Government Reform 
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, 2009Dodd’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, 2009Hidden 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, 2009These 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, 2009Inflation 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, 12:36pmArizona 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, 2009With prison capacity needs growing and budgets shrinking, a greater reliance on private prisons is a sensible strategy for Arizona.
View Resources by Type
StudiesBlog PostsOp-EdsReason.comReason.tv
- Fixing the Regulation of Wall Street
A review of the Obama administration's proposal for reforming financial services regulation and recommendations to end the era of too big to fail
Policy Study 377
Anthony Randazzo
September 14, 2009 - Gridlock and Growth: The Effect of Traffic Congestion on Regional Economic Performance
How reducing traffic congestion can add billions of dollars in economic growth to local economies
Policy Study 371
David T. Hartgen and M. Gregory Fields
August 27, 2009 - The Future of Too Big to Fail and Bailouts
A comparison of the two plans to overhaul financial services regulation in the 21st Century
Policy Brief 81
Anthony Randazzo
August 17, 2009 - Taxpayer's Guide to the Stimulus
Where is all that stimulus money going?
Anthony Randazzo
June 17, 2009 - California's May 2009 Special Election
Analyzing the Propositions and Offering Alternatives for Real Reform
Policy Brief 79
Adam Summers
May 14, 2009 - The Catastrophe of What Passes for Alcohol Policy Analysis
What costs does alcohol impose on California's taxpayers?
Policy Brief 78
Edward Stringham
May 12, 2009 - Avoiding an American Lost Decade
Lessons from Japan's Bubble and Recession
Anthony Randazzo, Michael Flynn and Adam Summers
February 20, 2009 - California's Spending by the Numbers
A Historic Look at State Spending from Gov. Pete Wilson to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Adam Summers
February 18, 2009 - Analysis of California's Propositions 8: Limits on Marriage
Policy Brief 76
Adam Summers
October 1, 2008 - Analysis of California's Propositions 7 and 10: Renewable Energy Mandates and Handouts
Policy Brief 75
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
October 1, 2008 - The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act: Prison Overcrowding, Parole and Sentencing Reform (Proposition 5)
Policy Brief 74
Skaidra Smith-Heisters
October 1, 2008 - Drowning in Debt: Bond Measures Threaten California's Already Precarious Debt Situation
Policy Brief 73
Adam Summers and Anthony Randazzo
October 1, 2008 - Redistricting in California: Competitive Elections and the Effects of Proposition 11
Policy Brief 72
George Passantino
October 1, 2008 - California General Election: Voter Guide
Policy Brief 71
Adrian Moore and Michael Flynn
October 1, 2008 - California High-Speed Rail Findings at a Glance
Analyzing the impacts of the state's proposed train system
September 18, 2008 - The California High-Speed Rail Proposal: A Due Diligence Report
Policy Study 370
Joseph Vranich, Wendell Cox and Adrian Moore
September 1, 2008 - CSI for Real: How to Improve Forensic Science
Policy Study 364
Roger Koppl
December 1, 2007 - Occupational Licensing: Ranking the States and Exploring Alternatives
Policy Study 361
Adam Summers
August 1, 2007 - Privatizing University Housing
Leonard Gilroy, Laura J. Davis, Sarah F. Anzia and Geoffrey Segal
January 1, 2007 - Propositions 1E and 84
Funding the State's Water and Flood Control Infrastructure
Skaidra Smith-Heisters and Adam Summers
September 1, 2006 - Addressing California's School and University Building Needs
Alternatives to Proposition 1D
Lisa Snell
September 1, 2006 - The Bond Propositions on California's November Ballot
Where Would the Money Be Spent?
Adrian Moore
September 1, 2006 - Enabling Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation in California
George Passantino
September 1, 2006 - A Pocket Guide to Propositions on California's November 2006 Ballot
George Passantino
September 1, 2006 - Undermining the Future
Problems with November's Bond Initiatives, and Alternatives
Adrian Moore, George Passantino and Adam Summers
September 1, 2006 - Driving More Money into the Classroom
The Promise of Shared Services
William D. Eggers, Lisa Snell, Robert Wavra and Adrian Moore
October 1, 2005 - The Sky Isn't Falling in Colorado
Proven Strategies for Budget
Geoffrey Segal and Adam Summers
October 1, 2005 - The Gathering Pension Storm
How Government Pension Plans are Breaking the Bank and Strategies for Reform
George Passantino and Adam Summers
June 16, 2005 - California's K-12 Education Primer
Lisa Snell
May 1, 2005 - Offshoring and Public Fear
Assessing the Real Threat to Jobs
Ted Balaker and Adrian Moore
May 1, 2005 - Making Florida's Government Competitive
Geoffrey Segal
April 1, 2005 - How to Tackle Some of LA's Problems
March 2, 2005 - Virginia Spending and Budget Reform
Geoffrey Segal
February 1, 2005 - Priority Colorado
Balancing the Budget While Preserving TABOR and Colorado's
Geoffrey Segal, George Passantino, Adam Summers, Lisa Snell and Tarren R. Bragdon
February 1, 2005 - Easing California's Transportation Crisis with Tolls and Public-Private Partnerships
Robert Poole and Peter Samuel
January 1, 2005 - What's in the Government's Attic?
