Cato Institute Event Videos (Full)

Will Cost Containment Derail Health Care Reform?

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 CDT

From a patient's point of view, the ideal health insurance policy would offer unlimited access to medical services at no charge. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to offer this to everyone. The key to sustainable health care reform is restraining the use of services that have high costs and low benefits. How will a government-funded system restrain spending? Why might a market-oriented alternative be attractive? Please join Cato scholar Arnold Kling to examine the challenges facing health reformers and the feasibility of alternative proposals.

Money, Markets, and Sovereignty -

Mon, 18 May 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Amazon The current state of international economic relations is unusual and precarious. Benn Steil and Manuel Hinds will explain how protectionism has historically coincided with monetary nationalism, whereas eras of liberal trade have been accompanied by a universal monetary standard. But the situation today is prone to crisis, because an unprecedentedly liberal global trade regime exists alongside monetary nationalism of an extreme kind. According to the authors, national monies and globalization don't mix. "If anything is likely to throw globalization into reverse, it is not trade itself, but the money that facilitates it." Please join us to hear their prescient analysis and their views on the future of the dollar and the emergence of a global monetary standard.

The Welfare State We're In

Sun, 17 May 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Amazon "A splendid book. A devastating critique of the welfare state. A page-turner, yet also extensively sourced. I congratulate Mr. Bartholomew." – Milton Friedman In this controversial book, James Bartholomew argues that the welfare state in Britain has resulted in a generation of badly educated and dependent citizens, leading to lives of deprivation for thousands and undermining the original intent behind its creation in the 1940s. Has the welfare state really led to more harm than good? What does this imply for the ever-expanding welfare state in the United States?

Is It Time to End the International War on Drugs? -

Thu, 14 May 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Since President Nixon launched the War on Drugs in 1971, its escalating direct and indirect costs have become increasingly apparent. As we have seen over the decades in Colombia, Mexico, Afghanistan, and other drug-source countries, banning the drug trade creates economic distortions and an opportunity for some of the most unsavory elements to gain tenacious footholds. Drug prohibition inevitably leads to an orgy of corruption and violence. Do any perceived benefits of the current prohibitionist policies outweigh the growing costs to the United States and other countries? Please join Cato scholars Ted Carpenter and Ian Vásquez for a discussion of the international consequences of America's war on drugs and whether alternative approaches would lead to better outcomes.

How Overreaction and Misdirection Play into the Strategy of Terrorism

Sun, 10 May 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Terrorism seeks to weaken strong powers like the United States by goading them to overreact and waste their own blood and treasure, give sympathy and recruiting gains to terrorists, and come loose from their ideological moorings. Beyond avoiding war and misdirected homeland security efforts, sound counterterrorism strategy requires subtle awareness of the different ways a victim state's actions can play into terrorists' hands. Countering the strategic logic of terrorism will require policymakers to adopt very disciplined responses and deny superficially appealing impulses toward overreaction. Please join Cato scholars David Rittgers and Christopher Preble to discuss a more effective way to respond to terrorist threats and activities.

The Dangers of U.S. Military Dominance

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase from Cato Bookstore Numerous polls show that Americans want to reduce our military presence abroad, allowing our allies and other nations to assume greater responsibility both for their own defense and for enforcing security in their respective regions. Why haven't we done so? In The Power Problem, Christopher Preble contends that the vast military strength of the United States has induced policymakers in Washington to broaden the perception of the "national interest," and ultimately to commit the United States to the impossible task of maintaining global order. What does preserving American security require, and how engaged should U.S. forces be beyond protecting our core national interests? To what extent does the status quo advance U.S. security, and to what degree is it undermining our security, imposing unnecessary costs, and forcing all Americans to incur additional risks? Please join Cato's Christopher Preble and the Nixon Center's Paul Saunders for a discussion about the nature of American military power, its purpose in U.S. foreign policy, and its power to define the national interest.

Restoring the Pro-Trade Consensus -

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

The bipartisan, pro-trade consensus that served U.S. interests so well for nearly six decades collapsed during the Bush administration. Today, the direction of U.S. trade policy remains unclear to most observers. Although President Obama seems to appreciate the importance of trade and speaks about the dangers of protectionism, the 111th Congress flirts with legislation that can only be described as protectionist. What caused the collapse of the pro-trade consensus? Can that consensus be restored? Is restoration of consensus a requirement of meaningful and effective trade policy? If so, how can it be accomplished?

The Power of Freedom: Uniting Human Rights and Development

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Cato Are the quests for human rights and economic development compatible? Jean-Pierre Chauffour takes the development and human rights communities to task for working at cross purposes and often advocating policies that violate basic rights, whether those rights are economic freedoms or broader issues of personal choice. The author will explain how the two traditions can be reconciled by empowering people with economic, civil, and political liberty, and he will outline a mutually supportive agenda for advocates of growth and human rights. Susan Aaronson will draw on her years of scholarship on trade and human rights to comment on the book.

The Power Problem: How American Military Dominance Makes Us Less Safe, Less Prosperous, and Less Free

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Cato Numerous polls show that Americans want to reduce our military presence abroad, allowing our allies and other nations to assume greater responsibility both for their own defense and for enforcing security in their respective regions. Why haven't we done so? In The Power Problem, Christopher A. Preble contends that the vast military strength of the United States has induced policymakers in Washington to broaden the perception of the "national interest," and ultimately to commit ourselves to the impossible task of maintaining global order. Preble holds that the core national interest — preserving American security — is easily defined and largely immutable. In his view, military power is purely instrumental: if it advances U.S. security, then it is fulfilling its essential role. If it does not — if it undermines our security, imposes unnecessary costs, and forces all Americans to incur additional risks — then our military power is a problem, one that only we can solve. Please join us as we discuss the nature of American military power, its purpose in U.S. foreign policy, and its power to define the national interest.

