile Acquisition' Plan Provokes China's 'Arms Race' Warning

The Philippines has announced plans to acquire the U.S.-developed Typhon missile system to bolster its maritime defense capabilities. This decision has elicited strong reactions from China, which warns that such a move...

Technology

Trade Groups Push Back on Biden's New Chip Export Rules

A coalition of semiconductor and manufacturing trade groups has expressed concerns to U.S. President Joe Biden over recently announced export controls on advanced computing chips. The Semiconductor Industry Association...

Global Smartphone Market Sees Shifts as Chinese Brands Gain Ground

Smartphone shipments for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung (KS:005930) declined in Q4 as competition from Chinese companies like Xiaomi (OTC:XIACF) intensified, according to preliminary data from IDC. Despite a rebound in...

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Launch Delayed to Thursday

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos rocket company, has rescheduled the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket to Thursday, Jan. 16. Originally set for Tuesday, the launch was delayed after a technical issue arose on Monday. The...

NVIDIA to Establish Asian Headquarters in Taiwan

NVIDIA Corporation will set up its Asian headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, according to the Central News Agency (CNA). The tech giant plans to hire over 2,500 employees as part of the expansion, as confirmed by National...

NVIDIA to Establish Asian HQ and R&D Center in Taiwan

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is planning to set up its Asian headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, according to the Central News Agency. The tech giant will reportedly hire over 2,500 staff as part of the move, as stated by...
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