Publications -- Policy Backgrounder

Nov 02, 1992

BG #123 – Why Does Crime Pay?

America is burdened by an appalling amount of crime.  Although the crime rate is not soaring as it did during the 1960s and 1970s, we still have more crimes per capita than any other developed country.

Oct 22, 1992

BG #122 – The Perot Economic Plan

In contrast to George Bush and Bill Clinton, Ross Perot has proposed a serious plan to reduce the federal deficit. 1 If all of Perot's recommendations were implemented, the plan would reduce deficit spending by $711.5 billion over the next six years. Even ignoring Perot's recommended cuts in Medicare and Medicaid on the grounds of political realism, the plan would reduce deficit spending by $570.2 billion. This contrasts markedly with the programs of the other two candidates.

Sep 28, 1992

BG #121 – A Layperson's Guide to Health Insurance Reform

Serious problems exist in the market for private health insurance.  At both the state and federal levels, a number of proposals perporting to solve these problems would in fact make them worse.  Some of the proposals would also exacerbate other problems -- causing more people to be uninsured and contributing to rising health care costs.

Aug 17, 1992

BG #120 – Bill Clinton's Economic Plan

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton's economic program consists primarily of higher spending, higher taxes and private sector mandates. Although Clinton claims that his program would stimulate investment, create jobs, spur economic growth and reduce the federal deficit, we predict the opposite results.

Jun 22, 1992

BG #119 – How the Federal Government Is Causing Our Nation's Health Care Crisis

A common assumption behind most health care reform proposals is that the private sector is causing our national health care crisis.  In fundamental ways, the federal government rather than the private sector is responsible for our health policy crisis, and state governments can make few improvements as long as unwise federal policies remain in place.

Jun 10, 1992

BG #118 – The Best and Worst Ideas for Health Care Reform

As politicians confront the difficult task of health care reform, they face a dizzying array of reform plans.  In fact, there are so many plans that most analysts have ceased trying to keep track of them.  Yet the vast majority of all plans -- both good and bad -- are based on a few simple idea.  This backgrounder provides a brief summary.

Apr 16, 1992

BG #117 – Jerry Brown's Tax Plan

Jerry Brown is advocating the most comprehensive tax refonn plan that has been seriously proposed by a presidential candidate in modern times. The plan would abolish the Social Security (FICA) payroll tax, the corporate income tax and about two-thirds of federal excise taxes, replacing these taxes with a 13 percent Value-Added Tax (V AT).

Apr 07, 1992

BG #116 – Bush vs. The Congressional Democrats: Whose Tax Plan Is Better?

In his State of the Union message, President Bush proposed a new tax package which he said would promote economic growth and create jobs. With unusual assertiveness, he gave Congress one month to enact his package.

Apr 02, 1992

BG #115 – Should Healthy People Pay More For Health Insurance?

As part of his new health care plan, President Bush announced his goal for health insurance reform: sick people should be able to obtain health insurance for the same price as healthy people.  If you knew you could buy health insurance after you become sick for the same price charged to the healthy, there would be no reason to purchase it while you were healthy.  Only sick people would buy it and premiums would be exorbitant.

Mar 09, 1992

BG #114 – Rethinking Tax Fairness

The recent debate in the House of Representatives pitted a House Republican economic plan against a plan proposed by the Democratic leadership. The central feature of the Republican plan was a dramatic cut in the capital gains tax rate.

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