Hoover Institution Summer Policy Boot Camp

This week the Hoover Institution welcomes the Class of 2023! Students and young professionals join us on campus for the Summer Policy Boot Camp - an intensive, residential immersion program designed to teach participants the essentials of today's national and international United States policy and how to think critically about public policy formulation and its results.

The Hoover Institution's Summer Policy Boot Camp is an intensive, four-day residential immersion program intended to instruct college students and recent graduates on the economic, political, and social aspects of United States public policy. The deadline for early-bird registration is January 17, apply today: https://hvr.co/3DhmbZc

The Hoover Institution hosted its fifth annual Summer Policy Boot Camp from August 15 to 19, 2021, hosting nearly 60 university students and recent graduates for four days of intensive sessions covering a diverse set of public policy disciplines.

Hoover Institution Hosts Fifth Annual Summer Policy Boot Camp

We are looking forward to welcoming the 2021 class to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University next week for this year's Summer Policy Boot Camp. During the four days, students will have the opportunity to hear from our scholars as well as engage in a question and answer session with each scholar. This program is designed to engage and foster fact-based critical thinking in interactive seminar-style sessions on the most important policy issues of today.

Politicians and bureaucrats continue to favor ineffective and costly regulations to mitigate the effects of climate change. But there is an alternative approach: human beings adapting to climate change in the face of changing prices. Government policies should focus on clarifying the true costs of climate change, allowing people to understand their future and make decisions based on clear price signals. Learn more via PolicyEd:

Adapting to Climate Change Published August 3, 2021 Politicians and bureaucrats continue to favor costly regulations to mitigate the effects of climate change. But there is an alternative approach: human beings adapting to climate change in the face of changing prices. Government policies should focus on clarifying the true c...

When it comes to economic policy, many policy makers find it beneficial to be inconsistent. Discretionary policy makes it easy for policy makers to do whatever they want, whenever they want. Instead, they should follow a rules-based policy, leading to greater accountability, predictability, and consistency over time. Learn more via PolicyEd:

John Taylor Defends a Rules-Based Monetary Policy Published August 5, 2021 When it comes to economic policy, many policy makers find it beneficial to be inconsistent. Discretionary policy makes it easy for policy makers to do whatever they want, whenever they want. Instead, they should follow a rules-based policy, leading to greater accountability,...

Hoover Institution research fellow David Henderson answers your most pressing questions about good and bad inequality from his video "The Inequality We Should Worry About." Click here to learn more:

The Difference Between Good and Bad Inequality: Office Hours with David Henderson Hoover Institution research fellow David Henderson answers your most pressing questions about good and bad inequality from his video "The Inequality We Should Worry About." [0:24] What is the difference between good and bad inequality? How can some inequality be good? [1:12] Do you have any estimate...

New research indicates that targeted household debt relief helps the economy recover. Defaulting on loans creates a negative domino effect on the economy, but during the 2008 recession, household debt relief was vital in stabilizing housing prices and employment. The 2020 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the economy, but targeted debt relief could help get the economy back on track. Learn more from PolicyEd:

Debt Relief and Economic Recovery Published July 28, 2021 New research indicates that targeted household debt relief helps the economy recover. Defaulting on loans creates a negative domino effect on the economy, but during the 2008 recession, household debt relief was vital in stabilizing housing prices and employment. The 2020 pan...

In 1688, England underwent an economic revolution that dramatically changed it's government. New rules limiting the behaviors of the sovereign meant the government could no longer take private property without consequences. Yet even in modern times, not all nations have learned that to innovate and flourish, a credible commitment to protect property rights is required, and that requires institutions to check those in power. Learn more via PolicyEd:

Credible Commitments: A Key to Economic Progress Published July 21, 2021 England’s Glorious Revolution of 1688 underscores the need for an independent judiciary, an open market, and institutions that protect private property rights. England underwent an economic revolution when changes to the rules governing the behavior of the sovereign meant t...

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. To learn more, click here:

Elizabeth Economy expounds on U.S. Foreign Policy Relation with China Published July 15, 2021 The dramatic shift in China's domestic and foreign policies under Xi Jinping directly challenges America’s values and interests. The American foreign policy community’s understanding of China’s intentions and capabilities has led to a rethink and a reset of our foreign ...

Policy makers have continued to support tax hikes on high earners in the hope of resolving budget shortfalls. But people respond to changes in tax rates. Tax rate increases in California led many high earners to move, bringing in less revenue than expected. To learn more, click here:

Tax Flight: Behavioral Responses to State Income Taxation Published: June 29, 2021 Policy makers have continued to support tax hikes on high earners in the hope of resolving budget shortfalls. But people respond to changes in tax rates. Tax rate increases in California led many high earners to move, bringing in less revenue than expected. Discussion Questi...

