Congressional Research Service Reports - 15 Matching Results

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Islamic Finance: Overview and Policy Concerns

Description: This report discusses Islamic finance, which is based on principles of shariah, or "Islamic law." Major financial principles of shariah are a ban on interest, a ban on contractual uncertainty, adherence to risk-sharing and profit-sharing, promotion of ethical investments that enhance society, and asset-backing. While the Islamic finance industry represents a fraction of the global finance market, it has grown at double-digit rates in recent years.
Date: February 9, 2009
Creator: Ilias, Shayerah
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Why is the Household Saving Rate So Low?

Description: This report begins by showing how much the household saving rate has declined in recent years. Next, it explains how household saving is measured, and provides some detail on how saving varies across the income distribution. Finally, it discusses factors that may account for the decline in household saving, as well as how much of a policy concern the decline in household saving may be.
Date: January 9, 2008
Creator: Cashell, Brian W.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public-Private Partnerships in Highway and Transit Infrastructure Provision

Description: This report begins with a brief discussion of the surface transportation system and its financing needs as background to the debate on public-private partnerships (PPPs). That is followed by sections describing the different types of PPPs, with details of a few prominent examples, and the development of federal legislation with respect to PPPs. The report then discusses the main issues of contention with the construction and longterm leasing of highways by the private sector, particularly as th… more
Date: July 9, 2008
Creator: Mallett, William J.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Economic Stimulus: Issues and Policy

Description: This report discusses the passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included tax cut and spending provisions totaling at a cost of $787 billion in an attempt to mitigate the economic fallout of the housing and financial crises on the general economy. The report examines issues surrounding fiscal stimulus such as timeliness, the magnitude of stimulus, long-term effects and previously adopted policies.
Date: December 9, 2009
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.; Hungerford, Thomas L. & Labonte, Marc
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Reform: How Much of a Role Could Personal Retirement Accounts Play?

Description: This report illustrates the potential accumulations of personal savings accounts intended for retirement savings, given a range of possible contribution amounts and interest rates. It is intended to provide information about how to evaluate the possible role of personal accounts in the debate on Social Security reform.
Date: June 9, 2000
Creator: Koitz, David S.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Reform

Description: This report examines the debate over the future of the Social Security system. It includes discussion of recent developments; background and analysis with information about the basic debate, specific area of contention, reform initiatives; and relevant legislation.
Date: December 9, 2004
Creator: Nuschler, Dawn
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Legislation (Including Budgetary Implications)

Description: This report discusses two major deposit insurance reform bills that are currently before Congress, the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 and the Safe and Fair Deposit Insurance Act of 2005. Both bills, if passed, would effectively raise assessments paid by banks and savings associations to the deposit insurance fund.
Date: November 9, 2005
Creator: Miles, Barbara L. & Jackson, William D.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Credit Default Swaps: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: Credit default swaps are contracts that provide protection against default by third parties, similar to insurance. These financial derivatives are used by banks and other financial institutions to manage risk. This report defines credit default swaps, explains their use by banks for risk management, and discusses the potential for systemic risk.
Date: September 9, 2008
Creator: Murphy, Edward Vincent
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Financial Regulatory Reform: Analysis of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) as Proposed by the Obama Administration and H.R. 3126

Description: This report provides a brief summary of the Obama Administration's Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009 (CFPA) and delineates some of the substantive differences between it and H.R. 3126, as ordered to be reported by the House Financial Services Committee, as well as the version that was ordered to be reported by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Date: November 9, 2009
Creator: Carpenter, David H. & Jickling, Mark
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Financial Regulatory Reform: Analysis of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) as Proposed by the Obama Administration and H.R. 3126

Description: This report provides a brief summary of the President's Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009 and delineates some of the substantive differences between it and H.R. 3126, as introduced. It then analyzes some of the policy implications of the proposal, focusing on the separation of safety and soundness regulation from consumer protection, financial innovation, and the scope of regulation.
Date: September 9, 2009
Creator: Carpenter, David H. & Jickling, Mark
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: The Windfall Benefit Provision

Description: This report discusses the windfall elimination provision, which reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security. Its purpose is to remove an advantage these workers would otherwise receive because of Social Security's benefit formula that favors workers with smaller amounts of Social Security-covered career earnings. Opponents contend that the provision is basically inaccurate and often unfair. In both the 107th and 1… more
Date: January 9, 2004
Creator: Haltzel, Laura
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China’s Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy

Description: This report examines the importance to the U.S. economy of China’s investment in U.S. securities, as well as U.S. concerns over the possibility that China might unload a large share of those holdings, the likelihood that this would occur, and the potential implications such action could have for the U.S. economy.
Date: January 9, 2008
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M. & Labonte, Marc
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program

Description: This report provides information on the Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 1946, commonly known as the Hill-Burton Act, the obligations and eligibility requirements for free care, and sources for further information.
Date: May 9, 2006
Creator: English, Barbara
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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