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Policy Briefs

This series animates succinct policy explanations from various talks, podcasts, and presentations given by policy experts. These videos explain first principles and real world examples in a way that are easy to understand and share with your friends.

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Only by remaining true to the nature of our open society can the United States succeed in protecting the integrity and security of its research and innovation. Stopping malign actors from countries such as the People’s Republic of China requires targeted solutions informed by data on risk, not shutting down open science.

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Teachers’ unions wield substantial power in education policy by effectively blocking reforms while also demonstrating significant political influence in school elections.

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The rise of teachers’ unions’ political power in the United States can be traced back to the adoption of public sector labor laws in the 1960s and 1970s, which encouraged the unions to mobilize teachers to shape education policy.

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Federal law treats American Indians as wards of the state, locking them into poverty and preventing them from self-governance.

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Homelessness in California continues to worsen despite more money being spent on the problem each year, because state policies have misdiagnosed the issue.

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The differences between American and European conservatism stem from the core differences in approaches to liberty, freedom, and equality.

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China’s use of global sharp power has placed the United States in a very different kind of superpower competition than it was with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

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Remedying the achievement gaps that were magnified during COVID-motivated school closures will require building a better teaching force.

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John Yoo demonstrates how federalism is able to balance diverse populations and their unique needs in the United States.

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Peter Berkowitz provides historical examples that emphasize how the American form of government has played a role in ensuring the rights and freedoms of all peoples.

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Elizabeth Economy explains how China’s shift toward repressive authoritarianism has triggered a rethink and reset of US foreign policy.

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Larry Diamond urges countries to be vigilant in recognizing and exposing China’s sharp power efforts.

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Peter Berkowitz highlights the natural rights identified in the Declaration of Independence and reflects on their importance.

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John Taylor discusses rules-based and discretionary monetary policies.

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Elizabeth Economy explains how a shift in understanding China’s intentions and capabilities has led to a rethink and a reset of American foreign policy.

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John Yoo answers the question, “Why do we need a constitution?”

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H. R. McMaster explains why having a strategy is essential to making progress against an adversary. 

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Larry Diamond calls on the democracies of the world to counter China’s sharp-power activities.

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H. R. McMaster defines strategic narcissism in foreign affairs and presents the tools we need to overcome it.

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Terry Anderson debunks the idea that prosperity and environmentalism are at odds.

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Although some say that there is no moderate form of Islam, Fouad Ajami believed that the battle to wrest Islam away from extremism is not yet lost.

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Bjorn Lomborg explains why innovation matters more than good intentions to overcoming the effects of climate change. 

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Lee Ohanian reflects on why immigration is necessary to sustain an economy of growth in America.

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John Cogan explains the necessary conditions for achieving sustained economic prosperity.

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John Cogan clarifies why higher tax rates often do not lead to greater tax revenue.

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Michael Auslin explains why we cannot accept what the government of China says at face value.

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Lee Ohanian discusses Sweden’s experience with both socialist and free-market economies.

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Victor Davis Hanson discusses the need for a fundamental shift in how we define and compensate workers for essential jobs.

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H. R. McMaster explains how to restore confidence in America and our democratic institutions.

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No matter their origin, Americans are unified by their ability and desire to improve their lives.

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The United States must regain its sense of purpose in the ideological struggle for freedom and liberty.

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America must rebuff China’s covert, coercive, and corrupting efforts to gain cultural and informational influence in the United States.

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Former Secretary of State George Shultz discusses the dangers of making empty threats.

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Nuclear power has an energy density advantage over every other method of generating electricity.

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Competition among insurers has gone down and premiums have gone up as a result of Obamacare.

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More patient control over health care spending will lead to more price visibility and lower costs.

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Health Saving Accounts (HSAs) are an effective and proven method of reducing healthcare prices for everyone, not just those with HSAs.

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To raise necessary revenue with minimal damage to the economy, we should lower marginal rates, broaden the base, and simplify the tax code.

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As a result of ideological sorting, political parties are far more polarized today than they were before.

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In spite of systematic gender discrimination at every level, Iranian women have continued their fight for inclusivity.
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To address income inequality, we need to focus on improving the skills at the bottom of the income distribution. 

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State and local governments are claiming that they’re running balanced budgets, when in reality they’re relying on future investment returns to pay for pension benefits to retirees.

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It is important to understand the scope of foreign infiltration in order to prevent it.

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A well-designed constitution protects individual freedoms by preventing the abuse of power by the government.

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The judicial branch plays an important role in preventing the rights of minorities from being abused.

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Entitlement programs fulfill an important humanitarian goal, but they need to be weighed against the trade-offs they impose on the return to work.

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A tax cut is not a true tax cut unless it is accompanied by reduced spending, because eventually the loss of revenue has to be paid for.

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Free market environmentalism uses lessons from the market to solve the environmental problems stemming from the tragedy of the commons.