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.

Apr 20, 1994

BA #105 – Medical Savings Accounts The Private Sector Already Has Them

All across the country, private employers are discovering a new way of controlling health care costs. It works so well that at some companies health care costs are actually going down. The secret: giving employees incentives.

Apr 15, 1994

BA #106 – The Crime Bill

Responding to polls that show crime to be the number one concern of Americans, Congress is about to act. What is certain to emerge is a bill providing for spending between $15 billion and $22 billion over the next five years.

Apr 07, 1994

BA #104 – Price Controls and Global Budgets: Lessons from Canada

Canada tries to control health care spending with price caps and global budgets similar to those proposed by President Clinton. How well does the Canadian health care system work? Not bad - as long as you're not sick.

Feb 14, 1994

BA #103 – The Myth of Universal Coverage

In his State of the Union address, President Clinton said he would veto any health care bill that does not create "universal health insurance coverage." If so, the President would have to veto his own bill. Neither the President's plan nor any other proposal that requires individuals to pay part of their own health insurance premiums will cause everyone to be insured.

Feb 07, 1994

BA #102 – Will Banning Assault Weapons Reduce Crime?

As part of its anticrime plan, the Clinton administration is endorsing a ban on the importation, manufacture, sale and possession of "assault weapons." Yet if passed, this legislation would do nothing to reduce the crime rate. Instead, it would give the American people the erroneous impression that the federal government was doing something serious about crime.

Jan 26, 1994

BA #101 – Does Punishment Matter?

The myth that punishment has failed to deter crime is being advanced by those who argue that we imprison more and more people without a significant reduction in crime. The facts say otherwise. From 1950 to 1974 " a period during which imprisonment for serious crime declined sharply " the crime rate soared. In 1974, the rate of imprisonment began increasing and, as a result, the crime rate leveled off in the 1980s and has actually declined in recent years. Still, the rate of serious crime remains distressingly high.