Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Treating Wall Street Like the Mafia

Chris Dodd's Agency for Financial Stability will give too much power to federal regulators

November 20, 2009

Anthony Randazzo

Dodd’s plan for overhauling Wall Street regulations, released last week, includes a proposed new organization: the Agency for Financial Stability (AFS). This new regulator would be tasked with identifying and addressing “systemic risks posed by large, complex companies as well as products and activities that can spread risk across firms.” This represents one piece of the most extensive proposal to reform financial services regulation—topping even the ridiculousness of the Obama plan and Barney Frank plan. Which is saying a lot.

Worse Than Taxes

The real burden of government is the spending level

November 19, 2009

John Stossel

Hidden taxes are more pernicious because they disguise what we pay for government. We blame merchants, not our legislators, for the high price of gasoline, liquor, cigarettes, and phone calls, but the money goes to the political thieves.

Bernanke's Philosopher

The Fed chairman is portrayed as a follower of John Maynard Keynes, but his real inspiration is Milton Friedman

November 17, 2009

Penn Bullock

These days, the media have taken to calling him a Keynesian—a believer in fiscal stimulus and the mixed economy. “We are all Keynesians again,” the liberal Washington Monthly headlined a January 2009 feature on the Fed chief. In reality, Bernanke is following a monetarist depression-prevention model laid out by Nobel laureate and libertarian patron saint Milton Friedman.

Where's That Inflation?

The monetary base has ballooned, yet inflation remains far off. Or does it?

November 17, 2009

Veronique de Rugy

Inflation is not only a monetary phenomenon but also a political one. Which makes it that much more difficult to predict, much less control.

New at Reason: Louisiana Provides Model for Closing Budget Deficit

November 17, 2009, 12:36pm

Leonard Gilroy

Arizona policymakers face a simple choice: remain lost in the fiscal forest with California or follow the lead of Louisiana, which is blazing a trail out.

Private Prisons a Smart Strategy for Arizona

Prison privatization opponents rely on myths, not facts

November 17, 2009

Leonard Gilroy

With prison capacity needs growing and budgets shrinking, a greater reliance on private prisons is a sensible strategy for Arizona.

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