Former Director, Policy & 2022 Senior Fellow

Donovan Zagorin

Donovan Zagorin is a senior fellow and the Director of Policy at YIP. He is currently a high school student in California who looks to further the goal of improving discourse in politics, especially among youth. He has interests in politics, philosophy, and economics, all of which he hopes to pursue through college and the rest of his foreseeable future.

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All articles by the author

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Policy Briefs by the author

President Biden’s Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Plan

Economic Policy

November 30, 2022

This brief will cover Biden’s new student loan forgiveness proposal in relation to its economic implications. The relevance, history, related policy options, and a conclusion about said policy options will be demonstrated.

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Tariffs and their Consequences

Economic Policy

February 28, 2022

The following brief covers the pros and cons of tariffs. From a political point of view, tariffs are an appealing policy if policymakers wish to preserve domestic industry from foreign competition. However, from an economic perspective, we must always consider: what are the opportunity costs behind such a policy, and are the trade-offs a worthy sacrifice of potential benefits?

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The Role of Campaign Finance in Elections

Economic Policy

February 12, 2023

When running for public office, individuals will attempt to maximize the contributions they receive as a means to help further their campaign. This brief will cover the history of campaign financing, the policy that surrounds it, and other policy options. This allows us to understand the current and desired impact of campaign financing on elections.

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The Run on Silicon Valley Bank

Economic Policy

April 11, 2023

This brief will review the run on the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the looming implications. This bank was a cornerstone of one of the largest areas of economic prosperity in the U.S., it is not new as we have seen banks run throughout history. However, it has forced us to analyze the event in terms of policy that led to it occurring or could have prevented it from happening in order to improve the future economy.

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Harvesting the Future: Analyzing the Role of the Farm Bill in Shaping the Agricultural Industry

Economic Policy

July 28, 2023

Farming as an industry is largely impacted and dictated in some way by policy, specifically the farm bill. This brief will analyze the role the farm bill plays in the industry and how its revisions can impact the future of farming.

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U.S. Economic Shrinkage Throughout 2022

Economic Policy

June 12, 2022

The brief will discuss economic shrinkage that has occurred throughout 2022. Various issues such as a drop in exports, decreases in government spending, and changes to interest rates will be covered. The relevance, history, and policy responses regarding this issue will be outlined alongside certain policy suggestions to revert this economic shrinkage.

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The Future of Social Security

Economic Policy

February 13, 2022

Social Security—also known as the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program in the United States—is run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The program is best known for its retirement benefits and is primarily funded (89.6 percent) by payroll taxes. The program also provides income to disabled people who qualify, as well as their family members. Workers must be at least 65 years old and have financially contributed to society for 10 years or more. The longevity of Social Security has been put under question as of late and this brief will attempt to address the conflict regarding Social Security (with a focus on its funding) as well as a recommendation for how it should be approached.

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Price Controls

Economic Policy

November 9, 2021

This brief will analyze the concept of mandated government price control. This level of severe domestic, economic intervention carries both positive and negative repercussions. The questions of price control sensibility, floor minimums, ceiling maximums, and longevity will all be answered in this brief.

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