If an influenza epidemic strikes the United States, what will the nationwide impacts be? This surprising October 2009 report of the United States Government Accountability Office explores one probable result: the likely Internet congestion as workers stay home and attempt to telecommute, particularly as this congestion would affect the securities markets.Attacking the responsible government agencies-including the Department of Homeland Security-as well as key market participants in the private sector for their collective lack of appropriate strategic planning, this blistering report offers...

Should the United States restrict online gambling because of its attendant potential for criminal money laundering? In 2002 Congress appointed the U.S. Government Accountability Office to study the issues, and it produced this informative report. Here, discover: the legal framework for Internet gambling domestically and abroad the credit card industry's policies regarding the use of credit cards to pay for Internet gambling, and actions taken to restrict such usage the views of law enforcement, banking regulators, and the credit card and gaming industries on the vulnerability of Internet...

GAO examined the potential effects of greenhouse gas emissions pricing on U.S. industries' international competiveness and trade measures being considered as part of U.S. Legislative proposals to address climate change. GAO examined (1) what is known about estimating industry effects; (2) examples of industries that may be vulnerable to a loss in international competiveness from emissions pricing; (3) trade measures and other approaches to address competiveness issues; and (4) potential international implications of trade measures.

In summary, while the previous two-contract structure met DOD's needs for unprecedented mission success and an at-the-ready launch capability, the scope of its cost-reimbursement contract limited DOD's ability to identify the cost of an individual launch, as, according to DOD, direct launch costs were not separated from other costs. For example, DOD paid for hardware through a firm-fixed-price contract (ELS), but funded infrastructure and engineering support through a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (ELC). The ELC cost-reimbursement contract was not transparent according to DOD officials,...

The Navy expects to spend about $15 billion per year to provide its fleet with the most advanced ships to support natural defense and military strategies. Problems with recently delivered ships have focused attention on quality issues.