Policy Briefs

YIP's policy briefs provide clear, nonpartisan summaries of key national issues and policies. Designed for accessibility, they distill complex topics into concise, understandable analyses, bridging the gap between intricate policy debates and a broad audience. These briefs embody our commitment to informed, unbiased discourse, crucial for fostering a well-informed public and encouraging active engagement in policy discussions.

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Briefs harmonize diverse political perspectives in policy teams of 4-6 for insightful policy solutions.

Recent Policy Briefs

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Race and Justice: Analyzing Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

Criminal Justice

Aarya Chowdhry

From law enforcement and prosecution to incarceration and sentencing, people of color in the United States are far more vulnerable to incrimination than others. The root cause of this remains the underlying racial and ethnic disparities in the dispensing of justice at its various stages. This brief examines the historical and sociopolitical factors that have contributed to these developments and suggests changes to make our justice system equal, unbiased and democratically just.

Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Holistic Evaluation

Social Policy

Aneesh Mazumder

AI has grown from a concept to a full-blown field, proving to develop the most in computer science. AI learning is the ability to solve more and more complex scenarios. Recently, we have seen Generative AI like Chat-GPT come into question in education. Students are using AI for good and bad uses, which has brought concern to educators on how they can effectively manage AI in education. This brief evaluates the relatively new role of AI in education and what policies can address questions and concerns in education.

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

Economic Policy

Donovan Zagorin

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.

Finland in NATO: Bolstering Arctic Defense & Baltic Stability

Foreign Policy

Chanhee Joy Park

From World War II to the joint “friendship agreement” with the Soviet Union, Finland’s demonstration of remaining neutral in politics has been consistent through the decades. However, the long-standing policy of non-alignment with foreign countries has shifted in recent months. As Russian aggression sought to tear down Ukraine and the threat in neighboring countries grew, Finland moved swiftly to embrace collective security amid regional uncertainty. This brief traces the increasing political and diplomatic interception carried out by Finland over the years. It also details the increasing need for military infrastructure buildup in Finland along its borders and the need for caution against nuclearization in the region.

Breaking the Cycle: A Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Recidivism through Holistic Rehabilitation

Criminal Justice

Ahad Khan

The following brief explores the imperative of holistic criminal rehabilitation as an effort to strengthen the justice system. It focuses on educational, resource-related, and psychological models as a way of achieving the former. Furthermore, it discusses the varying stances associated with holistic rehabilitation in the United States alongside the shortcomings of the aforementioned models and the consequences related to avoiding humanizing our justice system.

Debt Ceiling Dilemma: Evaluating its Necessity, Economic Impact, and Solutions

Economic Policy

Jordyn Ives

The debt ceiling is a recurring debate every year and has been for decades. This brief will explore this debate in terms of the history behind it, the policy surrounding it, and the conclusions we can draw. The goal is to understand the nature of the debt ceiling as well as the various consequences that can result from the various solutions.