Anna Xing

Why did Taft resolve to bust US Steel and how did this decision influence future antitrust laws and regulations?

Started Jan. 20, 2023

Abstract or project description

Though not the sole cause for the estrangement between Taft and Roosevelt, the U.S. v U.S. Steel Corp. lawsuit aggravated the underlying tension. In 1907, with an intent to “save the market”, U.S. Steel obtained permission from president Roosevelt for the acquisition of Tennessee Coal and Iron Company to avoid prosecution under the Sherman Antitrust Act. However, in November 1911, under Taft’s administration, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against U.S. Steel, accusing it of attempting to reduce competition and create a monopoly through the purchase of Tennessee Coal and Iron Company. In 1920, the Supreme court ironically ruled that U.S. Steel did not violate the Sherman Antitrust Act. Up to this time, antitrust proves to be a timeless topic as the government continues to protect competition and consumers. The line between expanding a company and attempting to create a monopoly remains ambiguous. My research examines Taft's decision to bust U.S. Steel in 1911 and the lawsuit’s role in the evolution of antitrust laws. Through investigating primary accounts of both presidents and other politicians, the U.S. v U.S. Steel Corp. case, and the Sherman Antitrust Act, I analyze the legality of both Taft and Roosevelt’s stances on U.S. Steel. I also trace the practice of U.S Steel over the period of the lawsuit to identify changes driven by judicial actions. In the larger context of antitrust, I compare the Sherman Antitrust Act with the Clayton Antitrust Act to spot potential parallels between legal changes and the U.S. v U.S. Steel Corp. case.

The science of skin hydration

Started June 21, 2021

Abstract or project description

Anna will be writing a paper in the style of a formal scientific review article. The general topic that she has chosen is skin hydration. The subheadings will be chosen during our next session.

Snake Game and Breakout Game

Started June 21, 2021

Abstract or project description

Over the course of our 10 sessions, Anna will be creating two projects: the Snake Game and the Breakout Game. In the Snake Game, the player controls the movement of a snake with the up/down/left/right keyboard keys. The aim is to move the snake towards a target apple to eat it, without falling off the edges of the screen. A score system keeps track of the player’s progress! The second project is a recreation of the famous Breakout Game, an arcade game developed by Atari and released in 1976. The goal of the game is to use a horizontal movable paddle to bounce a ball upward and destroy a layer of bricks, maximizing the score. I look forward to working with Anna on these two projects! The games will teach her a lot about programming fundamentals and core concepts that she will be able to apply to any other program or game she develops in the future.

Planning for My Financial Future

Started June 21, 2021

Abstract or project description

Anna will examine 10-15 different lessons for how a financial savvy individual should plan for their financial future. Topics will include consumption versus saving, taxes, optimal use of insurance, portfolio allocation, whether to rent of by housing, the good and bad uses of debt and credit cards, how much to spend on different broad categories (housing, food, clothing, entertainment, ...).