Despite schools’ having more funding, smaller class sizes, and teachers with higher degrees, student achievement isn’t improving like it should. School choice can remedy this issue by granting parents the ability to send their children to the schools of their choice. Consequently, it generates healthy competition among schools, leading to improvements in school quality and better outcomes for students. Learn more via PolicyEd:

Why Choice Improves Public Education Published: July 6, 2021 Despite schools’ having more funding, smaller class sizes, and teachers with higher degrees, student achievement isn’t improving like it should. School choice can remedy this issue by granting parents the ability to send their children to the schools of their choice. Cons...

State and local officials continue to face significant budget challenges that predate the pandemic. What are these budget challenges and what can state lawmakers do to address them?

State Budget Woes In March 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan. The $1.9 trillion bill included over $300 billion in assistance to state and local governments. Lawmakers hoped the subsidies would help states, counties, and cities manage the COVID-19 pandemic while hastening the economic recovery.

People are imperfect. Well-meaning people may make mistakes, and ill-intentioned people may abuse government power. We need a constitution to establish decision-making rules when there are conflicts, so that disputes brought on by imperfect people can be resolved fairly and consistently.

John Yoo Asks, “Why Do We Need a Constitution?” Published June 22, 2021 People are imperfect. Well-meaning people may make mistakes, and ill-intentioned people may abuse government power. We need a constitution to establish decision-making rules when there are conflicts, so that disputes brought on by imperfect people can be resolved fairly and c...

Is the Electoral College antidemocratic? The Founders rejected the direct election of the president in order to balance individual liberty against majority rule. In addition, the Electoral College encourages candidates to widen their campaigns and reach out to voters across the nation, leading to less partisanship. To learn more, click here:

By Constitutional Design: The Electoral College Published: June 24, 2021 Is the Electoral College antidemocratic? The Founders rejected the direct election of the president in order to balance individual liberty against majority rule. In addition, the Electoral College encourages candidates to widen their campaigns and reach out to voters across....

From pipeline hacks leading to gasoline shortages to disinformation campaigns during elections, cyberattacks are becoming a more frequent source of disruption in people’s lives. Finding the right responses to these attacks isn’t obvious. Can we take lessons from traditional warfare, or do cyberattacks demand an entirely different response?

Cybersecurity From pipeline hacks leading to gasoline shortages to disinformation campaigns during elections, cyberattacks are becoming a more frequent source of disruption in people’s lives.

The current regulatory structure for banking services in the United States represents a set of accumulated responses to a history of financial crises, political events, and personalities among a broad array of industry and governmental units. History has shown that banks are not immune even to minute economic shocks. However, regulating the banking system to prevent insolvency is not always ideal.

To learn more, watch "Banks, Regulations, and the Financial Crisis with Amit Seru" from the 2019 Summer Policy Boot Camp.

Chapter One: A Brief History of Banking and Regulations Published: June 15, 2021 The current regulatory structure for banking services in the United States represents a set of accumulated responses to a history of financial crises, political events, and personalities among a broad array of industry and governmental units. History has shown that banks are...

Hoover Institution senior fellow H.R. McMaster answers the most frequently asked questions from his video series “The Fight to Defend the Free World.”

The Case for American Engagement Abroad: Office Hours with H.R. McMaster Hoover Institution senior fellow H.R. McMaster answers the most frequently asked questions from his video series “The Fight to Defend the Free World.” [0:47] If the United States is interested in peace, why does our military remain engaged abroad? And why do we continue to build up our military?...

A 2019 experiment by Hoover Institution senior fellow Larry Diamond shows that Americans have not given up on democracy, but restoring faith in our system will require an intentional effort to engage with people who hold opposing viewpoints. Click here to learn more:

Don't Give Up on Democracy Published June 8, 2021 In 2019, Americans from across to country gathered in Texas to discover whether people from a variety of backgrounds could have civil discussions about important and controversial policy issues. When assembled in small groups and provided with unbiased briefing papers, partici...

Strategy is more than just a plan. It is a clear purpose, plus the methods used to accomplish the goal. Loss of precision in the word strategy has encouraged the West to adopt a narcissistic approach to national security. Without a strong strategic foundation, it is impossible to make progress toward our objectives. To learn more, click here:

H. R. McMaster Explains What It Means to Have a Strategy Published June 1, 2021 Strategy is more than just a plan. It is a clear purpose, plus the methods used to accomplish the goal. Loss of precision in the word strategy has encouraged the West to adopt a narcissistic approach to national security. Without a strong strategic foundation, it is impossible...

From preserving the national defense to securing individual rights, the government has its own set of duties that only it can perform. But lately, the government is doing more activities than necessary. The result is poor performance and inefficiency.

