Reason Foundation

Email Updates

Get weekly updates from Reason.

Today's Top Topics

77 Percent of Americans Oppose Raising the Gas Tax, Reason-Rupe Transportation Poll Finds
Banks Viewed Twice as Favorably as the Federal Government, Reason-Rupe Poll Finds
How the IPCC Reports Mislead the Public, Exaggerate the Negative Impacts of Climate Change and Ignore the Benefits of Economic Growth

Economy and Economics

"Thank goodness for Reason.... one sane voice fighting tons of nonsense."

John Stossel, ABC's 20/20

"Reason Foundation’s tolerance, civility, and consistency in defending individual liberty make it a haven for believers in a free society of all shades of opinion."
Milton Friedman, Nobel Laureate in Economics

"Reason has excellent discussions of economic, political, and social issues. It does not simply assume the case for free markets and free choice, but persuades readers with careful analysis."
Gary S. Becker, Nobel Laureate in Economics

Recent Research and Commentary

Housing Bubble Over? Hardly

February 9, 2012, 2:20pm

Anthony Randazzo

I would expect we'll see prices fade past the "fair value" level that we are nearly back to on a national level, before hitting bottom. I also don't think it is possible to reach a natural bottom with all of the government subsidy money for housing finance still in the system. Even if we bottom out by the end of 2012, since housing finance reform won't be completed by then, it will be a false bottom and the renewal of another bubble.

Read Full Column

House Passes Legislation Putting the GSEs on Budget

February 8, 2012, 3:41pm

Anthony Randazzo

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on budget. This should be bigger news than anyone is getting it. As the bill (H.R. 3581) would profoundly change the way the government counts its debt, it should at minimum be a topic in the presidential debate.

Read Full Column

Bernanke is Depriving Most Americans from Creating Real Wealth

February 8, 2012, 2:53pm

James Groth

In a commentary published today, I argue that Bernanke’s Fed policies are harming 90 percent of Americans while benefitting a wealthy few. Beyond punishing savers and rewarding borrowers, his policies are aggregating more wealth to individuals already holding significant amounts of it.

Read Full Column

What Has Ben Bernanke Done For You Lately?

Why the Federal Reserve’s Policies Aren’t Helping a Majority of Americans

February 8, 2012

James Groth

As the Federal Reserve continues its easy money policies, many Americans are wondering why they aren't seeing the benefits from this move. This begs the question as to whether Fed Chair Ben Bernanke should alter his monetary policies.

Read Full Column

More on Fairness

February 7, 2012, 6:13pm

Anthony Randazzo

We have discussed a number of times on the blog the fact that complaints about the rich not paying their "fair share" lack a definition of fairness. Fairness in some ways is a subjective question. That is why we need a clear standard by which we think it is the most appropriate way to collect taxes before we can determine how that tax burden will be shared by society. Picking up on the questioning of fairness theme, Steve Moore has a list of fairness questions in his WSJ op-ed today. Here are a few highlights.

Read Full Column

Unemployment at 8.3 Percent Not What It Seems

February 6, 2012, 2:07pm

Anthony Randazzo

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its unemployment number for January last Friday and the headline came in at 8.3 percent. Let's be clear—that's not a bad thing. Especially being down from 9.1 percent last year. And it sure is going to make it challenging for the Republican's to criticize President Obama's economic prowess. But once again, this unemployment report is not all that great when digging behind the headline statistic.