Publications -- Privacy

Sep 10, 2008

BA #631 – In Order to Extinguish Forest Fires, Don’t Let Logging Burn Out

Federal mismanagement of U.S. forests has increased the number, size and cost of wildfires over the past decade.  Historically, the national forests have been logged to provide lumber for commercial activities, to promote forest recreation, species protection and management, and to prevent wildfires.

Jul 08, 2008

BA #620 – Five Family Friendly Policies

The most significant economic and sociological change of the past half-century has been the entry of women into the labor market. Public policies that govern the workplace have not kept pace with this demographic shift, however. For the most part, tax law, labor law and employee benefits law were designed decades ago on the assumption that the typical household would have a full-time working husband and a homemaker wife.

Nov 05, 2007

BA #601 – Texas Charters, Choice and Performance

Texas is at the forefront of a blossoming nationwide charter school movement. Although charter schools are publicly funded, they are free of some of the regulations that burden public schools and are managed independently.  Charter schools are subject to the state's accountability system, including the annual Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).

Aug 09, 2007

BA #592 – Electricity Deregulation: Taking the Next Step

A new technology called "smart" metering and innovative residential pricing plans have the potential to revolutionize the electric power industry and reduce monthly electricity bills for many consumers.  Utilities in the states that have deregulated electric power have the strongest market incentives to implement these new features, and customers in some states are beginning to reap the benefits.

Jul 31, 2007

BA #589 – SCHIP Expansion: Robin Hood in Reverse

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which covers 6.7 million children and adults, will expire in September. SCHIP consists of 50 different federal-state health plans for children (and in some states adults) in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Typically, families with incomes above the poverty level, but no more than 200 percent of poverty, are eligible.

Mar 12, 2007

ST #296 – The Market for Medical Care: Why You Don’t Know the Price; Why You Don’t Know about Quality; And What Can Be Done about It.

In most markets, prices and quality indicators are transparent - clear and readily available to consumers.   Health care is different:  Prices are difficult to obtain and often meaningless when they are disclosed.  Many patients never learn the cost of their care.

Mar 29, 2002

BA #391 – Privatizing Defense: Britain Leads the Way

The military campaign in Afghanistan demonstrated that, among NATO countries, only Great Britain - with its small but professional military - has the capability to deploy advanced military assets to far-flung theaters of operation in support of U.S. forces. However, the British spend less on defense every year than France and about the same amount as Germany.

Feb 19, 2002

BA #389 – Two Cheers For Bush Health Plan

Ever since Hillary Rodham Clinton's failed attempt to restructure the nation's health care system, members of Congress have been reluctant to propose any major health care reforms, sticking instead to reform by small steps.

Dec 18, 2001

BA #385 – Social Security Reform: The NCPA's 'Hybrid' Plan

President Bush's Commission to Strengthen Social Security moved the Social Security reform discussion forward. However, despite the commission's hard work, its findings are not the final word in the debate. As Congress takes up the discussion, it should consider the "hybrid" reform plan proposed by the National Center for Policy Analysis. The NCPA plan combines the most attractive features of major plans developed by both Republicans and Democrats over the past several years. It includes no benefit cuts for those who contribute to a personal retirement account (PRA) and no tax increases.

Aug 31, 2001

BA #370 – Would National Health Insurance Benefit Physicians?

Physicians for a National Health Program and other groups advocate a single-payer health care system as a way to improve quality and increase access to health care. The idea may be appealing to many physicians, frustrated by constraints on their medical practices that may reduce the quality of patient care. However, rather than improving the conditions physicians face under our current system of multiple payers, national health insurance would make matters worse.