Reason Foundation
Search Reason
Government Reform 
Recent Research and Commentary
Reason's Len Gilroy Talks TVA Privatization, Annual Privatization Report on Heartland Institute Podcast
May 23, 2013, 3:54pmEarlier this week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the Heartland Institute's Steve Stanek for an episode of their Heartland Daily Podcast, where we discussed President Obama's recent budget proposal to study a potential privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
How to Avoid Closing Washington State Parks
May 17, 2013, 1:57pmMany thanks to the Washington Policy Center for publishing my legislative memo today on how to avoid the closure of dozens of Washington State parks, as Gov. Inslee has proposed if his tax increase package fails to advance
Rethinking Washington State Parks: How to Avoid Governor Inslee’s Plan to Close 60 State Parks
Antiquated, top-down management model is unsustainable; private sector can play major role
May 17, 2013The century-old, top-down model of state parks operated and managed by state parks agencies is not sustainable and needs to be replaced by an approach in which the parks agency sets the mission for the parks system and then serves as a coordinator to arrange the right blend of public and private sector operators on a park-by-park basis.
Louisiana Republicans Introduce Bills to Replicate Massachusetts's Pro-Union, Anti-Privatization “Pacheco Law”
May 9, 2013, 7:36pmMy latest column offers a critique of two bills introduced in the Louisiana legislature that are modeled after the Massachusetts "Pacheco Law," which is widely regarded as the most onerous and stringent anti-privatization law in the country.
Louisiana Republicans Introduce Bills to Replicate Massachusetts's Pro-Union, Anti-Privatization “Pacheco Law”
Bills would effectively shut down use of privatization, competitive contracting to lower costs of government
May 9, 2013Two proposed bills introduced in the Louisiana legislature raise serious barriers to fiscal responsibility, as the bills would effectively shut down the ability of the current and future governors to use the proven tool of competitive contracting to lower the costs of state government. Given the similarity to a 1993 law enacted in Massachusetts at the behest of government employee unions—and which has stymied privatization efforts in that state for two decades since—a more appropriate title for the proposed Louisiana bills would be the "Louisiana Government Employee Protection Act."
Innovators in Action: Jacksonville, FL Commissioner of Public-Private Partnerships Renée Finley on Building the City's PPP Program to Drive Efficiency, Quality of Life
May 7, 2013, 3:36pmIn the latest interview in the Innovators in Action 2013 series, Reason's Leonard Gilroy interviews Renée Finley, Jacksonville, Florida's Commissioner of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), on the origins and accomplishments to date of Jacksonville’s PPP program, lessons learned along the way, and more.
View Resources by Type
StudiesBlog PostsOp-EdsReason.comReason.tv
- Developments in Criminal Justice and Corrections
Annual Privatization Report 2013 examines criminal justice and corrections trends
Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny, Alexander Volokh and Andrew Livingston
May 6, 2013 - Developments in Local Government Privatization
Annual Privatization Report 2013 examines local government privatization trends
Harris Kenny, Adam Summers and Steven Titch
May 6, 2013 - Developments in State Government Privatization
Annual Privatization Report 2013 examines privatization trends at the state level
Leonard Gilroy and Lisa Snell
April 22, 2013 - Federal Privatization Update
Annual Privatization Report examines privatization and public-private partnership trends at the federal level
Adam Summers, Anthony Randazzo, Steven Titch and Victor Nava
April 15, 2013 - California High-Speed Rail: An Updated Due Diligence Report
The California high-speed rail project cannot be delivered at the cost promised to taxpayers, is based upon a business plan incapable of delivering on its legal requirements and is justified by proponents based upon unachievable benefits
Joseph Vranich, Wendell Cox and Adrian Moore
April 11, 2013 - Developments In Surface Transportation
Annual Privatization Report examines highway and road trends at the state and federal levels
Robert Poole
April 8, 2013 - Tax Credits in California: Economic Growth Engine or Wasteful Corporate Welfare?
Shining a light on California's most egregious tax credits and exemptions
Adam Summers and Ankur Chawla
January 30, 2013 - Better Service. Better Price.
