The Cato Institute

Liberals and conservatives may differ on policies, but both seek to use government to impose their values. Libertarians, however, argue for minimizing government intervention in all areas.

Libertarian Consistency Liberal and conservative perspectives are the same in one key respect: both advocate using government to impose particular values.

The US maritime industry is faltering precisely because of government intervention. With US shipbuilding ranking 15th globally and high costs driving up prices, it’s clear that outdated policies like the Jones Act are failing us.

U.S. Maritime Policy Needs an Overhaul - War on the Rocks U.S. maritime policy is a grievous failure. Whether evaluated in terms of effectively meeting national security requirements or bolstering the country’s

Contrary to much media coverage, most school districts have not been wracked by “book-banning” blowups. Yes, there is a deeper polarization when analyzed at the national level but local control of public schooling seems to be mitigating their spread.

New Survey: Polarization Is Deep, But Localism Might Be Averting Book “Banning” Battles The survey indicates that book conflicts are not as prevalent as they might seem from frequent media reports, but differences about what books are appropriate for schools are very real.

Why has the Electoral College lasted so long despite its disadvantages? And how does its current operation differ from what the Framers may have intended?

Why Is the Electoral College Such a Durable Institution? The Electoral College is out of favor these days not only among scholars and commentators but also with the general public. Why has it endured for so long despite the discontent?

Mandating in vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage through government intervention may drive up insurance premiums for everyone. This approach could exacerbate inefficiencies and force taxpayers to foot the bill.

Trump Proposes to Socialize IVF For someone who has referred to Kamala Harris as a “socialist lunatic,” this is more than a little hypocritical.

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowered taxes for individuals and businesses until the end of 2025, boosting economic growth. Starting in 2026, Americans will face an automatic 8% tax increase, totaling over $400 billion annually.

To avoid an 8% tax hike in 2026, Adam Michel presents a visionary tax plan to lower income, capital gains, and corporate tax rates, while removing $1.4 trillion in tax loopholes and subsidies.

Slashing Tax Rates and Cutting Loopholes Congress has an unprecedented opportunity to cut tax rates to their lowest level in almost a century.

The US military's anti-Houthi campaign in Yemen has failed to bring stability or success. Why are we still involved?

The U.S. Military's Anti-Houthi Campaign Still Isn't Working American forces play whack-a-mole in the Red Sea while the Biden administration ignores addressing the conflict’s origins

Government claims are making patients seem sicker than they are, driving up Medicare costs. And guess who’s paying? You.

Opinion | You Aren’t as Sick as Government Claims Give Medicare money directly to patients to solve ‘upcoding.’

Brazil’s government is attempting to advance tolerance, freedom, and democracy by being intolerant, suppressing freedom, and cutting off democratic debate. It’s totally banned X from the country.

Brazil’s Judicial Authoritarians Ban X, Punish Their Citizens, Threaten American Investors—Where Is US Response? Brazil’s suppression of X, its citizens, and international investors ought to be met with a pro-expression response from the US. A formal diplomatic repudiation should be easy enough.

US law enforcement relies heavily on deception in interrogations, but the consequences often are severe: false confessions, wrongful convictions, and lost public trust.
What measures should policymakers consider to curtail police deception?

Broken Trust While at times an effective tool, deception is ethically dubious and can result in severe negative consequences for suspects.

As of May 2024, there were 600,000 open manufacturing jobs in the US.

And although a new Cato poll shows that 80% think the US would be better off if more Americans worked in manufacturing, only 25% said they would personally be better off in a factory job compared to their current work.

Americans Think Increased Manufacturing Employment Would Be Good for the Country but Not for Themselves A recent Cato Institute–commissioned poll found that while a large majority think more Americans should be employed in manufacturing, most respondents have little personal interest in such jobs.

August 2024 saw a very large number of arms sales but none were for Taiwan—Taiwan is still waiting for $20.5 billion of US weapons.

Taiwan Arms Backlog, August 2024 Update August 2024 was a very active month for arms sales, but the Taiwan arms sale backlog was unchanged from last month.

Kamala Harris’s plan to ban so-called “corporate price gouging” reveals ignorance of economics and the basics of how grocery stores operate.

Harris's Price-Control Free Plan to Control Grocery Store Prices Featuring Scott Lincicome and Caleb O. Brown

Former President Trump’s plan for government-funded in vitro fertilization (IVF) raises concerns about cost, efficiency, and personal choice. While IVF is beneficial for many, this approach is not the best solution.

Trump’s IVF Plan Is a Mistake Protecting IVF from regulations that limit its efficacy is a good idea; subsidizing or mandating coverage is not.

The US-China relationship is the most important and complex bilateral relationship in the world today.