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

President Obama and others on the Left have proposed a public plan--modeled on Medicare--to compete with private insurers. But Medicare is not the solution; it is the problem. Besides, there's no true competition if one of the players is also the referee. This session will explain why any package of reforms including "Medicare for More" deserves defeat.

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Can Government Be Trusted with the Money Supply?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Amazon The Federal Reserve's contribution to the current financial crisis, far from being exceptional, is typical of central banks' frequent, myopic mismanagement of money. So why, given their dismal record, do we allow governments to manage money at all? The standard answer is that were money left to private enterprise, bad money would drive good money out of circulation. In Good Money: Birmingham Button Makers, the Royal Mint, and the Beginnings of Modern Coinage, 1775–1821 (University of Michigan Press, 2008), George Selgin reveals a forgotten episode of private coinage that proves the contrary. At the onset of Great Britain's Industrial Revolution, the British Royal Mint proved utterly incapable of meeting the monetary needs of an industrializing economy; and it was only thanks to private mints and their "commercial" coins that Great Britain managed to avoid slipping back into feudalism. We hope that you will be able to join us and hear Professor Selgin discuss this fascinating, important, and unjustly forgotten episode in the history of money.

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Left Turn? South Africa after the Election -

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

On April 22, South Africa will hold its fourth general election since the advent of multiracial democracy in 1994 and first general election since the break-up of the once-hegemonic African National Congress. Will a strong showing by the new party-the Congress of the People-reduce the ANC's majority, reinvigorate the opposition, and make the government more accountable? Or will it lead the ANC to embrace more populist economic policies in an effort to regain the loyalty of its former supporters? Please join us for a discussion of the likely effects of this pivotal election on the future of sub-Saharan Africa's most powerful nation.

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

The Beautiful Tree: A Personal Journey Into How the World's Poorest People Are Educating Themselves -

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Cato "A moving account of how poor parents struggle against great odds to provide a rich educational experience to their children." --Publishers Weekly Everyone from Bono to the United Nations is looking for a miracle to bring schooling within reach of the poorest children on Earth. James Tooley may have found one. While researching private schools in India for the World Bank, and worried he was doing little to help the poor, Tooley wandered into the slums of Hyderabad's Old City. Shocked to find it overflowing with small, parent-funded schools filled with energized students, he set out to discover if the small, parent-funded schools could help achieve universal education. So began the adventure told in Tooley's new book, The Beautiful Tree - the story of his journey from the largest shanty town in Africa to the mountains of Gansu, China, and of the children, parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs who taught him that the poor are not waiting for educational handouts. They are building their own schools and educating themselves. Named after Mahatma Gandhi's phrase for the schools of pre-colonial India, The Beautiful Tree is not another book lamenting what has gone wrong in the Third World. It is a book about what is going right, illustrating that even the most disadvantaged parents in the poorest corners of the globe have the power to create tremendous educational experiences for their children. We hope you will be able to join us and hear first-hand not just what Americans can do to help education in poor countries, but what we can learn from these education entrepreneurs who are succeeding under the most challenging conditions imaginable.

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Health Care University: Which Reforms Are Better—or Worse—than Doing Nothing? -

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

What the Administration's College Proposals Would Do for America

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

President Obama has called for the United States to have "the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020." The goal is lofty, but is simply having more college graduates really that important? And will significantly increasing federal student aid actually make college more accessible, or will it worsen the tuition inflation that has run rampant for decades? Please join our panelists as they analyze these proposals in light of the latest research on higher education policy and outcomes.

Seasteading: Homesteading the High Seas for Liberty

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

History provides us with many examples of powerful institutions being disrupted by technology. The invention of the printing press undermined the authority of the Catholic Church by democratizing access to knowledge. Today, the Internet is undermining the traditional copyright industries. Now, an ambitious new project aims to achieve a similar result by creating competition for the world's sovereign nations. The Seasteading Institute seeks to build self-sufficient deep-sea platforms that would empower individuals to break free of national governments and start their own societies. Executive director Patri Friedman predicts a future in which any group of people dissatisfied with their current government would be able to start a new one by purchasing a floating platform — called a seastead — and building a new community on the open ocean. He hopes that the availability of alternatives will encourage existing governments to reform themselves to better serve their citizens. Can seasteading succeed where past plans have not? Are people willing to brave the high seas for liberty? Economist Arnold Kling will address the viability of the project in light of similar efforts in the past. Doug Bandow will address whether existing governments will tolerate seasteads, and specifically how the international Law of the Sea Treaty might complicate matters. Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the prospects of this exciting new effort.

Securing Land Rights for Chinese Farmers: The Progress So Far

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Between 700 and 800 million Chinese, more than half of China's population, are still rural. Economic reforms have helped Chinese farmers, but rural China is falling further and further behind urban China. The lack of land rights for rural Chinese is a major cause of the disparity and a major source of social instability. Secure land rights would allow farmers to increase investments, improve productivity and accumulate wealth. In recent years, the Chinese government has passed laws to make those rights more secure. Based on their 2008 survey of farmers in 17 provinces, Roy Prosterman and Zhu Keliang will assess the current status of farmers' rights, document ongoing violations, and propose policies that would do much more to give farmers legal security in their land.