How privatization can streamline government, improve services, and reduce costs for Kansas taxpayers
Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny and Todd Davidson
January 28, 2013 - Parks 2.0: Operating State Parks Through Public-Private Partnerships
Defining and applying the park operation public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny and Julian Morris
January 8, 2013 - Unmasking the Mortgage Interest Deduction - Update 2012
Who Benefits and By How Much?
Anthony Randazzo and Dean Stansel
December 12, 2012 - Immigration Policy: An Argument for Opening America's Borders
The empirical and economic benefits of open borders
Shikha Dalmia
December 7, 2012 - Internet Gambling: The Keys to a Successful Regulatory Climate
How the government can embrace and regulate online gambling
Steven Titch
November 13, 2012 - California Voters' Guide: November 2012 Ballot Propositions
Californians face a daunting package of ballot questions. Here, in brief, is the free minds and free markets perspective on each proposition.
Adrian Moore
October 17, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 37
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 37.
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 38
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 38.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 39
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 39.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 40
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 30.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 30
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on this proposition.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide: 2012: Proposition 31
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on this proposition.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 32
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 32.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 33
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 33.
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 34
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 34.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 35
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 35.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - California Voters' Guide 2012: Proposition 36
Among a daunting package of ballot questions, here is the free minds and free markets perspective on proposition 30.
Adrian Moore
October 16, 2012 - The XpressWest High-Speed Rail Line from Victorville to Las Vegas: A Taxpayer Risk Analysis
Examining the ridership, revenue, ticket price and travel time forecasts of the XpressWest train seeking a taxpayer-funded loan worth up to $6.5 billion
Wendell Cox and Adrian Moore
August 16, 2012 - Ten Myths and Facts on Transportation Public-Private Partnerships
Addressing fears, misperceptions surrounding transportation PPPs in Ohio
Leonard Gilroy and Robert Poole
July 26, 2012 - Privatization, Outsourcing and Insourcing Trends in Federal Government
Federal Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2011
Adam Summers and Anthony Randazzo
May 1, 2012 - Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Trends in State Government
State Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2011
Leonard Gilroy and Lisa Snell
May 1, 2012 - Comparison of the Essential Air Service Program to Alternative Coach Bus Service
Keeping small communities connected cost-effectively
Shirley Ybarra
September 13, 2011 - Unmasking the Mortgage Interest Deduction
Who Benefits and By How Much?
Anthony Randazzo and Dean Stansel
July 28, 2011 - Privatizing "Yellow Pages" Government in Pennsylvania
Private sector solutions for the Keystone State
Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny, Katrina Currie and Elizabeth Stelle
May 26, 2011 - The Year 2010 in Corrections Public-Private Partnerships
Corrections Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2010
Leonard Gilroy and Harris Kenny
March 10, 2011 - Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Trends in Local Government
Local Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2010
Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny, Samuel Staley and Adam Summers
February 23, 2011 - Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Trends in State Government
State Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2010
Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny, Shirley Ybarra and Tyler Millhouse
February 18, 2011 - Privatization, Outsourcing and Insourcing Trends in Federal Government
Federal Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2010
Adam Summers, Anthony Randazzo and Leonard Gilroy
February 16, 2011 - State Budget Reform Toolkit
Leonard Gilroy and Jonathan Williams
January 25, 2011 - Where Did the Money Go? An Analysis of Spending and Revenue in Nebraska and Surrounding States, 2002-2008
Adam Summers, Leonard Gilroy and Lisa Snell
August 3, 2010 - Ten Principles of Privatization
Best practices in privatization to lower the costs of government
