Brief Analyses

Restricted to two letter-size pages, a Brief Analysis summarizes some aspect or aspects of a public policy issue, presenting points for consideration in policy debates or responding to points that have been raised during these debates.

Retail Clinics: Convenient and Affordable Care

The growth of the Internet, high-speed telecommunications networks and electronic medical records have made it possible for patients to seek care in a variety of clinical settings without losing the c…
10 Ways to Wreck Your Retirement

People have a great deal of control over whether or not their retirement will be comfortable. Millions of Americans are preparing for retirement by saving in tax-favored retirement accounts - principa…
Roth 2010: Should You Convert?

Beginning in 2010, a new rule change allows people with an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to reduce their tax burden at retirement by converting a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. Before deciding…
Nuclear Power and the U.S. Energy Future

More than two-thirds of states now require that a percentage of their electric power come from approved "renewable" energy sources. Federal legislation mandating a nationwide standard has also been pr…
Medicare at 55

A proposal to allow 55- to 64-year-olds to buy Medicare coverage is gaining traction in the Senate deliberations on health care reform. What will this mean for Medicare's finances? How much will it co…
New Federal Regulations Threaten Small Business Access to Credit

Congress is considering establishing a new agency to regulate consumer financial products and services - everything from home equity loans to credit cards to pawnshops.
Barriers to Affordable Housing

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers housing affordable if it costs less than 30 percent of a family's income. Yet, according to HUD, 12 million renters and homeowners…
Green Jobs: Hope or Hype?

In October, the unemployment rate in the United States reached 10.2 percent. Most economists consider about 5 percent to be full employment. Not surprisingly, job growth is a hot political issue.