COVID-19 has taught us many lessons and raised many more questions, podcasters find in the October edition of the IPPSR State of the State Podcast.
IPPSR Associate Director Arnold Weinfeld hosts the discussion with Emeritus Economics Professor Dr. Charles Ballard and Rebecca Jacobsen, professor of education policy in MSU's College of Education. Weinfeld asks about Christmas shopping, given container ships lined up for unloading at U.S. ports. Our supply chain, says Ballard, is delicate for a number of commodities. While it has worked well in a number of ways, the globe is now subject to a kind of "rolling blackout" as supplies of various commodities are in short supply in some locations and not so much in others. That's going to take time to unwind, he says. Shelves short of supply and consumers ready to spend is a formula for rising prices, the kind of inflation that has sparked debate across the country. With winter weather on the horizon and higher gas prices, "It might be an old-fashioned Michigan winter," Weinfeld forecasts.
Jacobsen's background is in politics and education where she has focused on public opinion and its impact on education policy. In this podcast, she shares research (thanks to IPPSR Director Dr. Matt Grossmann and the State of the State Survey) asking Michigan residents their views about teaching children about fairness and equity in an age-appropriate way. She also asked about whether public schools should teach more about race and racism as part of American history lessons and whether they trusted local teachers to discuss race and racism with their school-age children in the coming year.
We want to always say that this production is featured on WKAR Radio along with radio stations on the air and over the internet, on SoundCloud and ITunes. On the MSU campus, IPPSR specializes in policy education, leadership training and survey research in MSU's College of Social Science. You'll also find this edition of the State of the State Podcast on MSU Today with Russ White. IPPSR is the home of the Michigan Political Leadership Program, the Office for Survey Research, State of the State Survey, Legislative Leadership Program, Rosenthal Legislative Internship Program, more than 60 affiliate faculty members, student policy fellows and major research databases on topics of interest to academic researchers, legislators, policy makers, elected leaders and journalists around the world. IPPSR thanks MSU's University Communications, Producer Russ White of MSU Advancement Marketing and Communications, and all those who support the efforts necessary to make this production possible.
