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Preparing for Disaster by Betting Against It

Georgia Levenson Keohane

February 12, 2014 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, necessity has bred an interesting kind of financial invention for the New York MTA: the world’s first “catastrophe” bond - a reinsurance for the insurer - designed to protect public transportation infrastructure, specifically against storm surge. These bonds privatize risk for public gain, creating a kind of tool that may protect economic development against all kinds of natural and man-made disasters around the world.

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Playing the Odds on Saving

Tina Rosenberg

January 15, 2014 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

Lotteries aren’t usually considered part of the solution to a savings crisis experienced across America, particularly by the nation's poor, but with more hopefuls purchasing lottery tickets than setting aside rainy day funds, one organization, Doorways to Dreams, is working to change federal and state laws to allow banks to offer prize-linked savings. In Michigan, the programs have seen some success.

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In the Long War on Poverty, Small Victories That Matter

David Bornstein

January 08, 2014 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

A panoply of responses to poverty has emerged to address poverty in the United States and abroad. The responses share in three key tactics: Measuring impact, paying for success, and collaboration.

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In Iowa, Accountable Care Begins To Make A Difference

Jenny Gold

November 21, 2013 |

KFF Health News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fort Dodge, Iowa

In Iowa, a Medicare program uses financial incentives to encourage doctors and hospitals to provide the highest quality care possible. The approach has proven successful in providing comprehensive treatment for frequent patients.

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To Fight Obesity, a Carrot, and a Stick

Tina Rosenberg

November 16, 2013 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Child obesity is decreasing even among poor children. Making healthy food more widely available, as well as using financial incentive programs, has greatly helped in increasing habits of healthy eating.

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India Increases Effort to Harness Biomass Energy

Amy Yee

October 08, 2013 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Punjab

With 60 percent of India's population relying on agriculture for living, the country faces a dire challenge of what to do with accumulated agricultural waste. Instead of burning it, as they traditionally would do, they are harnessing biomass energy that directly supplies the country's electrical grid.

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Doctors Transform How They Practice Medicine

Ankita Rao

May 15, 2013 |

KFF Health News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, El Dorado, California

The Affordable Care Act’s provisions to increase health care while decreasing costs have caused physicians some economic uncertainties. Two physicians have transformed their practices into business models that offer more services than what the insurance companies cover. The physicians report that patients spend less money on medication and hospital visits, while providing more holistic care.

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Conservation Pays Off for Bangladeshi Factories

Amy Yee

March 21, 2013 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh

Saving money while conserving water and electricity is a win-win for the textile industry in Bangladesh. After a joint effort to improve the mechanics and upgrade the factories, the industry saw a savings of 1.2 million cubic meters of water, 16 million cubic meters of gas and 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

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Why A Principal Created His Own Currency

David Kestenbaum

December 14, 2012 |

NPR |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

School MS 53 in Queens experienced extremely poor student attendance, a high rate of student suspensions, and an increase of staff and teacher resignations—all causing the city’s department of education to give the school and “F”. New principal Shawn Rux incentivizes students by creating “Rux Bux,” a currency system that can help students win prizes the more often they attend school. The school went from an “F” to a “C” and daily attendance has increased to around 90%.

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How Nonprofits Can Use Data to Solve the World's Problems

Victor Luckerson

December 10, 2012 |

Time Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

Like their for-profit counterparts, charities are starting to embrace Big Data as a means to perform more efficiently and share that performance with potential donors. Data gathered is used both to measure successes and to highlight areas where program structure could be improved.

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