When the Government Does Too Much Published: June 03, 2021 From preserving the national defense to securing individual rights, the government has its own set of duties that only it can perform. However, because the government is doing more activities than necessary, it performs many of its functions poorly. That leads to inefficienc...

Student loan debt won’t go away on its own, but untargeted forgiveness is not the answer. Across-the-board loan cancelation would undermine existing forgiveness programs and would primarily benefit well-off Americans. Targeted student loan assistance is a better way to benefit the people who actually need the most help.

Poorly Targeted: Student Loan Forgiveness Published May 25, 2021 Student loan debt won’t go away on its own, but untargeted forgiveness is not the answer. Across-the-board loan cancelation would undermine existing forgiveness programs and would primarily benefit well-off Americans. Targeted student loan assistance is a better way to benef...

Resisting China’s sharp-power activities will require the democracies of the world to make clear that they can function transparently and effectively. Failure to show the strength of democracy will make it difficult in the long run to counter China’s global power ambitions. To learn more, click here:

Larry Diamond Calls on Democracies to Resist China’s Global Power Published May 20, 2021 Resisting China’s sharp-power activities will require the democracies of the world to make clear that they can function transparently and effectively. Failure to show the strength of democracy will make it difficult in the long run to counter China’s global power ambitions...

Niall Ferguson puts the 2020 pandemic into perspective and explains why we are getting worse, not better, at handling disasters. To learn more, click here:

Lessons of History for a Post-COVID America Published May 18, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic spread like wildfire and left devastation in its wake. While disasters are inherently hard to predict, there are lessons we should learn from the worldwide response to the coronavirus. Niall Ferguson talks about how to handle the next crisis better and av...

The Chinese model of government combines economic freedom with political repression, all in the name of control. Despite its apparent success, the model isn’t as viable as many people believe. The Chinese Communist Party embraces markets enough to provide some economic opportunities, but because it uses its influence to suppress the political freedoms of its people, the absence of democracy encourages corruption and constrains healthy economic growth. To learn more, click here:

The China Model: Not One to Emulate Published May 11, 2021 The Chinese model of economic freedom and political repression in the name of control isn’t as successful as many believe. The Chinese Communist Party has embraced markets enough to provide some economic opportunities, but it uses its influence to suppress the political free...

The world is an extraordinarily better place than it was just a couple of centuries ago. Freer societies and more robust economies are on the rise. Free markets have their critics, but the long-term trend toward increased freedom and higher standards of living give us reason to be optimistic about the future. To learn more, click here:

The Growth of Freedom Published: May 11, 2021 The world is an extraordinarily better place than it was just a couple of centuries ago. Notably, free societies with more robust economies have been on the rise. There is reason to be optimistic as the long-term trend toward more freedom and a higher standard of living conti...

Stimulus checks add billions to the federal debt, eventually leading to higher taxes. Short-run assistance can be justified on humanitarian grounds, but it should be focused on small businesses and individuals who have suffered hardship from government-imposed lockdowns. To learn more, click here:

The Truth About Stimulus Checks Stimulus checks add billions to the federal debt, ensuring future taxes and discouraging individuals and businesses from spending money they’ll need in the future. Short-run assistance can be justified on humanitarian grounds and should be focused on small businesses and individuals who have suffe...

David Leal explains how the Latino segment of the US electorate fits into the political landscape. To learn more, click here:

Chapter One: Will More Immigrants Change Electoral Outcomes? Published: May 6, 2021 Although many believe that minority and immigrant voters will realign national politics in a progressive direction, the reality is more complicated. In fact, the political future of America is not predetermined by demographic changes. While voters may be diversifying, the chan...

Strategic thinking requires that we consider more than just our own actions. Otherwise, we fall into what H. R. McMaster calls strategic narcissism. We should view foreign policy challenges from the perspectives of our rivals, using strategic empathy to achieve a more effective foreign policy. To learn more, click here:

H. R. McMaster Advises on How to Overcome Strategic Narcissism Published April 29, 2021 In order to overcome strategic narcissism, we must begin viewing foreign policy challenges from the perspectives of our adversaries. Promoting prosperity and advancing American influence in the world will require us to integrate all elements of national power and the efforts...

When bad things happen to our economy, we look to elected leaders for solutions. Almost always, politicians respond by mandating lower prices or higher wages. But artificially manipulating these conditions, even with good intentions, often makes things worse.

The Problem With Wage and Price Controls: Lessons from the 1970s Published: April 27, 2021 During an economic decline, the first response from many politicians is to manipulate market-based prices or wages. However, history has repeatedly shown that artificially manipulating prices to in order to solve political problems only leads to detrimental shortages, job l...