Drug Decriminalization in Portugal

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

In 2001, Portugal began a remarkable policy experiment, decriminalizing all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Some predicted disastrous results — that drug addiction rates would soar and the country would become a haven for "drug tourists." Now that several years have passed, policy experts can study the results. In a new paper for the Cato Institute, attorney and author Glenn Greenwald closely examines the Portugal experiment and concludes that the doomsayers were wrong. There is now a widespread consensus in Portugal that decriminalization has been a success. The debate in Portugal has shifted rather dramatically to minor adjustments in the existing arrangement. There is no real debate about whether drugs should once again be criminalized. Join us for a discussion about Glenn Greenwald's field research in Portugal and what lessons his findings may hold for drug policies in other countries.

Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Amazon One of the greatest myths of our time is that foreign aid can help Africa fight poverty and increase growth. So says Zambian author Dambisa Moyo, who calls aid an "unmitigated economic, political, and humanitarian disaster" that has made Africans poorer. She will explain why aid fails and propose an "aid-free solution" to development based on the experience of successful African countries. Todd Moss will comment on the book and aid effectiveness by drawing on his research and work in the region, most recently as Deputy Assistant Secretary of African Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.

NATO at 60: A Hollow Alliance

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:00:00 CDT

As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization celebrates its 60th birthday, there are mounting signs of trouble within the alliance and reasons to doubt the organization's relevance to the foreign policy challenges of the 21st century. Today's NATO is a bad bargain for the United States. We have security obligations to countries that add little to our own military power. Even worse, some of those countries could easily entangle America in dangerous parochial disputes. Please join Cato scholar Ted Galen Carpenter as he discusses NATO's burgeoning defects and their implications for the United States.

Obama's Blueprint for Growing the Welfare State

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Even by Washington standards, President Obama's budget blueprint is astounding in its big-government ambitions: massive deficits, a huge health care plan, enormous global warming taxes, new subsidy programs, and punishing tax hikes on individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations. Public debt is expected to soar from 41 percent of the economy in 2008 to 67 percent by 2011. What are the prospects for the Obama plans on health care, tax hikes, and spending increases becoming law? How will economic growth and freedom be affected? Please join Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Cato scholars Chris Edwards and Michael Tanner to analyze the scope and implications of President Obama's agenda.

Can the Market Provide Choice and Secure Health Coverage Even for High-Cost Illnesses?

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

At his White House summit on health care reform, President Obama said, "If there is a way of getting this done where we're driving down costs and people are getting health insurance at an affordable rate, and have choice of doctor, have flexibility in terms of their plans, and we could do that entirely through the market, I'd be happy to do it that way." In a study recently published by the Cato Institute, economist John Cochrane argues that the market can solve a huge piece of the health care puzzle: providing secure, life-long health insurance and a choice of health plans to even the sickest patients. The key, Cochrane explains, is to eliminate government policies that force the healthy to subsidize the sick, such as the tax preference for employer-sponsored coverage and other attempts to impose price controls on health insurance premiums.

Georgia's Liberal Institutions In the Wake of War and the Global Economic Crisis

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Since the Rose Revolution of 2003, Georgia has implemented perhaps the most ambitious economic reform program of all formerly socialist countries. Years of high growth have been transforming it into an economic success story. But beginning last year the country suffered a war with Russia, partial occupation and secession of part of its territory, and the effects of the global economic crisis. Kakha Bendukidze will explain the economic policies that Georgia is undertaking to confront that adversity. David Bakradze will discuss the country’s move toward greater democratization, including in the areas of free speech and a greater role for parliament in national decision making and presidential accountability.

Tax Havens Should Be Celebrated, Not Persecuted

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Politicians from high-tax nations, working through international bureaucracies such as the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, are trying to undermine tax competition by persecuting so-called tax havens. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner recently testified that the Obama administration intends to push legislation to penalize Americans who utilize these jurisdictions. European politicians, meanwhile, have announced that they want to use the upcoming G-20 Summit to launch an attack on low-tax jurisdictions. Governments do not like tax havens because it is more difficult to enforce oppressive tax laws in a globalized economy. Any assault against tax havens, however, would be bad news for the global economy. Without the pressure of tax competition, politicians would raise tax rates, wiping out many of the pro-growth reforms of recent decades. Such a campaign would also undermine the U.S. economy, both because the United States is a tax haven for foreign capital and because most major "offshore" centers are conduits for investment in the American economy. To learn more about these issues, please join Cato scholar Dan Mitchell and former member of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Richard Rahn to review the myths and realities about the role of tax havens in the global economy.

The Tie Goes to Freedom: Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on Liberty -

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Amazon Justice Anthony M. Kennedy sits at the center of the Roberts Court. Two terms ago he was in the majority in all 24 of the 5/4 decisions. During that term, in fact, he was in the majority in all but two of the Court's decisions, and his pivotal role on the Court continues. It is no stretch, therefore, to call today's Supreme Court the Kennedy Court. Yet only now do we have the first book-length study of Justice Kennedy and his constitutional jurisprudence. Author Helen Knowles examines how Kennedy's background as a law student and classroom teacher has influenced his judicial philosophy. The book begins by examining Kennedy's judicial thought in the context of libertarian thought. Knowles does not call the justice a libertarian. Instead, in a sympathetic but not uncritical analysis, she uses libertarian philosophy, focusing on privacy, race, and speech cases, to draw out Kennedy's views about limited government and individual liberty. Please join us for a discussion of Justice Kennedy's "modest libertarianism," with comments by one of the nation's foremost constitutional scholars, Professor Randy Barnett.

