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Peter J. Ferrara

Former Associate Policy Analyst

Peter J. Ferrara, associate policy analyst, is general counsel and chief economist for Americans for Tax Reform. A leading Social Security scholar, he is the author of Social Security: The Inherent Contradiction and several other books on Social Security. He served in the Reagan administration from 1981 to 1983 and as associate deputy attorney general of the United States in 1992–93. He has also practiced law and taught at George Mason University School of Law.




Books and Book Chapters

A New Deal for Social Security, coauthor (1998)

Common Cents, Common Dreams: A Layman's Guide to Social Security Privatization, coauthor (1998)

Free the Mail: Ending the Postal Monopoly, editor (1989)

Social Security: Prospects for Real Reform, editor (1985)

Social Security: The Inherent Contradiction (1980)

Cato Studies

"10 Reasons to Oppose Virginia Sales Tax Increases," by Chris Edwards and Peter Ferrara, Briefing Paper no. 75, September 18, 2002.

"The Failed Critique of Personal Accounts," Briefing Paper no. 68, October 8, 2001.

"Social Security Is Still a Hopelessly Bad Deal for Today's Workers," Social Security Choice Paper no. 18, November 29, 1999.

"The Next Steps for Medicare Reform," Policy Analysis no. 305, April 29, 1998.

"A Plan for Privatizing Social Security," Social Security Choice Paper no. 8, April 30, 1997.

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Opinion and Commentary

"Private Social Security Accounts: Still a Good Idea," by William Shipman and Peter Ferrara, The Wall Street Journal, October 27, 2010

"Gore's Social Security Canard," Cato.org, October 25, 2000

"Al Gore’s Social Security Confusion," Cato.org, October 6, 2000

"Gore's Phony Accounts," National Review (Online), June 15, 2000

"Reaching for the Wrong Remedy," Washington Times, May 2, 2000

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