Policy Briefs
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Fiduciary principles need to be reaffirmed and strengthened in public pension plans
"The exclusive purpose of investing pension assets must be to provide pension benefits and defray reasonable expenses—nothing else."
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Airline deregulation: Past experience and future reforms
The U.S. experience with airline deregulation shows that eliminating government barriers to competition can generate enormous benefits for consumers.
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Automated vehicle policy recommendations for the 118th Congress
The future of automated driving systems and how to refocus federal policymaking on productive near-term activities.
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The current status of Texas Central’s proposed high-speed rail line linking Dallas and Houston
The high-speed rail vision Texas Central outlined in 2013 of easy land acquisition, quick construction, minimal opposition, and low costs is vastly different from the grim reality that caused the company to abandon its project in 2022.
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State policy agenda for telehealth innovation
This report examines all 50 states in four key areas where there's an opportunity to maximize the potential of telehealth services.
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K-12 open enrollment in Wisconsin: Key lessons for other states
Wisconsin's public school open enrollment program serves over 70,000 students and can be a model for other states.
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Fines and fees: Consequences and opportunities for reform
The use of fines and fees to directly fund courts, law enforcement agencies, or other government activities can result in undesirable conflicts of interest.
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Public education funding without boundaries: How to get K-12 dollars to follow open enrollment students
How to ensure state and local education funds flow seamlessly across district boundaries.
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Freight rail deregulation: Past experience and future reforms
Advancing the public interest demands that regulators consider the unique characteristics of the industry in question and its role in the broader economy over the long-run.
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How text message reminders can help reduce technical parole and probation violations
This report's findings suggest that sending text message reminders for scheduled appointments could reduce canceled and missed parole and probation appointments by as much as 21% and 29%, respectively.
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How state reforms changed federal enforcement of marijuana prohibition
While formal federal marijuana law has persisted unchanged amid state-level reforms, federal marijuana enforcement on the ground has changed dramatically.
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How drug decriminalization affects policing
With the diminished capacity and incentive to pursue drug possession arrests, police can redirect resources toward crimes with victims, crime prevention, and public safety.
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Best practices for pension debt amortization
Amortization policy is at the core of the successful elimination of pension debt.
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Best practices in hybrid retirement plan design
The recent shift toward offering hybrid plans to newly hired government employees suggests that governmental employers may be changing their perceptions of the balance of financial risk between employees and employers.
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Modernizing the passenger facility charge to improve aviation
Modernizing the passenger facility charge would improve airports and increase airline competition.
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The impact of cash flow on public pensions
This policy brief uses the Montana Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) as a case study to illustrate the principles and importance of conducting a cash flow analysis of public pension plans.
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How to reform the FDA
Reimagining pharmaceutical regulation, so it better serves society’s needs by encouraging widespread availability of life-saving drugs at lower prices.
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Best practices for cost-of-living adjustment designs in public pension systems
Striking the proper balance between cost, risk, and benefits in a way that works for both employees and employers.