The Tie Goes to Freedom: Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on Liberty

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

The Politics and Science of Medical Marijuana

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Ten years ago, on March 17, 1999, an important government study was released regarding certain patients’ use of marijuana as prescribed by their doctors. The Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, issued what was then the most comprehensive analysis of the scientific and medical literature about marijuana. The report stated, "The accumulated data indicate a potential therapeutic value for cannabinoid drugs, particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation."Many medical experts continue to caution about harms that may result from smoking marijuana, though those harms need to be weighed against other harms that particular patients may be facing. In the political realm, the debate over the legal status of medical marijuana continues to rage. Since 1996, 12 states have legalized marijuana for medical use. What have medical scientists learned about marijuana over the past 10 years? And how have the politics on this contentious issue shifted at the federal and state level? Join us for a lively discussion of the science and politics of medical marijuana.

Can the Pentagon Be Fixed?

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Most defense analysts agree: the Pentagon is in serious need of reform. Acquisition programs run above cost and behind schedule. The U.S. defense budget is higher than at any point during the Cold War, but capability has not kept pace. We field fewer ships, aircraft, and tanks than we did in the days of lower procurement spending. And our defense spending prepares us better for the conventional wars we imagine than the unconventional conflicts we fight. The question is what to do about these problems. Should we give more power over budgets to civilians or combatant commanders? Should we change procurement rules or push the services to buy cheaper but less capable weapons? Should we continue to reform the ground forces to fight small wars or simply avoid them? Should we slash defense spending? Please join us for a discussion about alternatives for defense reform.

Transportation Reauthorization: Looking Beyond the Recession

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

After passing an economic "stimulus" bill containing billions of dollars of infrastructure spending, members of Congress will soon turn their attention to reauthorizing surface transportation funding for five more years. Given the substantial public resources that will be committed to transportation, how should Congress structure programs to best encourage wise investments—those that promote the safe and rapid movement of people and products while minimizing the negative impacts? How can Congress address concerns about energy and the environment? Can the federal government ensure that transportation networks respond flexibly to changing conditions? Please join Cato and Reason experts to discuss transportation policy pitfalls and substantive reform ideas.

Climate of Extremes: Global Warming Science They Don’t Want You to Know

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase There's a whole new world of global warming science today-but few ever hear about it. In recent years, an internally consistent body of scientific literature has emerged that argues cogently for global warming but against the gloom-and-doom, apocalyptic vision of climate change. Not that you would know. Consult the daily newspaper or evening newscast: dire predictions are nearly all we see or hear. In their new book, Climate of Extremes, coauthors Patrick J. Michaels and Robert C. Balling Jr. illuminate the other side of the story, the science we aren’t being told. This body of work details how the impact of global warming is far less severe than is generally believed and far from catastrophic. However, because it is not infused with horrific predictions and angst about the future, regardless of its quality it is largely repressed and ignored. This in-depth exploration illustrates the crucial unreported forecasts: that changes in hurricanes will be small, that global warming is likely to be modest, and that contrary to daily headlines, there is no apocalypse on the horizon. Climate of Extremes is a book for all who are intent on exploring the evidence and the arguments in the climate change debate.

Should Government Deliver Comparative-Effectiveness Research – or Can It?

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:00:00 CST

Studies comparing the effectiveness of medical treatments have the potential to reduce health care costs by helping purchasers, such as Medicare, eliminate low-value services. Health care analysts generally agree that current institutions underproduce comparative-effectiveness research, and economists agree that private sector tends to underproduce such public goods. Many, therefore, want Congress to fund such research. But is market failure really the culprit? And would taxpayer-funded research solve the problem, or would it lead to government rationing? Or would it have no effect on health care costs?

Obama and Presidential Power: Change or Continuity?

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:00:00 CST

George W. Bush's administration pushed relentlessly to expand presidential power at the expense of Congress. In late 2007, in an interview with the Boston Globe, presidential candidate Barack Obama repudiated virtually all of the Bush administration's most controversial executive power claims. Will President Obama follow through and oversee a more modest presidency that recognizes constitutional limitations? Or will the new administration end up expanding the powers of the presidential office? Please join us to discuss the prospects and possibilities for the presidency in the Obama era.

Why Markets Are the Key to Quality, Coordinated Medical Care

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:00:00 CST

The uninsured are not the only problem our health care sector faces; powerful forces suppress the quality of care for insured and uninsured alike. Notably, Americans receive dangerously uncoordinated medical care. Most approaches to improving health care coordination rely on government-imposed top-down reforms, yet this very approach has suppressed coordination and other innovations in health care delivery. In the recent Cato Institute Briefing Paper "Does the Doctor Need a Boss?," Arnold Kling and Michael F. Cannon explain that coordinated care requires free markets. They propose to let consumers control the money that purchases their health insurance and for policymakers to liberalize licensing laws--two steps that would enable consumers to pick health plans that coordinate rather than force consumers to sit and wait until policymakers finally get it right.

Mexico’s Drug War: The Growing Crisis on Our Southern Border

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:00:00 CST

As the new Obama administration surveys possible national security threats confronting the United States, policymakers need to recognize that an especially lethal one is brewing close to home: the increasing drug-related violence in Mexico. Since January 2007 there have been more than 6,800 drug-war related deaths in Mexico, and Mexican drug cartels continue to expand their operations in American cities. Washington's response has been to expand its prohibitionist efforts with the Mérida Initiative, a U.S.–Mexico anti-drug-trafficking program. Historically, however, prohibitionist policies have had little success in reducing the flow of drugs. Instead, those policies have led to increased turmoil and corruption. Please join us as we explore more effective alternatives for the new administration. This forum is funded by a grant from the Open Society Institute. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. The event will be simulcast live on this Website. Thank you for your interest in our public programs.

