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Some Ideas for President Biden

Joe Biden

Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. He inherits the coronavirus pandemic and surrounding crises. Cato’s Pandemics and Policy series provides an actionable guide to policies that can harness American ingenuity and foster a resilient society capable of meeting the challenges ahead — with ideas that appeal across the political divide.

  • Pandemics and Policy, a Cato Institute series
  • “What Biden Should Do on Legal Immigration,” by David J. Bier
  • “President Biden Must Restore American Trade Leadership,” by Simon Lester

New Cato Journal Looks at Modern Monetary Theory, U.S. Trade Policy toward China

Cato Journal - v41n1 - cover

In her influential book The Deficit Myth, Stephanie Kelton provides a diagnosis of what went wrong in Greece and a roadmap to the economic promised land for countries that follow her advice. Greece, it turns out, is Kelton’s poster child for the way not to enter the promised land. In the new issue of Cato Journal, George S. Tavlas assesses what went wrong in Greece through the lens of Kelton’s exposition of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). Also in this issue, Scott Lincicome argues that pretending today that there was a better trade policy choice in 2000—when Congress granted China “permanent normal trade relations” (PNTR) status and paved the way for broader engagement—is misguided.

  • Winter 2021 issue of Cato Journal

Mob Rule Is No Path to Liberty

US Capitol Building with reflection

The Cato Institute has long worked to encourage people everywhere to better understand and appreciate the principles of government that are set forth in America’s Founding documents. Among these principles is the peaceful transfer of power after free and fair elections. “The assault on the Capitol is a tragic violation of these principles,” writes Cato President and CEO Peter Goettler. “We condemn these actions in the strongest terms, support the rule of law and the Constitution, and reject the attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.”

  • “Mob Rule Is No Path to Liberty,” by Peter Goettler
  • “Only Impeachment Is Censure Enough,” by Gene Healy
  • “Reflections on the President’s Conduct,” by Robert A. Levy

Deregulating Legal Immigration: A Blueprint for Agency Action

Joe Biden 2013 official picture

President Trump restricted legal immigration through a series of unprecedented regulations and presidential orders during his one term. Once President‐​elect Joe Biden takes office, he will have the opportunity to reverse these actions and deregulate what is—and was even before Trump—an overly burdensome and expensive legal immigration system. This compendium of 30 concise proposals by 15 authors—including several of America’s leading immigration law experts—can help the Biden administration operate the immigration system as openly and efficiently as the laws allow.

  • “Deregulating Legal Immigration: A Blueprint for Agency Action,” by David J. Bier

Featured

Commentary

Use Persuasion, Not Coercion, to Reach COVID Immunity

By Jeffrey A. Singer. Times Union.

The challenge lies in achieving balance between the rights of the individual and the rights of the general public to both be free from aggression.

Commentary

The Brutal Taiwan Dilemma Trump Will Leave for Biden

By Ted Galen Carpenter. The American Conservative.

No matter what move the new president makes, there will be major drawbacks.

Commentary

Sen. Josh Hawley Isn’t a Censorship Victim, He’s a Free Speech Menace

By Ilya Somin. USA Today.

Too many on the left and right agree that the government can use economic leverage to curb our rights.

Blog

New Legislation Casts Doubt on Future of Administrative Jones Act Waivers

By Colin Grabow.

Presidents have waived the Jones Act in the past to help speed assistance following natural disasters. New legislation, however, has placed the future of such waivers in serious doubt. 

Commentary

Donald Trump and the Limits of Free Speech

By Johan Norberg. The Spectator.

The right to free speech is a negative right. It guarantees you the right to be left alone, to speak your mind. But it does not give others an obligation to lend you their printing press.

Blog

Capitol Hill Insurrection Fallout: More Bad “No Fly” List Proposals

By Patrick G. Eddington.

What’s needed right now is a reminder that every time a major, security‐​related national trauma takes place, the public demands Congress “do something” in response, and that congressional response is almost always something the nation regrets later.

Blog

The Good and Bad of Biden’s Plan to Legalize Illegal Immigrants

By Alex Nowrasteh.

It’s heartening to see the Biden administration getting ready to hit the ground running on immigration reform even if their first bill has virtually no chance of becoming law as currently envisioned.

Multimedia

  • Podcasts
  • Cato Audio
  • Videos
  • More

Walter Olson discusses investigating the 2021 presidential election on Sinclair Broadcasting Group

Featuring Walter Olson. January 22, 2021.

Alex Nowrasteh discusses the Biden immigration policy on WWL’s First News with Tommy Tucker

Featuring Alex Nowrasteh. January 22, 2021.

Emily Ekins’ survey, “Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They’re Afraid to Share,” is cited on The Dana Show

Featuring Emily Ekins. January 22, 2021.

Alberto Mingardi discusses his latest book, “Against the Tribe,” on Stroncature 2020

Featuring Alberto Mingardi. January 22, 2021.
More Multimedia

Research Areas

  • Constitution, the Law, and the Courts
  • COVID-19
  • Criminal Law and Civil Liberties
  • Education and Child Policy
  • Energy and Environment
  • Finance, Banking & Monetary Policy
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  • Government and Politics
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  • International Economics, Development & Immigration
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Virtual Naples City Seminar

January 26, 2021 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST

This event has been postponed. For more information, please contact Sophia Coyne‐​Kosnak at sck@​cato.​org.

Live Online Policy Forum

Section 230: A Look Ahead in a New Era

January 26, 2021 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST
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Featuring Will Duffield (@Will_Duffield), Policy Analyst, Cato Institute; Kate Tummarello (@ktummarello), Policy Director, Engine; Mike Masnick (@mmasnick), Editor, Techdirt; moderated by Matthew Feeney (@M_feeney), Director, Project on Emerging Technologies, Cato Institute.

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Defending Our Right to Test: How the FDA Restricts Direct‐​to‐​Consumer At‐​Home Testing

January 28, 2021 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST
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Featuring Nita A. Farahany, JD, PhD (@NitaFarahany), Robinson O. Everett Professor of Law, Professor of Philosophy, Duke Law School; Jessica Flanigan, PhD (@missjessica), Associate Professor of Leadership Studies and Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law, Richard L. Morrill Chair in Ethics and Democratic Values, University of Richmond; moderated by Jeffrey A. Singer, MD (@dr4liberty), Senior Fellow, Cato Institute.

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Save the New Date: May 26, 2021 6:00 PM EDT to May 27, 2021 6:00 PM EDT

For more information, please contact Sophia Coyne‐​Kosnak at (202) 216‑1490 / sck@​cato.​org.

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