John Palatiello
December 1, 2004 - Expanding Slot Gaming in California
A Business Analysis
Jeffrey C. Hooke and Thomas A. Firey
October 1, 2004 - Exposing the Myths and Realities of Competitive Sourcing
Geoffrey Segal, Ade Ifelayo and Chandra Pesheck
August 1, 2004 - San Diego Citizens' Budget Plan
June 1, 2004 - Private Competition for Public Services
Unfinished Agenda in New York
E.J. McMahon, Adrian Moore and Geoffrey Segal
December 1, 2003 - Roadmap to Reform for California
George Passantino, Carl DeMaio, Kathleen Connell, Matt Fong, Bill Jones, Bill Baker and Lucy Killea
August 1, 2003 - Child Advocacy Centers
One Stop on the Road to Performance-based Child Protection
Lisa Snell
June 1, 2003 - Citizens' Budget
How to Balance CA Budget without Tax Increases
Carl DeMaio, Adrian Moore, Adam Summers, Geoffrey Segal, Lisa Snell, Vincent Badolato and George Passantino
April 1, 2003 - Clearing the Air in California
Adrian Moore and Joel Schwartz
March 1, 2003 - The Salinas Utility Users Tax
Necessary Revenue Source or Government Waste?
Geoffrey Segal and Adam Summers
October 1, 2002 - Designing a Performance-based Competitive Sourcing Process for the Federal Government
37 Proposed Changes to Regulations and Approaches to Competing and Outsourcing Commercial Activities in Government
Carl DeMaio, Adrian Moore and Vincent Badolato
October 1, 2002 - How to Navigate the Politics of Privatization
Robin A. Johnson
July 1, 2002 - Citizen's Budget Reports
Improving Performance and Accountability in Government
Geoffrey Segal and Adam Summers
March 1, 2002 - California Competitive Cities
A Report Card on Efficiency in Service Delivery in California's 10 Largest Cities
Geoffrey Segal, Adrian Moore and James Nolan
February 1, 2002 - Competitive Cities
A Report Card on Efficiency in Service Delivery in America's Largest Cities
Adrian Moore, James Nolan and Geoffrey Segal
April 1, 2001 - Managing for Results at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
A Report to the 43rd President and 107th Congress
Carl DeMaio
February 1, 2001 - Electronic Procurement
How Technology is Changing Government Purchasing
Geoffrey Segal and Matthew D. Taylor
February 1, 2001 - Managing for Performance at the EPA
Carl DeMaio
January 1, 2001 - Child Protection at the Crossroads
Child Abuse, Child Protection, and Recommendations for Reform
Susan Orr
October 1, 1999 - Reforming Financial Management in the Public Sector
Lessons U.S. Officials Can Learn From New Zealand
Ian Ball
May 1, 1999 - Competitive Neutrality
Ensuring a Level Playing Field in Managed Competitions
William D. Eggers
March 1, 1998 - Regulatory Reform at the Local Level
Regulating for Competition, Opportunity, and Prosperity
Adrian Moore and Tom Rose
February 1, 1998 - Performance Based Contracting
Designing State of the Art Contract Administration and Monitoring Systems
William D. Eggers
May 1, 1997 - Delivering Services for the Mentally Ill and Developmentally Disabled
A Consumer Choice Model
Richard H. Dougherty and William D. Eggers
October 1, 1996 - A Guide For Divesting Government-Owned Enterprises
Henry Gibbons
July 1, 1996 - A Guide for Divesting Government Owned Enterprises
Henry Gibbons
August 1, 1995 - Rescuing Orange County
Robert Poole
May 1, 1995 - Revitalizing State and Local Infrastructure
Empowering Cities and States to Tap Private Capital and Rebuild America
Robert Poole
May 1, 1995 - Revitalizing Our Cities
Perspectives from America's New Breed of Mayors
William D. Eggers
March 1, 1995 - Competitive Government for a Competitive Los Angeles
William D. Eggers
November 1, 1994 - Public Authorities and Private Firms as Providers of Public Goods
Clayton P. Gillette
September 1, 1994 - Intergovernmental Contracting For Public Services
John W. Donlevy, Jr.
February 1, 1994 - Rightsizing Government
Lessons from America's Public Sector Innovators
William D. Eggers
January 1, 1994 - Techniques for Mining the Public Balance Sheet
Roger D. Feldman and Thomas M. Ingoldsby
September 1, 1993 - Privatization and Public Employees
Guidelines For Fair Treatment
John O'Leary and William D. Eggers
September 1, 1993 - Cost Savings from Privatization
A Compilation of Findings
John Hilke
March 1, 1993 - How To Compare Costs Between In-House and Contracted Services
Lawrence Martin
March 1, 1993 - Designing a Comprehensive Privatization Program for Cities
John Stainback
February 1, 1993 - Privatization Opportunities for States
William D. Eggers
February 1, 1993 - Designing an Effective Bidding and Monitoring System to Minimize Problems in Competitive Contracting
John Rehfuss
February 1, 1993 - Designing a Comprehensive State Level Privatization Program
William D. Eggers
January 1, 1993 - Rightsizing Government
Lessons From America's Public-Sector Innovators
William D. Eggers
January 1, 1993 - Mining the Government Balance Sheet
What Cities and States Have to Sell
Robert Poole, David Haarmeyer and Lynn Scarlett
April 1, 1992
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