Falling Behind: Explaining the Development Gap Between Latin America and the United States

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:00:00 CST

During the past 400 years, the development gap between Latin America and British North America dramatically widened. Francis Fukuyama will discuss prominent theories for that divergence -- including those that emphasize the roles of natural resources, culture, and geography -- and explain how institutions and economic policies are the keys to understanding growth outcomes. At different times, several Latin American countries have narrowed the gap with the United States, and genuine institutional reform has occurred in the past several decades across the region. Norman Loayza will comment on the relevance of those findings to an ideologically divided Latin America. Due to the overwhelming public response to this program we are unable to accept additional reservations. The event will be simulcast live on this Website. Thank you for your interest in our public programs.

A Service to the Economy: The Importance of Free Trade in Services

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:00:00 CST

Although they are a large and growing segment of world trade, services are frequently relegated to second-tier status in trade negotiations--behind high profile sectors such as agriculture and manufactured goods. That’s unfortunate, because studies from several international economic institutions--and a new Cato paper--show that liberalizing services will bring huge benefits to consumers and taxpayers--from lower prices to increased choice--and will deliver indirect benefits to the many industries that use services as an input to their own production. What opportunities exist for capturing the benefits of freer services markets with the Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations in a deep funk? Please join us to discuss these important issues.

Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage -

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:00:00 CST

No U.S. Supreme Court decision in the modern era has been so quickly and widely reviled as the infamous Kelo decision, in which the Court ruled that Susette Kelo's little pink house in New London, Connecticut, and the homes of her neighbors could be taken by the government and given over to a private developer based on the mere prospect that the new use for her property could generate more taxes or jobs. Now, three years after that decision comes a riveting new book that looks behind the scenes of the fight and focuses on the actions of two strong women diametrically opposed to each other: Susette Kelo, who struggled to save her home vs. Claire Gaudiani, a college president who headed up the New London Development Corporation's effort to take Susette's home for a private development plan. As Jeff Benedict details in his book, Susette takes on the City of New London, a cast of characters too evil to be believed, and, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case that was followed by thousands and sparked a revolutionary change in state law across the country—except in the case's home state. We hope you will be able to join us and hear first-hand from major participants in one of the Supreme Court's most historic and controversial rulings.

Avoiding a Health Care Disaster

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:00:00 CST

With the return of one-party government, major policy changes in health care seem all but inevitable. Yet fundamentally divergent interests in both Congress and the health industry will make consensus difficult to obtain. The most dangerous proposals are those that expand political control over patients’ health care decisions: mandates, price controls, and government-run health care for the middle class. How will centrists and market proponents recognize the forms these mistakes might take, and how can they defend against them? Please join Cato scholar Michael Cannon for an exploration of these and related issues.

Does Public Higher Ed Funding Drive Economic Growth? -

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:00:00 CST

Everyone knows that people who graduate from college earn more than those who don't. It's also widely understood that technology drives economic growth, and university research drives technology. Finally, it seems clear that in a rapidly evolving world workers will need to transform their skills, and higher education provides the means to do so. In light of all this, shouldn't we provide public funding for higher education to keep college cheap and innovation going, especially during a recession? Not necessarily. Please join our panelists as they discuss both the benefits and costs of public funding for higher ed.

Just Give Us the Data! Prospects for Putting Government Information to Revolutionary New Uses -

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:00:00 CST

For all the change information technology has brought to society, the government sector lags behind in part because access to good data is lacking. A stable of private, non-profit, and volunteer efforts promise revolutionary change once they can access standardized, structured, and open government data. President-Elect Barack Obama made transparency a signature issue in the Senate, and talk of a "chief technology officer" in his administration often turns to whether that role might be as much a "chief transparency officer" What are the possibilities for open government data? What are the needs of the data user community? And what are the impediments to getting the data out there so that revolutionary change can get underway

Does America’s Health Care Sector Produce More Health? -

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:00:00 CST

Americans spend far more per capita than other nations on medical care. Defenders of America's health sector, such as Rudy Giuliani, claim it delivers superior health outcomes, such as longer cancer survival rates. Detractors claim that other nations systems' deliver equal or better health outcomes such as longer life expectancy and better infant mortality rates. Who is correct? Our speakers will look at what the evidence says about different health care sectors’ contributions to population health, and the implications for health care reform.

Free to Booze: The 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition -

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:00:00 CST

On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, thus ending our nation’s failed experiment with Prohibition. Organized crime flourished during Prohibition, but what were the other effects of the national ban on alcohol? How and why was it repealed? Please join the Cato Institute for a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition and a discussion of its legacy and continuing impact on America. Drinks will be served following the discussion.

The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity -

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:00:00 CST

Purchase at Amazon George Will writes in Newsweek, "Improbable as it might seem, perhaps the most important fact for a voter or politician to know is: No one can make a pencil. That truth is the essence of a novella that is, remarkably, both didactic and romantic. Even more remarkable, its author is an economist. If you read Russell Roberts's The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity, you will see the world afresh-unless you already understand Friedrich Hayek's idea of spontaneous order. Roberts sets his story in the Bay Area, where some Stanford students are indignant because a Big Box store doubled its prices after an earthquake. A student leader plans to protest Stanford's acceptance of a large gift from Big Box. The student's economics professor, Ruth, rather than attempting to dissuade him, begins leading him and his classmates to an understanding of prices, markets and the marvel of social cooperation." Roberts will discuss his novel way of teaching economics at a Cato Book Forum, with comments by Nick Gillespie, a literature Ph.D. who is surely the only journalist to have interviewed both Ozzy Osbourne and the 2002 Nobel laureate in economics, Vernon Smith.

