Publications -- Social

Sep 17, 2001

BA #372 – Right Idea, Wrong Method

President Bush's attempt to draw attention to the social contribution of religious charities represents the best spirit of progressive conservatism. It is an attempt to move away from failed government programs of the past and push toward expanding private and often religious programs that have consistently worked to integrate the poor into productive economic life.

Jun 30, 2001

BA #364 – Privacy from Government in a Transparent Society

Individuals face a greater threat to their privacy from government than from the private sector. In general, people have little or no control over what information is collected, how much is shared or how securely it is stored. If a business refuses to keep private information about one's consumer preferences secure, consumers can take their business elsewhere. But they hardly have the same opportunity when it comes to the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Internal Revenue Service.

Apr 27, 2001

BA #360 – Financial Privacy: The Choice Is in the Mail

In one of the largest financial-customer notifications ever, banks and other financial institutions are mailing information to every customer of record to clarify how they collect and use people's financial information and what options customers have with regard to the sharing of this information. Many bank customers have already received notices. The mail campaign is a result of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999.

Apr 27, 2001

BA #359 – Personal Privacy in a Transparent Society

A torrent of personal information about each of us is available now and experts agree that it will increasingly become available to others who want to use it. Society has become much more transparent due to the advent of inexpensive computer technology, storage devices and the Internet. This development has led to concerns about how this information might be used by employers, marketers, health insurers and others. Carefully crafted laws that promote clear disclosure (and enforcement) of privacy agreements can help people protect themselves without sacrificing freedom of speech.

Apr 23, 2001

BA #358 – The Marriage Penalty: A Tax On Working Couples

The most significant change in the U.S. labor force in the last 60 years has been the increasing participation of women. Women now account for 46 percent of the total U.S. workforce, and nearly half of married women with children (47 percent last year) work.

Mar 15, 2001

BA #353 – Restorative Justice, American Style

Ted McGarrell, a criminology professor at Indiana University in Bloomington, has teamed up with the Hudson Institute and the city of Indianapolis to try an experiment that offers something besides jails to control crime. "Restorative justice," a program being tried with youthful first-time offenders, is based on three principles:

Oct 02, 2000

ST #236 – Social Security and Race

In general, older generations are receiving reasonable rates of return from Social Security, especially among couples with dependent spouses.  But almost all future retirees will, on the average, have worse rates of return than they would have received if their tax payments had been privately invested.

Aug 07, 2000

BA #331 – The Private Sector Is Closing the Digital Divide

As computers and the Internet revolutionize society, the need to have the latest and greatest technology is paramount. Since 1995 the U.S. Commerce Department has released three reports stating that certain segments of society have access to advanced technology, while others do not. This "digital divide" is said to be based on ethnicity, income and locale. President Clinton has proposed a $2 billion initiative to close this alleged digital divide. Vice President Gore has made similar proposals. Yet the digital divide that does exist is small and is being rapidly closed, thanks to private markets and charities.

Jul 18, 2000

BA #328 – Does the Distribution of Income Affect Life Expectancy?

In the history of social thought, advocates of a more equal distribution of income have made many arguments to support their cause. Egalitarians are now advancing a new argument: inequality of income leads to poorer health.

Jun 01, 2000

ST #232 – Public Spending And Social Progress

Over the past century, government spending grew to an average of 45 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) among developed countries. Today, total government spending in the United States and other developed countries far exceeds the level at which it increases national income. This study examines the effects of government spending on certain noneconomic measures of social progress.