Social

Smart Growth = Crime, Congestion and Poverty

Urban sprawl has sparked a national debate over land-use policy, launching a movement in the past decade called "smart growth." Advocates of such policies contend that urban sprawl causes crime and co…
What Causes Sprawl?

Urban sprawl is generally defined as low-density residential and commercial development on previously undeveloped land. Those who oppose sprawl seek to preserve open space by concentrating future cons…
Is There a Child Care Crisis?
Access to safe and affordable child care has been a major issue in the congressional debate on reauthorization of the 1996 welfare reform law.
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 governmen…
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…
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 c…
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 d…
Bad Idea: Paying for Family Leave

At President Clinton's direction, the Department of Labor has published a proposed regulation that would allow states to pay unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to fathers and mothers who take time o…