September
Up one levelWhen Local Production Is Not the Answer
The donor community and governments are jeopardizing lives through their push for local production.
Forecasting the Cost of U.S. Healthcare
There is no need to suppress the demand for healthcare. Expenditures on healthcare are driven by demand, which is spurred by income and by advances in biotechnology that make health interventions increasingly effective.
The Quiet Yet Historic Death of the Kyoto Protocol
Reading the climate news in recent weeks, one might start to wonder who won the last election.
Time to Go ‘Down in Flames’ for Burma
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said that after the Rwanda genocide she swore ‘that if I ever faced such a crisis again, I would come down on the side of dramatic action, going down in flames if that was required.’ She faces such a crisis again.
Debt Be Not Proud: The Sorry Tale of America’s Out-of-control Spending
How the richest country in the history of the world got into a position where its debt is spiraling out of control.
Regulation and the Financial Crisis: Myths and Realities
Many regulatory policies were major contributors to the crisis. To proceed without examining past policies, particularly in the areas of housing and bank capital regulation, would preclude learning the lessons of history.
Baumol’s Solution to the Baumol Effect
Increasing productivity in healthcare is difficult but not impossible. Here’s how.
Cuba Sí, Honduras No?
The Obama administration’s troubling moves in the last two weeks do little to bolster democracy in Latin America.
It Wasn’t a Bubble—It Was a Double Bubble
Many are accustomed to thinking in terms of a 'housing bubble.' But this is only part of the story. In fact, the first decade of the 21st century brought us a real estate double bubble—one in housing, and one in commercial real estate.
Republicans and Democrats: A Tale of Two Bases
On Capitol Hill, Democrats are much more beholden to their base than are Republicans.
Anti-Americanism: Alive and Well in the Age of Obama
Islamic countries distrust the United States under the leadership of President Obama about as much as they did under President George W. Bush. What's going on?
Is This What Deregulation Looks Like?
It is hard to argue that deregulation of the financial services industry was rampant in Washington when the spending on finance and banking regulatory agencies kept growing so fast. Let’s look at the numbers.
Will Small Businesses Stop Offering Health Insurance If Reform Passes?
For the average business, paying a penalty will cost them less than providing insurance.
Economists Are Beginning to See the Light
A small diversion into one of the tinier byways of the hugely complex international economy demonstrates the miracle of markets.
The Practical Liberal
Much has been made of Irving Kristol’s maestroship of an intellectual movement that enlarged and transformed American conservatism. Interestingly, his exertions had no comparable or even discernable influence on American liberalism.
An Empty Nod to Tort Reform
In an apparent attempt to sway at least one undecided Republican senator to sign on to its healthcare reform program, the Obama administration announced the initiation of a ‘pilot program’ on tort reform.
Pluck of the Irish
The finance minister of Ireland announced a plan to ransom the hostage economy. Others should follow suit.
Making Bush Look Like a Piker
The Bush-era deficits were bad. I know. I spent eight years complaining about them. How does President Obama stack up?
How to Think About Net Neutrality
History suggests the best course is not to borrow trouble, as the old phrase goes, but to let the system 'develop itself in its own way,' and act only in response to actual problems.
An Immigration Tipping Point?
The U.S. Census Bureau’s recent announcement on the nation’s foreign-born percentage of the population may prove a landmark in American demographic history.
India’s Counterfeit Claims on Counterfeit Drugs
The Indian government is touting a new survey showing a low percentage of drugs within the country are counterfeit. But the reality is that India still has a major problem with poor-quality drugs.
Our Uncrowded Planet
Imminent doom has been declared again. But don’t worry, neo-Malthusian predictions of overpopulation are wrong.