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"‘The Difference Between Governments Where There Is Responsibility, and Where There Is None.’"
by Trevor Burrus
"Tax the Rich? Depends On How You Define Rich"
by Emily Ekins
"‘Incredible Shrinking Presidency’? I Wish!"
by Gene Healy
Economic Freedom Continues to Fall
Economic freedom around the world fell for second consecutive year, according to the Economic Freedom of the World: 2011 Annual Report, released by the Cato Institute in conjunction with the Fraser Institute of Canada. In this year's index, Hong Kong retains the highest rating for economic freedom, followed by Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, and Mauritius. The world's largest economy, the United States, has suffered one of the largest declines in economic freedom over the last 10 years, pushing it into tenth place.
Obama's Debt Plan Misses the Mark
President Obama on Monday unveiled a plan to cut the national debt by approximately $3 trillion over the next decade, in part through tax hikes targeted at the highest earning Americans. Comments Cato scholar Daniel J. Mitchell, "Obama claims to be concerned about jobs, but he is proposing a big tax hike on the saving and investment that is necessary to create jobs." Adds Alan Reynolds, "To hold out the tax policies of 1977 or 1992 as examples of effective ways to raise more revenue is ludicrous. It didn't work then, and it wouldn't work now."
- "Higher Tax Rates on Rich Won't Increase Revenues," by Alan Reynolds
- "Do the Rich Avoid Taxes?," by David Boaz
- "One Simple Reason (and Two Easy Steps) to Show Why Obama's Soak-the-Rich Tax Hikes Won't Work," by Daniel J. Mitchell
- "Cut Defense before Raising Taxes," by Michael D. Tanner
Lessons from the Solyndra Boondoggle
The details surrounding the staggering $535 million government loan to Solyndra – the now-bankrupt solar energy company that was the poster child of the Obama administration's much-ballyhooed green jobs campaign – are still emerging. But more important than the specifics of this particular loan is the bigger question of whether taxpayers should be forced to subsidize energy companies to begin with. Cato scholars Jerry Taylor and Peter Van Doren get to the heart of the matter: "Systematic evaluations of federal programs find no evidence that 60 years of federal energy tech spending have produced more benefits than costs."
- "The Solyndra Saga Spreads to Trade Policy," by Sallie James
- "A Teachable Moment Courtesy of Solyndra," by Jerry Taylor and Peter Van Doren
- "Solyndra: Another Energy Boondoggle," by Tad DeHaven
- "Energy Subsidies," DownsizingGovernment.org
NEW BOOKS
Cato Supreme Court Review
Now in its 10th year, this acclaimed annual publication brings together leading national scholars to analyze the Supreme Court's most important decisions from the term just ended and preview the year ahead.
Climate Coup
A first-rate team of experts offers compelling documentation on the pervasive influence global warming alarmism now has on almost every aspect of our society--from national defense, law, trade, and politics to health, education, and international development.
Schools for Misrule
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Government Failure
Politicians often cite 'market failure' as justification for meddling with the economy, but this classic book shows how government 'cures' often cause more harm than good.
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