Publications -- Brief Analysis

Restricted to two letter-size pages, a Brief Analysis summarizes some aspect or aspects of a public policy issue, presenting points for consideration in policy debates or responding to points that have been raised during these debates.

Jan 19, 2009

BA #639 – Regulating Work in Confined Spaces

Since its inception in 1970, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been criticized for imposing large costs on businesses while producing only minimal improvements in workplace safety. OSHA is now required to show that the benefits of a proposed regulation outweigh the costs of complying with it. However, OSHA’s cost-benefit analysis is often flawed.

Dec 17, 2008

BA #638 – Retirement Account Reforms: Good and Bad

Since January 2008, 401(k) account balances have dropped up to 25 percent, on average, leaving millions of workers and retirees worried about the future of their retirement savings. Congress and President-elect Obama are considering changes to 401(k)s and other retirement accounts in response to the market turmoil. Which proposals are good ideas to improve retirement savings, and which would make matters worse?

Dec 10, 2008

BA #637 – Lights Out for Thomas Edison

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will soon ban the most common light bulbs in the United States.  New efficiency standards will require manufacturers to produce incandescent bulbs that use less energy per unit of light produced, starting with 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012, down to 40-watt bulbs in 2014.

Oct 23, 2008

BA #636 – Beyond No Child Left Behind: Value-Added Assessment of Student Progress

The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires each state to evaluate every public school annually, and to make “adequate yearly progress” toward helping all students meet or exceed state standards in reading and math by 2014. However, each state defines its progress and creates its own tests. Most states measure academic achievement based on pass-fail tests that require students to attain a minimum score.

Oct 21, 2008

BA #635 – Nuclear Renaissance: Atoms to Power the Future

How will America meet its future energy needs? Rising demand for electricity, possible greenhouse gas legislation and U.S. dependence on foreign oil are some of the reasons for concern. These factors, combined with the high cost and relative unreliability of various other alternative energy sources, have forced policymakers to consider nuclear energy once again.

Oct 02, 2008

BA #634 – Regulating Global Warming: Expanding the Authority of the Environmental Protection Agency

In May 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that greenhouse gases meet the definition of an air pollutant in the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responded in 2008 by issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) that explains how the Clean Air Act applies to regulating emissions of greenhouse gases thought to contribute to global warming.

Sep 29, 2008

BA #633 – The Case for Corporate Income Tax Cuts

Globalization and capital mobility are increasing tax competition among countries.  Lower tax rates increase after-tax returns to capital, raising economic growth rates.  They can also make economies more attractive for foreign investment.  Furthermore, lower taxes on capital are generally associated with increased government tax revenues.

Sep 11, 2008

BA #632 – Economic Benefits of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

A free trade agreement commits two or more countries to reduce mutual trade barriers — tariffs, quotas and so forth.  Such agreements give both countries' products an advantage in each other's markets relative to imports from other countries.

Sep 10, 2008

BA #631 – In Order to Extinguish Forest Fires, Don’t Let Logging Burn Out

Federal mismanagement of U.S. forests has increased the number, size and cost of wildfires over the past decade.  Historically, the national forests have been logged to provide lumber for commercial activities, to promote forest recreation, species protection and management, and to prevent wildfires.

Sep 09, 2008

BA #630 – How to Make Health Insurance Affordable

Public officials and health care experts have recently suggested a number of reforms to reduce the cost of individual health insurance.  However, most of the proposals fail to address the contribution of mandated benefits to the high cost of insurance in many states.