Fifteen Years Since 9/11: The Foreign Policy Impact

Since 9/11, America’s standing in the world has fallen to dangerously low levels, with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan contributing significantly to this decline. On the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Cato looks back at the legacy of 9/11 on U.S. foreign policy, and offers much-needed debate over our country’s global choices.

Five Myths about Economic Inequality in America

Economic inequality has risen to the top of the political agenda, championed by political candidates and best-selling authors alike. Yet, many of the most common beliefs about the issue are based on misperceptions and falsehoods.  In a new paper, Cato scholar Michael D. Tanner argues that too much of the debate over economic inequality has been driven by emotion or misinformation, and exposes five of the most central myths that sound good and play to our emotions and sense of fairness, but that don’t hold up under close scrutiny.

The Economics of Immigration

Immigration is one of the most controversial public policy topics today. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in a speech in Arizona last week, reiterated many of his hard-line positions on immigration, calling for a large-scale increase in immigration enforcement along the border through the building of a Great Wall, a tripling of ICE agents, and the creation of another deportation force. Unfortunately, many of the concerns about immigrants and how they will affect the economic future of Americans are fueled by misunderstanding the effects that immigrants and their descendants have on the U.S. economy.

Venezuelan Regime Kidnaps Yon Goicoechea, Friedman Prize Winner

Pro-democracy leader Yon Goicoechea, winner of the 2008 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty, was arrested last week in Venezuela. Goicoechea’s detention comes just prior to massive popular protests against the government. “Sticking to the pattern it has followed over the past few years as the crisis has deepened, the regime is doubling down on repression rather than adjusting to political or economic reality,” says Cato scholar Ian Vásquez. “His kidnapping shows just how insecure the regime has become and the importance of speaking truth to power.”

Recent Commentary

Trump Doubles Down on Anti-Immigration Position

Alex Nowrasteh

If Trump loses in November, and all signs are pointing to that, this speech shows that nobody can reasonably claim that it was because he was “too soft” on immigration. His probable November loss will be rightly blamed on his anti-immigration position. 

Events

September 14

Socialism and Human Nature

Featuring Jonathan Haidt, Professor of Ethical Leadership, Stern School of Business, New York University; John Tooby, Professor of Anthropology, University of California–Santa Barbara; and Leda Cosmides, Professor, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California–Santa Barbara; moderated by Marian L. Tupy, Editor, HumanProgress.org, Cato Institute.

11:00AM to 12:30PM
 Hayek Auditorium, Cato Institute

More Events

Of Special Note

What Is Justice?

Political Philosophy: An Introductio

Political Philosophy: An Introduction is the latest in a series of self-paced, online guides from Libertariansism.org – a project of the Cato Institute. The goal of political philosophy is to determine the standards by which we judge different institutions good or bad, just or unjust. Political Philosophy is a primer on major theories of justice, arguments philosophers have made for and against them, and to how to be more thoughtful and rigorous in our own thinking. Guides – videos and accompanying text – are detailed at Libertarianism.org/Guides – and are also available through online retailers nationwide.

Special! 10 Copies for $10

Cato Pocket Constitution

To encourage people everywhere to better understand and appreciate the principles of government that are set forth in America’s founding documents, the Cato Institute published this pocket-size edition.

Now Available

The Libertarian Mind Audiobook

The Libertarian Mind, by David Boaz, longtime executive vice president of the Cato Institute, is the best available guide to the history, ideas, and growth of libertarianism, and is the ultimate resource for the current, burgeoning libertarian movement. This acclaimed book is now available as a fully unabridged audiobook, ready for immediate downloading, on Audible.com.

15th Annual Constitution Day

Cato’s Center for Constitutional Studies is pleased to announce its symposium The Supreme Court: Past and Prologue, A Look at the October 2015 and 2016 Terms to celebrate Constitution Day and the publication of the 15th annual Cato Supreme Court Review. This annual event will be held at the Cato Institute on Thursday, September 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event includes four panel sessions from notable experts with multiple perspectives. Hon. Clint Bolick, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Arizona, will present the event’s B. Kenneth Simon Lecture on “State Constitutions: Freedom’s Frontier.”