Economic Freedom of North America 2005 Annual Report
Economic Freedom of North America 2005 Annual Report
The Decade's Midpoint
In 2005 America's economy grew while Kofi Annan shrank.
The Defined Benefit Pension Crisis
America 's defined benefit pension plans are in crisis. Traditional defined benefit (DB) pensions are usually paid to retired employees based on years of work and final salary. Although still common at large companies, they have fallen out of favor at small and mid-sized firms. Virtually no new DB plans have been created in the last 10 years. Once the Cadillac of retirement plans, they are now the Edsels of employee benefits, as employers shift to defined contribution (DC) plans, such as 401(k)s.
What Is A Think Tank?
What is a think tank? What do think tanks do? Why are they important? These questions are more pertinent than ever in today’s public policy environment.
What Is Classical Liberalism?
Prior to the 20th century, classical liberalism was the dominant political philosophy in the United States. It was the political philosophy of Thomas Jefferson and the signers of the Declaration of Independence and it permeates the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and many other documents produced by the people who created the American system of government.
Consumer Choice: Can It Cure The Nation's Health-Care Ills?
This is the last of three online debates looking at some of the biggest issues weighing on American public policy. The U.S. health-care system is the topic of this third installment. Joining the debate are American Enterprise Institute scholar Joseph Antos, who was former assistant director for health and human resources at the Congressional Budget Office, John C. Goodman, founder and president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, and Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and vice chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. The debate is moderated by Laurie McGinley, assistant bureau chief at The Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau.
Uncontrolled Infections Leave U.S. Hospitals Unprepared for Avian Flu and Bioterrorism
If avian flu wings its way to the United States and changes genetically into a disease that spreads rapidly from person to person, the death toll would depend largely on what hospitals do when the first victims come in for treatment, according to a study by the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID).
A New Frontier for Welfare Reform
In a major step forward for welfare reform, Texas is about to roll out an ambitious program using private contractors to streamline the process of applying for public health and welfare programs. The reform is expected to save taxpayers more than $100 million a year, while making it easier for people who qualify for social services to enroll in programs and claim benefits. Texas is the first state in the country to implement such a comprehensive, statewide reform and it could serve as a model for other states.
Unnecessary Deaths: The Human and Financial Costs of Hospital Infections
This report has been written to help you and to enlist your help in correcting a deadly situation that kills an estimated 103,000 people in this country each year-as many deaths as from AIDS, breast cancer, and auto accidents combined.
Where does it kill? In our hospitals. What is it? Hospital infection.
Time, Money and the Market for Drugs
Americans spend more than $234 billion a year on legally purchased chemical entities. Although the expense is a small part of our nation's $1.8 trillion health care bill, the dollars involved are substantial, amounting to more than $2,000 per household per year.
Time, Money and the Market for Drugs*
Americans spend more than $234 billion a year on legally purchased chemical entities. Although the expense is a small part of our nation’s $1.8 trillion health care bill, the dollars involved are substantial, amounting to more than $2,000 per household per year.