Business Commons^™

Carbon Pricing In The Private Sector: How Science, Politics, And Climate Change Influence Business Strategy, Hayden Hubbard, Mcklayne Marshall, Christopher Cottle

Research on Capitol Hill

The social cost of carbon (SCC) is defined as the monetized social (externality) cost of a metric ton of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere in a given year. Economist Michael Greenstone called it “The most important figure you’ve never heard of.”

Since 2009, the SCC has been a major factor in $1.2 trillion of legislation. No carbon tax exists in the U.S., but many private and public companies have started using internal carbon pricing in decision making.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has capitalized on this trend by creating a central depository for emissions reporting and sustainability. This was the …

How State-Level Affirmative Action Bans Affect Underrepresented Students’ Opportunities And Outcomes, Jackie Sullivan

Research on Capitol Hill

This study replicates a study by Peter Hinrichs; which found affirmative action bans negatively affect within institution graduation rates for minorities and the fraction of minorities who graduate from selective institutions. Since then, five more states have implemented affirmative action bans. (Figure 1)

Although the effects of affirmative action bans are not clear, research suggests underrepresented minority students (black, Hispanic, and Native American) experience:

• Lower graduation rates overall
• Lower graduation rates from quantitative-intense degrees
• A higher likelihood of being first generation college student

Research supports the economic value of higher education for students, colleges, and society, and its ability to …