How Nations Prosper: Economic Freedom and Doing Business around the World

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:00:00 CST

Purchase at Catostore Economic freedom around the world continues to increase, though there are notable cases of decline, including the United States. James Gwartney and Robert Lawson will discuss those cases, describe trends in economic reform and present new findings on the effect of economic freedom and global poverty reduction. Simeon Djankov will explain how eliminating regulatory bureaucracy is impacting growth in developing countries. He will present new research on the political and other characteristics of countries most likely to reform.

Against Intellectual Monopoly -

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:00:00 CST

Purchase at Amazon Though it is commonly believed that intellectual property law in the form of copyright and patent is necessary for innovation and the creation of ideas and inventions such as machines, drugs, computer software, books, music, literature and movies, Michele Boldrin and coauthor David K. Levine argue that intellectual property laws are costly and dangerous government grants of private monopoly over ideas. Their book seeks to show through theory and example that "intellectual monopoly" is not necessary for innovation and is damaging to growth, prosperity, and liberty. The argument that intellectual property laws actually retard progress is a fascinating challenge to conventional beliefs about their foundations and utility. At the onset of the Information Age, the role of copyright, patent, and other legal regimes in the progress of science and arts is centrally important.

Future Imperfect: Technology and Freedom in an Uncertain World

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:00:00 CST

Purchase at Amazon David Friedman, author of such books as The Machinery of Freedom and Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life, now looks at a variety of technological revolutions that might happen over the next few decades, their implications, and how to deal with them. Topics range from encryption and surveillance through biotechnology and nanotechnology to life extension, mind drugs, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. One theme of the book is that the future is radically uncertain. Technological changes already begun could lead to more or less privacy than we have ever known, freedom or slavery, effective immortality or the elimination of our species, and radical changes in life, marriage, law, medicine, work, and play. “If it can be done, it will be done,” David Friedman has said. “So the interesting thing to me is not what should you stop but how do you adapt.” We do not know which future will arrive, but it is unlikely to be much like the past. It is worth starting to think about it now.

The State of Freedom in Africa

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Africa is more democratic than ever before and elections more frequent, but poll results are often predetermined and much of the region remains in the hands of autocratic governments. How free are Africans in countries that have seen some degree of political or economic liberalization? Tony Leon, a longtime member and opposition leader in the South African Parliament who criticized first the National Party apartheid government and then the African National Congress government, will assess African states’ progress on the road to political, economic, and civil liberty. Ugandan journalist and political activist Andrew Mwenda will discuss ways in which Africans are fighting for their freedoms.

Encyclopedia of Libertarianism

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Catostore.org The Cato Institute invites you to join us as we unveil The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism, the first comprehensive, encyclopedic treatment of the libertarian movement. Editor in Chief Ronald Hamowy, a distinguished scholar who studied under Mises, Hayek, and Friedman, has included more than 300 succinct, original articles on libertarian ideas, institutions, and thinkers. Contributors include James Buchanan, Richard Epstein, Tyler Cowen, Randy Barnett, Deirdre McCloskey, Ellen Frankel Paul, and more than 100 other scholars. This comprehensive book, years in the making, will become an indispensable guide to libertarianism in the years to come. Our distinguished guests will discuss the place of libertarianism in world and U.S. politics, the contributions of libertarian thought, and the challenges it faces from both left and right.

Global Terror's Central Front: Pakistan and Afghanistan

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Afghanistan and Pakistan are inextricably linked by a spreading Islamic insurgency. Ambushes, daring militant offensives, and targeted assassinations have risen sharply in Afghanistan, while suicide attacks and "Talibanization" are sweeping through Pakistan's settled areas at an alarming rate. Can the U.S. win a decisive victory in the Afghanistan-Pakistan theater? Is there a viable exit strategy? Please join Cato scholars Malou Innocent, who recently spent several weeks in Pakistan assessing the region's deteriorating condition, and Ted Galen Carpenter to discuss Afghanistan's meltdown, Pakistan's worsening situation, and the future of U.S. policy in this turbulent and critical region.

Greatest Emancipations: How the West Abolished Slavery

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Purchase at Amazon For thousands of years, slavery went unchallenged in principle. Then in a single century, slavery was abolished and more than seven million slaves were freed throughout the Western hemisphere. The scope and speed of this transformation make it one of the most amazing feats in modern history. Greatest Emancipations tells this fascinating story, focusing on abolitionists in areas where slavery was most entrenched: Haiti, the British Caribbean, the United States, Cuba, and Brazil. In this lively book, Jim Powell concisely illuminates the beginnings of the abolitionist movement, then proceeds through the processes, the battles, the final victory of emancipation, and the incredible impact of its aftermath. Ultimately, Powell argues, the more violence was involved in the emancipation process, the worse the outcomes were, making a provocative case for peaceful antislavery struggles.

Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State: Why Americans Vote the Way They Do

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:00:00 CDT

In his illuminating new book Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State, Columbia political scientist and state-of-the-art number cruncher Andrew Gelman explodes persistent myths about American voting patterns just in time for the 2008 elections. Gelman, with co-authors David Park, Boris Shor, Joseph Bafumi, and Jeronimo Cortina, shows that rich states lean Democratic while rich individuals still lean Republican. The real culture war, he argues, is being waged between affluent Democrats and affluent Republicans, not between the haves and have-nots. Gelman explores how religion does and doesn't affect rich and poor voters and how the rich-poor voting divide differs in "red" and "blue" states. And what about all those "fiscally conservative, socially liberal" voters? Please join us for an eye-opening discussion of the changing face of the American electorate and its implications for the politics of tomorrow.