Leonard Gilroy and Adrian Moore
July 9, 2010 - Knowing What State and Local Governments Own
A how-to guide for managing state and local property inventories
Anthony Randazzo and John Palatiello
June 29, 2010 - Knowing What the Federal Government Owns
A how-to guide for managing federal property and assets
Anthony Randazzo and John Palatiello
June 29, 2010 - How to Fix California's Public Pension Crisis
How the state's public pension system broke and how to fix it
Adam Summers
June 3, 2010 - Comparing Private Sector and Government Worker Salaries
Public sector offers ironclad job security and greater pension benefits
Adam Summers
May 10, 2010 - Public-Private Partnerships for Corrections in California
Bridging the gap between crisis and reform
Leonard Gilroy, Adam Summers, Anthony Randazzo and Harris Kenny
April 1, 2010 - The Next California Budget
Eliminating California's deficit and fixing the budget process through "Budgeting for Outcomes"
David Osborne
April 1, 2010 - Improving the Economies and Business Climates In Struggling Cities
Examining how taxes, red tape, eminent domain and occupational licensing prevent economic growth
Policy Brief 92
Anthony Randazzo
March 17, 2010 - Ten Steps to Brings Jobs and Businesses Back to Cleveland and Other Big Cities
Reducing crime and taxes, improving zoning laws and adding transparency can spur growth
Policy Brief 90
Samuel Staley
March 17, 2010 - Rejuvenating Urban America Through Land Use and Housing Policy Reform
Cleveland Case Study
Policy Brief 91
Samuel Staley
March 17, 2010 - Local Government Privatization 101
Separating fact from fiction, privatization trends and the services that should be privatized
Policy Brief 89
Leonard Gilroy
March 16, 2010 - Ten Privatization Opportunities for Cleveland
Hopkins Airport, parking facilities and solid waste operations are prime privatization candidates
Policy Brief 88
Leonard Gilroy
March 16, 2010 - Savings for San Diego
Outsourcing to Reduce Costs and Improve Services
Leonard Gilroy and Adam Summers
December 10, 2009 - Vehicle Fleet Maintenance/Management Outsourcing Opportunities
How San Diego and other cities can reduce the costs of vehicle fleet maintenance and management services
Leonard Gilroy, Anthony Randazzo and Adam Summers
December 10, 2009 - Building Maintenance and Management Outsourcing Opportunities
How San Diego and other cities can reduce the costs of facility management
Leonard Gilroy and Adam Summers
December 10, 2009 - 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 - Drowning in Debt: Bond Measures Threaten California's Already Precarious Debt Situation
Policy Brief 73
Adam Summers and Anthony Randazzo
October 1, 2008 - Analysis of California's Propositions 8: Limits on Marriage
Policy Brief 76
Adam Summers
October 1, 2008 - California General Election: Voter Guide
Policy Brief 71
Adrian Moore and Michael Flynn
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 - Redistricting in California: Competitive Elections and the Effects of Proposition 11
Policy Brief 72
George Passantino
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 - 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 - Propositions 1E and 84
Funding the State's Water and Flood Control Infrastructure
Skaidra Smith-Heisters and Adam Summers
September 1, 2006 - A Pocket Guide to Propositions on California's November 2006 Ballot
George Passantino
September 1, 2006 - Addressing California's School and University Building Needs
Alternatives to Proposition 1D
Lisa Snell
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 - How To Compare Costs Between In-House and Contracted Services
Lawrence Martin
March 1, 1993 - Cost Savings from Privatization
A Compilation of Findings
John Hilke
March 1, 1993 - Designing an Effective Bidding and Monitoring System to Minimize Problems in Competitive Contracting
John Rehfuss
February 1, 1993 - Designing a Comprehensive Privatization Program for Cities
John Stainback
February 1, 1993 - Privatization Opportunities for States
William D. Eggers
February 1, 1993 - Rightsizing Government
Lessons From America's Public-Sector Innovators
William D. Eggers
January 1, 1993 - Designing a Comprehensive State Level Privatization Program
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
Government Reform Blog
- Reason's Len Gilroy Talks TVA Privatization, Annual Privatization Report on Heartland Institute Podcast (5/23)
- How to Avoid Closing Washington State Parks (5/17)
- Rethinking Washington State Parks: How to Avoid Governor Inslee’s Plan to Close 60 State Parks (5/17)
- Louisiana Republicans Introduce Bills to Replicate Massachusetts's Pro-Union, Anti-Privatization “Pacheco Law” (5/9)
- Louisiana Republicans Introduce Bills to Replicate Massachusetts's Pro-Union, Anti-Privatization “Pacheco Law” (5/9)
Related Topics
Experts: Government Reform
RSS Feeds: Government Reform
Media Contact
Chris MitchellDirector of Communications
Email
(310) 367-6109
Support Reason
Your tax-deductible gift can help us promote individual liberty, choice, and free minds and free markets.