Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

2012 No. 1

Federal Outlays as a Percentage of GDP graph

Turnaround

by John B. Taylorvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

In recent years we’ve seen what doesn’t work. Here’s what would. A simple plan for turning the economy around. By John B. Taylor.

Obama with trophies

Historic - But Not in a Good Way

by Michael J. Boskinvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

A presidential report card lists too many promises, too few results, and no sign that the president knows how to learn from his mistakes. By Michael J. Boskin.

Doing Nothing Well

by Thomas Sowellvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

When government refuses to “do something” and instead leaves well enough alone, we’re usually better off. By Thomas Sowell.

Fiscal responsiblity

Stimulus and the Great Depression

by Lee Ohanian, Harold L. Colevia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Neither the New Deal nor the war pulled the economy out of its worst crisis. What did? Wiser policies. By Lee E. Ohanian and Harold L. Cole.

dollar bill

Social Justice and Empty Pockets

by Richard A. Epsteinvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

“People before profits” is a perverse idea that ignores the very mechanism by which people are helped. By Richard A. Epstein.

Giant Steps

by Robert J. Barrovia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

A call for bold changes to taxes, entitlements, and spending. By Robert J. Barro.

The Foolishness of Blaming the Private Sector

by Gary S. Beckervia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Politicians were eager to cry “market failure” when the deeper problem was, and remains, government failure. By Gary S. Becker.

Profiles in Political Courage

by Peter Berkowitzvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Clarity of purpose is only half of a winning political strategy. The other half involves a clear understanding of the possible. By Peter Berkowitz.

horse and carriage

Urging the FCC to Tune In, Drop Out

by David Davenportvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

This is the new information age, not the old “golden age” of radio. Broadcast anachronisms like “equal time” should sign off for good. By David Davenport.

man flying kite

States Are Made, Not Born

by Fouad Ajamivia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

No amount of global clamor will create a Palestinian state. The state of Israel shows what will: hard work, good will, and timing. By Fouad Ajami.

Putin and Medvedev

Despots Drop the Make-Believe

by Abbas Milanivia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Like Vladimir Putin, Ayatollah Khamenei is tired of playing at democracy. By Abbas Milani.

The Unfinished Business of Katyn

by Adam Bosiackivia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

How Russia and Poland could heal the wounds of a notorious atrocity. By Adam Bosiacki.

Figure 1. Militarized Disputes between Pairs of Countries

Puzzling Violence

by Mark Harrisonvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Democracy may be on the rise in the world, but so is a strange trend: more wars. By Mark Harrison.

Diplomats for a New Era

by Kori Schakevia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

The Foreign Service needs fresh ideas for training American envoys. By Kori N. Schake.

YouTube Countdown to Paradise

A Radical Idea

by Jessica Sternvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

What if we could make terrorism uncool? By Jessica Stern.

Osama bin Laden stencil

Strange Defeat

by Amy Zegartvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

The “strategic defeat” of Al-Qaeda? A feel-good story . . . that’s too good to be true. By Amy B. Zegart.

rotten apples

Rotten to the Core

by Henry I. Miller, Jeff Stiervia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

The myth that our fruits and vegetables are tainted by pesticides is just that—a myth. By Henry I. Miller and Jeff Stier.

Ronda Bouwens examines a baby

Survival of the Smallest

by Scott W. Atlasvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Poor data make it seem as if U.S. infant-mortality rates are lagging. Actually, they’re among the world’s best. By Scott W. Atlas.

Math Matters

by Eric Hanushek, Paul E. Petersonvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Another reason to care about how well American schools teach math: a country’s math skills are directly tied to its future wealth. By Eric A. Hanushek and Paul E. Peterson.

Finger painting

"Value-Added" and the Whole Child

by Michael J. Petrillivia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

All rigor and no joy really does make Jack a dull boy. By Michael J. Petrilli.

Calligraphy 101

A Curriculum for the Curious

by William Damonvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Innovators shouldn’t have to drop out of school to follow their dreams, but schools seem almost designed to stand in their way. By William Damon.

The U.N.:So Bad It's Almost Beautiful

by Bruce Thorntonvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Powerless, aimless, corrupt: what’s not to like? By Bruce S. Thornton.

With Friends Like These...

by Russell A. Bermanvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Europeans still seem eager—not just willing—to believe the worst about us. By Russell A. Berman.

Doubling the Domino Effect

by Edward Paul Lazearvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Europe misreads the deep causes of the financial crisis, and thereby ignores the remedies. By Edward P. Lazear.

A Doom Deferred

by Laura E. Hugginsvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

The “population bomb” was a dud. Why won’t the prophets of environmental gloom just go away? By Laura E. Huggins.

bird on teapot

The Green Tea Party

by Terry Andersonvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

When it comes to the environment, both major parties are lost in the woods. Here’s a platform that makes sense. By Terry L. Anderson.

Thomas Sargent teaching students

Thomas Sargent's Rational Expectations

by Art Rolnickvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Hoover’s newest Nobel Prize winner discovered a way to put actual human beings back into economic theory. By Art Rolnick.

Paul Ryan

This Time is Different

by Paul D. Ryan, Peter M. Robinsonvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Paul Ryan is a straight shooter, and health care is his target. An interview with Peter Robinson.

A World with Genuine Opportunities

by Richard A. Epsteinvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Hoover fellow Richard A. Epstein sees economic inequality in the light of incentives, innovation, and mutual gain.

General Peter Wrangel

Searching for Peter Wrangel

by Anthony Kröner via Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

He was the dashing, doomed general who challenged the Bolsheviks, an icon of a Russia that might have been. By Anthony Kröner.

This photo album belonged to Julius Streicher, one of the original Nazis

Nazi Family Values

by David Jacobsvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

Disturbing keepsakes of the most inhumane figures in history. By David Jacobs.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier . . . Priest

by Donal O’Sullivanvia Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

A tale of two treacherous clerics and the communist infiltration of the Vatican. By Donal O’Sullivan.

On the Cover

via Hoover Digest
Monday, January 23, 2012

La Meije, a mountain in the French Alps, towers above a snowscape in this travel poster from the early twentieth century. La Meije was the last major alpine peak to be conquered by climbers.