Escaping Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:00:00 CDT

The southern African countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe are neighbors. Botswana is peaceful, stable, and increasingly prosperous. Zimbabwe, in contrast, is beset by political and economic crises. Their diverging fortunes are partly explained by their government’s attitudes to economic freedom: Botswana is one of Africa’s economically freest states, and Zimbabwe is among Africa’s least free countries. Please join Zimbabwean human rights activist Rejoice Ngwenya and Cato’s Africa analyst Marian Tupy to discuss Zimbabwe’s meltdown, Botswana’s ascent, and lessons for the rest of Africa.

One Man’s America: The Pleasures and Provocations of Our Singular Nation

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:00:00 CDT

In his provocative and compelling new book, George Will offers a fascinating look at the people, stories, and events that make the American drama so endlessly entertaining and instructive. With Will’s signature intellect and wry wit, One Man’s America chronicles a spectacular, eclectic procession of figures who have shaped our culture -- from Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr., from Victorian poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, from cotton picker—turned—country singer Buck Owens to actor-turned-president Ronald Reagan. In addition, Will crisscrosses the country to illuminate what it is that makes America distinctive –- visits that include the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor; the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson; Civil War battlefields, and much more. And of course, One Man’s America would not be complete without Will’s insights on baseball -– the icons and the cheats, the hapless and the greats. Finally, in a personal and reflective turn, Will writes movingly of his thirty-five-year-old son Jon, born with Down syndrome, and pays loving and poignant tribute to his mother, who died at the age of ninety-eight after a long struggle with dementia. Buy This Book On Amazon.com

The FBI Turns 100

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:00:00 CDT

In 1908, the Justice Department created the Bureau of Investigation, a small division of detectives that was responsible for investigating violations of federal law. The division was filled with incompetent and corrupt agents until a young bureaucrat by the name of J. Edgar Hoover was brought in to clean house. Hoover reorganized the division and renamed it the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and he served as its director for nearly 50 years. As the federal government expanded over the years, so did the power of the Bureau. Today, the FBI employs more than twenty thousand people and spends approximately $6.5 billion per year. As the Bureau turns 100, it is an appropriate time to review its history, both good and bad, and to discuss its future.

McCain and Obama: Comparing Their Economic Platforms

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 CDT

After an extended primary season, the 2008 presidential campaign is finally under way and the candidates are presenting—at least in some areas—starkly different economic policy proposals. Sen. John McCain is a career-long free trader, consistently voting against trade barriers and subsidies. Sen. Barack Obama, although possessing a shorter voting record, puts greater restrictions on his support for free trade and favors a time-out on new trade agreements and extensive review—and possible renegotiation—of existing ones. On fiscal policy, Sen. McCain wants lower taxes while Sen. Obama proposes to shift the tax burden to wealthier Americans. According to the National Taxpayers Union, Sen. McCain has endorsed $68 billion of additional government spending per year and Sen. Obama has called for nearly $344 billion of bigger government. How would these policies strengthen the U.S. economy or damage it? If Obama is elected, would Congress simply rubber-stamp his proposals? If McCain wins, would Congress approve his agenda? Please join us as our panel discusses the McCain and Obama tax, spending, and trade plans.

Securing Economic Growth through Trade Facilitation

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Improving the international trading system does not depend solely on new, comprehensive multilateral agreements. Countries can realize significant gains in commercial flows by undertaking trade facilitation—reforms that decrease administrative and physical impediments to transporting goods and services across borders. According to recent studies from several international economic institutions and a new Cato paper, trade facilitation reforms could increase global trade flows even more than further reductions in tariff rates and are primarily and substantially in the interest of the country implementing reform. Please join Cato trade scholar Daniel Ikenson and World Bank economist Simeon Djankov to discuss how to expand international commerce even without new multilateral trade agreements.

India: The Emerging Giant -

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:00:00 CDT

The world's largest democracy, India, is an emerging economic giant. Reforms that began in the late 1980s and accelerated in the 1990s have led to high growth and have reduced poverty by one third. Professor Panagariya will discuss changes in Indian society that favor continued rapid growth. He will also explain why India should avoid policies that focus on equality rather than poverty reduction, and he will propose innovative reforms—such as school vouchers or cash transfers for health care—where government services have failed the poor. Swaminathan Aiyar will comment on the book’s outlook for India.

Trade Facilitation: The New Wave of International Trade Liberalization?

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CDT

As the Doha Round lies in a cryogenic state, it is important to recognize that comprehensive, multilateral agreement to reduce trade barriers is not the only way to improve the international trading system. In fact, according to recent studies from the World Bank and other international economic institutions— a new study published by the Cato Institute —“trade facilitation” reforms could do more to increase global trade flows than further reductions in tariff rates. In broad terms, trade facilitation includes reforms aimed at improving the chain of administrative and physical procedures involved in the transport of goods and services across international borders. Countries with inadequate trade infrastructure, burdensome administrative processes, or limited competition in trade logistics services are less capable of benefiting from the opportunities of expanding global trade. And that goes for rich countries as well as developing countries. By streamlining and reforming bureaucratic procedures and encouraging competition in communications and transportation services, governments have been helping increase trade, investment, and growth in their economies. And these reforms have not required international consensus to implement. Please join us for a panel discussion with some of the world’s foremost experts on the topic of trade facilitation.

