The war in Afghanistan has become America’s longest war not because U.S. security interests necessitate it, nor because the battlefield realities are insurmountable, but because of inertia. In a new paper, Cato scholars John Glaser and John Mueller argue that a full political settlement built around a cease-fire and a withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan is within reach—but only if policymakers are willing to make significant concessions to the Taliban and to dispense with erroneous rationales for continuing the fight.

• “Overcoming Inertia: Why It’s Time to End the War in Afghanistan,” by John Glaser and John Mueller
• “Terrorist ‘Safe Havens’ Are a Myth — and No Reason for Continuing the War in Afghanistan,” by John Glaser and John Mueller
• “Exiting Afghanistan,” Podcast featuring John Glaser

School choice is a central debate in education policy today, with advocates of charter schools, vouchers, and private schools arrayed against defenders of the government-run public schooling model. While many states have adopted some kind of school choice program, some politicians denounce this trend as a stalking horse for segregation or a corporatist dystopia. In the new issue of Cato Policy Report, Kevin Currie-Knight explains how understanding the views of 20th century libertarian theorists is critical to understanding the debate over school choice in the 21st century. Also in this issue, David Boaz discusses the pressure think tanks face in a time of rising partisanship and tribalism.

• July/August issue of Cato Policy Report

Taxing the wealthy is a hot issue among Democratic candidates for president. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is proposing an annual wealth tax on the richest households, while other candidates are proposing higher taxes on incomes, estates, capital gains, and corporations. Yet, these proposals run counter to the international trend of declining tax rates on capital income and wealth. The number of European countries with a Warren-style wealth tax has fallen from 12 in 1990 to just 3 today. In a new study, Cato scholar Chris Edwards discusses why targeting wealth for higher taxation is misguided, and argues that the best approach would be a consumption-based tax system. Such a system would tax capital income but in a simpler way that does not stifle investment and economic growth. 

• “Taxing Wealth and Capital Income,” by Chris Edwards
• “Why Europe Axed Its Wealth Taxes,” by Chris Edwards
• “How Would You Tax Wealth?” Cato Daily Podcast featured Michael D. Tanner