Essential Elements, a new series of concise and informative papers developed by the Academy, is designed to provide a quick and easy-to-understand overview of key public policy issues of interest to Academy members, policy makers and the general public. Each paper provides the important points and analysis, supplemented by graphics, so that the reader can quickly understand the issue and its significance to the public debate.

Topics in the Essential Elements series will include health, life, pension and property/casualty issues. Stay tuned as the Academy addresses additional public policy issues in the Essential Elements series in the weeks and months to come.