Policy Briefs

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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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Larry Diamond on the United States and China: A Different Kind of Superpower Competition

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.

Rick Hanushek on Remedying the Achievement Gaps from School Closures

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

John Yoo Demonstrates the Benefits of Federalism in America

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

Peter Berkowitz Emphasizes the Value of America’s Style of Government

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.

Elizabeth Economy Details Shifts in Chinese Domestic and Foreign Policy

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

Larry Diamond Stresses the Need to Repel China’s Sharp Power

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

Peter Berkowitz Illustrates the Beauty of Natural Rights

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

John Taylor Defends a Rules-Based Monetary Policy

John Taylor discusses rules-based and discretionary monetary policies.

Elizabeth Economy expounds on U.S. Foreign Policy Relations with China

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.

John Yoo Asks, “Why Do We Need a Constitution?”

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

H. R. McMaster Explains What It Means to Have a Strategy

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

Larry Diamond Calls on Democracies to Resist China’s Global Power

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

H. R. McMaster Advises on How to Overcome Strategic Narcissism

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

Terry Anderson on Environmentalism and Economic Prosperity

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

Fouad Ajami on Moderate Islam

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.

Bjorn Lomborg on the Key to Overcoming the Effects of Climate Change

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

Lee Ohanian on the Importance of Immigration

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

John Cogan on the Factors that Promote Economic Prosperity

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

John Cogan on the Negative Effects of High Taxes

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

Michael Auslin on Engaging with China

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

Lee Ohanian on Sweden's Experiment with Socialism

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

Victor Davis Hanson on Essential Workers

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

H. R. McMaster on Restoring Confidence in American Democracy

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

Condoleezza Rice On What Unifies Us As Americans

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

Larry Diamond On Promoting Liberty And Free Societies

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

Larry Diamond On Countering Chinese Propaganda With Truth

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

George P. Shultz On The Danger Of Empty Threats

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

James Ellis On The Energy Density Advantage of Nuclear Power

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

Lanhee Chen On Competition in the Health Insurance Market

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

Scott Atlas On Why Competition, Not Laws, Will Make Health Care Prices Visible

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

Scott Atlas Discusses How Health Savings Accounts Push Health Care Prices Down

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

John Cochrane On Why a Complicated Tax Code Leads to Negative Outcomes

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

Morris Fiorina On Why Political Parties Have Polarized

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

Abbas Milani Explains How Authoritarian Regimes Use Fear To Stay In Power

In spite of systematic gender discrimination at every level, Iranian women have continued their fight for inclusivity.

Edward Lazear On How To Reduce Income Inequality

To address income inequality, we need to focus on improving the skills at the bottom of the income distribution.

Josh Rauh Warns Why Taxpayers Will Have To Bail Out Public Pensions

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.

Michael Auslin On Spying And National Security

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

Peter Berkowitz On The Prevention Of Abuses Of Power

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

Adam White On How The Unelected Judiciary Prevents The Tyranny Of The Majority

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

John Cogan Tells Us How To Think About Entitlements

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

Michael Boskin On When A Tax Cut Isn't Actually A Tax Cut

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.

Terry Anderson Asks Who Washes A Rental Car?

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