In June of 1930 President Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Act. This Act imposed steep tariffs on over 20,000 different goods that Americans imported from other countries. As of its time, it was one of the largest tax increases in history. It was also one of...
The business guru Peter Drucker is credited with the notion that “if you can’t measure something you can’t manage it”. Using this logic in reverse, perhaps the best way to thwart the misplaced attempts to manage global economic trade is to stop measuring it.
After all,...
A Supreme Court case to be decided by the end of June could require California residents to pay taxes to a variety states, counties, cities and even mosquito abatement districts across the country.
South Dakota v. Wayfair is a case that asks whether there are limits on...
In 2017, there were 46 new novel drug innovations, including new treatments for cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and serious skin infections. These innovations are essential for improving the quality of health care in the U.S. However, innovation is not sufficient. It is equally imperative to promote drug...
Incentives drive all economic activity. Unfortunately, far too many of the incentives that underlie the U.S. health care sector discourage quality and encourage excessive costs.
Our current health insurance system exemplifies this problem. The disincentives created by the way the U.S. health insurance industry operates arise...
Due to its national implications, last week’s introduction of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) blueprint on drug prices is garnering all the attention. Despite its importance, HHS’ blueprint should not overshadow the many poor, and even unconstitutional, policy proposals that are occurring...
It's not news that the federal government spends too much. This year, the federal government will spend about $30,000 per taxpayer. That doesn't count the public debt — every taxpayers' share is over $145,000 — or unfunded liabilities like Social Security and Medicare, which add another $600,000...
Less than 32 percent of California voters who went to the polls on Election Day in 2016 pulled the lever for Donald Trump. These “deplorables” are probably delighted that Hillary Clinton isn’t president and pleased in general with how Trump has governed. Trump’s trade policies,...
Health care is becoming less affordable every year. Over the past 10 years, national healthcare expenditures have grown 45 percent, but our economy has grown only 28 percent.
This isn't sustainable; and, solving this problem should be a top policy priority. However, “rounding up the usual...
New research indicates that coffee might help cut the risk of heart disease. Apparently, that was taken as good news everywhere -- except California. Four days after that study was published, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a preliminary ruling that forces stores that...
From Hooverville To Trumpville
In June of 1930 President Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Act. This Act imposed steep tariffs on over 20,000 different goods that Americans imported from other countries. As of its time, it was one of the largest tax increases in history. It was also one of...
Tariffs Are A Clear and Present Danger To The U.S. Economy
The business guru Peter Drucker is credited with the notion that “if you can’t measure something you can’t manage it”. Using this logic in reverse, perhaps the best way to thwart the misplaced attempts to manage global economic trade is to stop measuring it. After all,...
Will California Residents Begin Paying North Dakota Taxes Too?
A Supreme Court case to be decided by the end of June could require California residents to pay taxes to a variety states, counties, cities and even mosquito abatement districts across the country. South Dakota v. Wayfair is a case that asks whether there are limits on...
Embracing Competition To Empower Biosimilars
In 2017, there were 46 new novel drug innovations, including new treatments for cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and serious skin infections. These innovations are essential for improving the quality of health care in the U.S. However, innovation is not sufficient. It is equally imperative to promote drug...
The High Costs of Cost Sharing Insurance
Incentives drive all economic activity. Unfortunately, far too many of the incentives that underlie the U.S. health care sector discourage quality and encourage excessive costs. Our current health insurance system exemplifies this problem. The disincentives created by the way the U.S. health insurance industry operates arise...
Pharmaceutical Price Controls Will Not Improve Health Care Outcomes in Illinois
Due to its national implications, last week’s introduction of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) blueprint on drug prices is garnering all the attention. Despite its importance, HHS’ blueprint should not overshadow the many poor, and even unconstitutional, policy proposals that are occurring...
Federal Government Must Revamp Spending To Maximize Economic Growth
It's not news that the federal government spends too much. This year, the federal government will spend about $30,000 per taxpayer. That doesn't count the public debt — every taxpayers' share is over $145,000 — or unfunded liabilities like Social Security and Medicare, which add another $600,000...
If California Wants to Resist, Let’s Start with Trade Policy
Less than 32 percent of California voters who went to the polls on Election Day in 2016 pulled the lever for Donald Trump. These “deplorables” are probably delighted that Hillary Clinton isn’t president and pleased in general with how Trump has governed. Trump’s trade policies,...
Creating an Affordable Health Care System Requires More than Rounding Up the Usual Suspects
Health care is becoming less affordable every year. Over the past 10 years, national healthcare expenditures have grown 45 percent, but our economy has grown only 28 percent. This isn't sustainable; and, solving this problem should be a top policy priority. However, “rounding up the usual...
Warning Labels on Coffee? Latest Junk Lawsuit ‘Win’
New research indicates that coffee might help cut the risk of heart disease. Apparently, that was taken as good news everywhere -- except California. Four days after that study was published, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a preliminary ruling that forces stores that...