According to a recent Cato survey, 55% of Americans agree that “US trading with China helps increase global stability and peace,” compared to 45% who disagree.

What Americans Think about Trade with China—and Trade More Broadly In light of the increasingly contentious nature of the US-China relationship, it is worth examining Americans’ views about economic ties between the two countries.

Amid modern conflicts, Mustafa Akyol’s new book “The Islamic Moses” sheds light on the long, often positive history between Islam and Judaism. A story of hope and respect.

The Islamic Moses: The Key to the Judeo-Islamic Tradition At a time of bitter conflict in the Middle East, The Islamic Moses dives into the older, deeper, and often unexpectedly brighter story of Jews and Muslims.

It’s time to retire the old benefit formula and replace it with one that addresses the realities of 2024 rather than those that existed in 1935 when Social Security was introduced.

Social Security at 89: Time to Retire the Old Benefit Formula We should take a more holistic approach to reform.

A new Cato Institute survey of 1,500 people in key swing states (Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin) shows Americans are tired of the current US foreign policy. Could public opinion on foreign policy impact the election outcome? https://www.cato.org/blog/new-poll-wi-pa-mi-voters-believe-us-too-involved-foreign-wars-world-affairs-most-worry-were

Universal school choice in Arizona isn't a giveaway for the rich—it's a victory for all families, ensuring every child can access quality education, regardless of income.

Universal School Choice in Arizona: Not a Giveaway to the Rich There has been a revolution in school choice over the past few years. After decades of slowly creating programs focused on students from low-income families, with disabilities, or assigned to public schools with poor academic outcomes, we have seen an explosion of “universal” programs that place...

In the 2024 campaign, the presidency itself is the problem.
The modern presidency by its very nature is a divider, not a uniter.

Gene Healy’s book "The Cult of the Presidency" reveals the dangers and offers insights on limiting presidential power for the sake of domestic tranquility.

The Cult of the Presidency The modern presidency has become the central fault line of polarization in America because the president, increasingly, has the power to reshape vast swaths of American life, and “We, the People” are to blame.

Europe is reliant on US military power and lacks strategic autonomy. Europe should take greater responsibility for its own defense and invest more in its military capabilities, say Justin Logan and Joshua Shifrinson.

A Post-American Europe It’s time for Washington to Europeanize NATO and give up responsibility for the continent’s security.

The DEA's stringent regulations on pain medications have driven many patients to use dangerous street drugs.

If Opiates Are Killing Americans, Why Won't the FDA Let Us Try an Alternative? As the DEA relentlessly tightens regulations on pain meds, the FDA refuses to approve a safer alternative already being used in similar countries.

Former President Trump recently said that a tariff is a tax on a foreign country, not on Americans.
Actually, Americans bore the brunt of his tariffs—and would do so again if he is reelected and fulfills his campaign pledge to impose more aggressive protectionism.

Americans Paid for the Trump Tariffs—and Would Do So Again Despite former President Trump’s claims to the contrary, there is overwhelming evidence that Americans bore the brunt of his tariffs—and would do so again if he is reelected and fulfills his campaign pledge to impose more aggressive protectionism.

It’s been two years since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law. Cato's Travis Fisher estimates that the IRA will cost more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years and between $2 trillion and $4 trillion by 2050.

The Inflation Reduction Act after Two Years: Spending Estimates Reach New Heights, but Green New Deal Supporters Want More The uncapped runaway spending in the Inflation Reduction Act is still not enough for supporters of the Green New Deal.

The idea of Social Security as an “earned benefit” is a comforting myth. In reality, it's a pay-as-you-go system where today's workers fund today's benefits.

Five Reasons Why Social Security Is an Income Transfer Program, Not an "Earned Benefit" With younger workers increasingly on the hook for rising benefit costs, effective policy reforms must build on the understanding that Social Security is an income transfer program, not an “earned benefit.”

Is France’s move to detain Telegram’s CEO a sign of growing state control over digital communication?

France Detains Telegram Founder Pavel Durov By detaining Pavel Durov, France threatens Telegram’s unique neutrality.

Contemporary DEI is based on a divisive and restrictive ideology often called critical social justice. Can such an ideology coexist with science‐​driven medical education? Dr. Jeff Singer and Erec Smith argue equality in medical education means judging candidates on their merits, not their identities.

Discrimination and Identity Politics Have No Place in Medical Education Viewing patients not as individuals but as members of a group is hazardous not only to individuals’ health but also to society’s health.

In US v. Alaska, a federal court ruled that the executive branch can create offices without Congress. This misinterpretation risks eroding checks and balances. Our amicus brief urges the Ninth Circuit to reverse this decision.

Only Congress Can Create a Federal Office A district court wrongly held that the executive branch can create a new federal board on its initiative. The Ninth Circuit should correct that mistake.