Ohio Gov. John Kasich is Really Running for Vice President

By Professor Justin Hughes
Originally posted on The Los Angeles Daily News

Ohio Governor John Kasich just did very well in the New Hampshire primary — second place behind Donald Trump and first among the pack that might be called “mainstream” Republican candidates. That success will hide from view something that John Kasich knows all too well: that by running in these primaries Kasich has made himself the GOP’s most obvious and most perfect choice for a vice presidential nominee. If Trump heads the ticket, Kasich brings serious foreign affairs, Washington and executive government experience, not to mention a sensible, moderate voice. And he helps galvanize Ohio’s critical swing vote — ask any pundit or politically mindful Ohioan: you have to go back to 1960 to find someone elected president who did not carry the Great State of Ohio.

Kasich would bring that same formula to a Cruz campaign, a Rubio campaign, a Bush campaign or a Carson campaign.

What Your Bank Owes You: Clarity

By Professors Lauren Willis and Theresa Amato

This op-ed originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

There are dozens of entities devoted to educating you about all things financial. Congress funds a commission and a website, Mymoney.gov. Schools have added “financial literacy” to their curricula. Banks put out pamphlets, and every major investment brokerage has Web pages devoted to educating people on how to invest wisely.

But none of it is working very well. Neither children who are required to take financial literacy classes in school nor adults who are randomly assigned to such courses perform much better on financial skills tests than those who don't, nor do they make better financial choices or enjoy better financial outcomes.

Paradoxically, the opposite may be true. Participating in these programs can increase risky behavior as people gain a misplaced confidence in their ability to make financial decisions.

Read the complete op-ed.