The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Why are we, in many respects, less free now than we were 200 years ago? How did we get from our Founders' Constitution, which established a strictly limited government, to today's Constitution, which has expanded government and curtailed individual rights? That's the story of The Dirty Dozen - a book written for non lawyers about 12 U.S. Supreme Court cases that moved the course of American history away from constitutional government. Whether it involves the regulation of commerce, political speech, economic liberties, property rights, welfare, racial preferences, gun owners' rights, or imprisonment without charge, the U.S. Supreme Court has behaved in a manner that would have stunned, mystified, and outraged our Founding Fathers. Please join co-author Robert Levy for a discussion of the 12 worst Supreme Court cases of the modern era.

Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CDT

In a provocative new book, Jason Riley makes the case for welcoming more legal immigrants to the United States. Drawing on history, scholarly studies and first-hand reporting, Riley argues that today’s newcomers are fueling America’s prosperity and dynamism. He challenges the prevailing views on talk radio and cable TV that immigrants are overpopulating the country, stealing jobs, depressing wages, bankrupting social services, filling prisons, resisting assimilation and promoting big government. Comments will be provided by one of the nation’s leading political analysts.

Smart Power: Toward a Prudent Foreign Policy for America

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CDT

The United States confronts a host of foreign policy problems in the 21st century, yet the Republic's security strategy is increasingly muddled and counterproductive. The litany of misplaced priorities and policy failures grows ever larger. Ted Galen Carpenter examines America's foreign policy challenges and diagnoses what is wrong with Washington's current approach. Throughout these essays, Carpenter outlines an alternative strategy, Smart Power, that would protect America's security while avoiding unnecessary and unrewarding military adventures. Please join the author and our distinguished commentators for a discussion of this timely and path-breaking book, Smart Power: Toward a Prudent Foreign Policy for America.

America: Our Next Chapter

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CDT

In his two terms in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Hagel has distinguished himself as one of our nation’s most outspoken and thoughtful political leaders. Unafraid to challenge the policies of his own party, Senator Hagel has drawn praise and admiration from across the ideological spectrum by expressing grave concerns about the war in Iraq. In America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers, Senator Hagel sets forth his vision for a humbler U.S. foreign policy guided by international diplomacy and free trade. He also addresses key domestic policy issues by calling for a significant reduction in the size of the federal government, demanding more fiscal responsibility in Washington, and supporting reforms to reduce the spiraling costs of entitlement programs. Please join Senator Hagel for a discussion of his new book, with introductory comments by Cato Institute president Edward H. Crane.

Globalization and the World's Rising Living Standards

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Despite the conclusions one might draw from the constant barrage of media negativity, never before have people lived longer, healthier, and wealthier lives with lower risks of malnourishment, illiteracy, or death by war or natural disaster. In a recent report for the Swedish government, Cato senior fellow Johan Norberg has documented the largest, most rapid rise in human living standards ever, which occurred over the last four decades. He will review the factors that generated these advances and explain how even more economic liberty, free trade, and globalization are necessary to sustain them.

China’s Rise: Is Conflict Unavoidable? -

Thu, 29 May 2008 23:00:00 CDT

China's rapid economic and military rise is causing understandable unease among American military planners. Although the Bush administration took office referring to China as a "strategic competitor," more recent statements of U.S. policy have focused on integrating China into the world community as a "responsible stakeholder." Does America's position as the sole superpower and China's as the primary rising power make U.S.-China conflict imminent and inevitable? If not, which potential flashpoints should be particular concerns for U.S. policymakers? Can American policy minimize tensions between the two powers? And what would open military confrontation between the United States and China look like? Please join Cato scholars Ted Galen Carpenter and Justin Logan for an exploration of national security and foreign policy issues related to China's rise.

The One-Drop Rule in Hawaii? The Akaka Bill and the Future of Race-Based Government -

Tue, 20 May 2008 23:00:00 CDT

The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act—known as the "Akaka Bill"-would grant "native Hawaiians" federal recognition akin to that now enjoyed by Indian tribes. The bill creates a special authority that would exempt sufficiently ethnic Hawaiians from certain aspects of federal and state power. Having already passed the House and been reported out of Senate committee, the Akaka Bill is now due to be taken up by the full Senate. President Bush has promised a veto—citing the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's conclusion that it "would discriminate on the basis of race … and further subdivide the American people into discrete subgroups accorded varying degrees of privilege." Are these sorts of measures simply a matter of long-delayed justice? Does the Akaka Bill satisfy constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process? What kind of precedent would it establish for other ethnic groups? And what would be the economic effects on businesses and tourism in Hawaii? Please join us for a discussion of these and other political, economic, legal, and historical issues.

Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq -

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:00:00 CDT

Foreign policy analysts are misreading the lessons of Iraq. The emerging conventional wisdom holds that success could have been achieved in Iraq with more troops, more cooperation among U.S. government agencies, and better counterinsurgency doctrine. Yet the Bush administration’s failures and errors in judgment did not derive from poor planning, but from flawed assumptions about the nature of Iraqi society. The difficulties in Iraq demonstrate the need for a new national security strategy and a newfound appreciation for the limits of power, not simply better tactics and tools. By insisting that Iraq was ours to remake were it not for the administration’s mismanagement, U.S. policy makers risk repeating these mistakes. Please join Cato scholars Christopher Preble and Benjamin H. Friedman for a discussion of these issues, which they and co-author Harvey Sapolsky also explore in the recent policy analysis, “Learning the Right Lessons from Iraq.”