[![Media Name: cato-handbook-cover-hi-res.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/serial_cover_phone/public/right-homepage-images/cato-handbook-cover-hi-res.jpg?itok=QyLYZ9ME)](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato-handbook-policymakers/2017/2/cato-handbook-for-policymakers-8th-edition_1.pdf) # Cato Handbook For Policymakers, 8th Edition (2017) [ Download PDF ](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato-handbook-policymakers/2017/2/cato-handbook-for-policymakers-8th-edition_1.pdf) 8th Edition Introduction Introduction ##### [1. Introduction ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/1-introduction) By [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) ##### [2. Limited Government and the Rule of Law ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/limited-government-rule-law) By [Tom G. Palmer](https://www.cato.org/people/tom-g-palmer) Bipartisan Action Agenda Bipartisan Action Agenda ##### [3. Toward a Congressional Resurgence ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/3-toward-congressional-resurgence) By [John Samples](https://www.cato.org/people/john-samples) and [Gene Healy](https://www.cato.org/people/gene-healy) ##### [4. Repealing Obamacare ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/4-repealing-obamacare) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) ##### [5. Federal Tax Reform ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/5-federal-tax-reform) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [6. Reviving Growth ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/6-reviving-growth) By [Brink Lindsey](https://www.cato.org/people/brink-lindsey) ##### [7. Regressive Regulation ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/7-regressive-regulation) By [Brink Lindsey](https://www.cato.org/people/brink-lindsey) ##### [8. International Trade and Investment Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/8-international-trade-investment-policy) By [Daniel J. Ikenson](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-j-ikenson) ##### [9. Dealing with ISIS in Iraq and Syria ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/9-dealing-isis-iraq-syria) By [Emma Ashford](https://www.cato.org/people/emma-ashford) ##### [10. Relations with Cuba ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/10-relations-cuba) By [Juan Carlos Hidalgo](https://www.cato.org/people/juan-carlos-hidalgo) and [Ian Vásquez](https://www.cato.org/people/ian-vasquez) ##### [11. Reforming Surveillance Authorities ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/11-reforming-surveillance-authorities) By [Julian Sanchez](https://www.cato.org/people/julian-sanchez) The United States, perhaps uniquely among nations, owes its existence in no small part to its people’s outrage against government invasions of privacy. ##### [12. Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/12-civil-asset-forfeiture-reform) By [Roger Pilon](https://www.cato.org/people/roger-pilon) and [Trevor Burrus](https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus) ##### [13. Immigration ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/13-immigration) By [Alex Nowrasteh](https://www.cato.org/people/alex-nowrasteh) ##### [14. Veterans Benefits ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/14-veterans-benefits) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) Law and Liberty Law and Liberty ##### [15. Congress, the Courts, and the Constitution ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/15-congress-courts-constitution) By [Roger Pilon](https://www.cato.org/people/roger-pilon) ##### [16. Property Rights and the Constitution ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/property-rights-constitution) By [Roger Pilon](https://www.cato.org/people/roger-pilon) ##### [17. Overcriminalization ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/17-overcriminalization) By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) ##### [18. White-Collar Prosecution ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/18-white-collar-prosecution) By [Walter Olson](https://www.cato.org/people/walter-olson) ##### [19. Technology and Law Enforcement ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/19-technology-law-enforcement) By [Adam Bates](https://www.cato.org/people/adam-bates) and [Matthew Feeney](https://www.cato.org/people/matthew-feeney) ##### [20. Stopping Police Militarization ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/20-stopping-police-militarization) By [Trevor Burrus](https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus) ##### [21. National ID Systems ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/21-national-id-systems) By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) ##### [22. Restoring the Right to Keep and Bear Arms ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/22-restoring-right-keep-bear-arms) By [Trevor Burrus](https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus), [David B. Kopel](https://www.cato.org/people/david-kopel), and [Robert A. Levy](https://www.cato.org/people/robert-levy) ##### [23. The War on Drugs ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/23-war-drugs) By [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) and [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) Government Reform Government Reform ##### [24. Fiscal Rules That Work ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/24-fiscal-rules-work) By [Daniel J. Mitchell](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-mitchell) ##### [25. Fiscal Federalism ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/25-fiscal-federalism) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [26. Campaign Finance: Fixing an Overregulated Marketplace of Ideas ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/26-campaign-finance-fixing-overregulated) By [Trevor Burrus](https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus) and [John Samples](https://www.cato.org/people/john-samples) ##### [27. Reclaiming the War Power ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/27-reclaiming-war-power) By [Gene Healy](https://www.cato.org/people/gene-healy) ##### [28. Tort and Class Action Reform ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/28-tort-class-action-reform) By [Robert A. Levy](https://www.cato.org/people/robert-levy), [Mark Moller](https://www.cato.org/people/mark-moller), and [Trevor Burrus](https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus) ##### [29. Redistricting ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/29-redistricting) By [Walter Olson](https://www.cato.org/people/walter-olson) ##### [30. Government Transparency ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/30-government-transparency) By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) Fiscal Policy Fiscal Policy ##### [31. Averting National Bankruptcy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/31-averting-national-bankruptcy) By [Jeffrey Miron](https://www.cato.org/people/jeffrey-miron) ##### [32. Cutting Federal Spending ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/32-cutting-federal-spending) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [33. Infrastructure Investment ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/33-infrastructure-investment) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [34. Global Tax Competition ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/34-global-tax-competition) By [Daniel J. Mitchell](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-mitchell) Health Care Health Care ##### [35. Health Care Regulation ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/35-health-care-regulation) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) ##### [36. Health Insurance Regulation ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/36-health-insurance-regulation) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) ##### [37. The Tax Treatment of Health Care ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/37-tax-treatment-health-care) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) ##### [38. Medicare ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/38-medicare) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) ##### [39. Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/39-medicaid-state-childrens-health-insurance) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) Entitlement Reform Entitlement Reform ##### [40. Social Security ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/40-social-security) By [Michael D. Tanner](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-d-tanner) ##### [41. Poverty and Welfare ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/41-poverty-welfare) By [Michael D. Tanner](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-d-tanner) ##### [42. The Earned Income Tax Credit ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/42-earned-income-tax-credit) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Downsizing the Federal Government Downsizing the Federal Government ##### [43. Agricultural Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/43-agricultural-policy) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [44. U.S. Postal Service ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/44-us-postal-service) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [45. Amtrak ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/45-amtrak) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [46. Air Traffic Control ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/46-air-traffic-control) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) ##### [47. K‑12 Education ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/47-k-12-education) By [Neal McCluskey](https://www.cato.org/people/neal-mccluskey) ##### [48. Higher Education ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/48-higher-education) By [Neal McCluskey](https://www.cato.org/people/neal-mccluskey) ##### [49. Pre‑K Education ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/49-pre-k-education) By [Jason Bedrick](https://www.cato.org/people/jason-bedrick) ##### [50. Housing and Urban Development ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/50-housing-urban-development) By [Randal O’Toole](https://www.cato.org/people/randal-otoole) ##### [51. Interior Department and Public Lands ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/51-interior-department-public-lands) By [Randal O’Toole](https://www.cato.org/people/randal-otoole) ##### [52. Surface Transportation Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/52-surface-transportation-policy) By [Randal O’Toole](https://www.cato.org/people/randal-otoole) ##### [53. Cultural Agencies ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/53-cultural-agencies) By Sheldon L. Richman and [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) ##### [54. Special-Interest Spending and Corporate Welfare ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/54-special-interest-spending-corporate) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) Regulation Regulation ##### [55. Toward a New and Improved Regulatory Apparatus ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/55-toward-new-improved-regulatory-apparatus) By [Ike Brannon](https://www.cato.org/people/ike-brannon) ##### [56. Monetary Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/56-monetary-policy) By [George Selgin](https://www.cato.org/people/george-selgin) ##### [57. Financial Regulation ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/57-financial-regulation) By [Mark A. Calabria](https://www.cato.org/people/mark-calabria) ##### [58. Securities Regulation ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/58-securities-regulation) By [Thaya Brook Knight](https://www.cato.org/people/thaya-knight) ##### [59. Technology Freedom ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/59-technology-freedom) By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) ##### [60. Health and Safety Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/60-health-safety-policy) By [Peter Van Doren](https://www.cato.org/people/peter-van-doren) ##### [61. The Minimum Wage ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/61-minimum-wage) By [Thomas A. Firey](https://www.cato.org/people/thomas-firey) ##### [62. Labor and Employment Law ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/62-labor-employment-law) By [Walter Olson](https://www.cato.org/people/walter-olson) ##### [63. Environmental Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/63-environmental-policy) By [Peter Van Doren](https://www.cato.org/people/peter-van-doren) ##### [64. Global Warming and Climate Change ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/64-global-warming-climate-change) By [Paul C. “Chip” Knappenberger](https://www.cato.org/people/chip-knappenberger) and [Patrick J. Michaels](https://www.cato.org/people/patrick-michaels) Foreign and Defense Policy Foreign and Defense Policy ##### [65. Restoring Prudence and Restraint in U.S. Foreign Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/65-restoring-prudence-restraint-us-foreign) By [Christopher A. Preble](https://www.cato.org/people/christopher-preble) and [A. Trevor Thrall](https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-thrall) ##### [66. Countering Terrorism in the United States ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/66-countering-terrorism-united-states) By [John Mueller](https://www.cato.org/people/john-mueller) ##### [67. Countering Terrorism with Targeted Killings ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/67-countering-terrorism-targeted-killings) By [Benjamin H. Friedman](https://www.cato.org/people/benjamin-friedman) ##### [68. The Military Budget ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/68-military-budget) By [Benjamin H. Friedman](https://www.cato.org/people/benjamin-friedman) ##### [69. Iran ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/69-iran) By [Emma Ashford](https://www.cato.org/people/emma-ashford) and [Brad Stapleton](https://www.cato.org/people/brad-stapleton) ##### [70. U.S. Policy toward Afghanistan ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/70-us-policy-toward-afghanistan) By [Christopher A. Preble](https://www.cato.org/people/christopher-preble) and [Brad Stapleton](https://www.cato.org/people/brad-stapleton) ##### [71. Relations with China ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/71-relations-china) By [Ted Galen Carpenter](https://www.cato.org/people/ted-galen-carpenter) and [Eric Gomez](https://www.cato.org/people/eric-gomez) The U.S.-China relationship features both cooperation and competition—though the latter has come to characterize the relationship to a much greater extent in the last year. But sources of friction in the relationship, such as territorial disputes in the South China Sea and acts of Chinese cyber espionage against U.S. companies, require careful management by American policymakers. ##### [72. Relations with Russia ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/72-relations-russia) By [Emma Ashford](https://www.cato.org/people/emma-ashford) ##### [73. East Asian Security ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/73-east-asian-security) By [Doug Bandow](https://www.cato.org/people/doug-bandow) and [Eric Gomez](https://www.cato.org/people/eric-gomez) ##### [74. NATO Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/74-nato-policy) By [Ted Galen Carpenter](https://www.cato.org/people/ted-galen-carpenter) ##### [75. The International War on Drugs ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/75-international-war-drugs) By [Juan Carlos Hidalgo](https://www.cato.org/people/juan-carlos-hidalgo) and [Ian Vásquez](https://www.cato.org/people/ian-vasquez) ##### [76. Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Terrorism ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/76-nuclear-weapons-proliferation-terrorism) By [John Mueller](https://www.cato.org/people/john-mueller) ##### [77. Public Opinion on U.S. Foreign Policy ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/77-public-opinion-us-foreign-policy) By [A. Trevor Thrall](https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-thrall) ##### [78. U.S. Policy toward Latin America ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/78-us-policy-toward-latin-america) By [Juan Carlos Hidalgo](https://www.cato.org/people/juan-carlos-hidalgo) ##### [79. U.S. Policy toward Sub-Saharan Africa ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/79-us-policy-toward-sub-saharan-africa) By [Marian L. Tupy](https://www.cato.org/people/marian-l-tupy) ##### [80. Foreign Aid and Economic Development ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/80-foreign-aid-economic-development) By [Ian Vásquez](https://www.cato.org/people/ian-vasquez) Contributors Contributors ##### [Contributors ](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017/contributors) ##### Latest Issues [![Cato 2022 Handbook for Policymakers cover image](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/serial_cover_phone/public/2022-11/2022_handbook_cover_final.png?itok=9gFib5q4)](https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-9th-edition-2022) [Cato Handbook For Policymakers, 9th Edition (2022)](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-9th-edition-2022) [![Media Name: hb111.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/serial_cover_phone/public/serials/covers/cato-handbook-policymakers/hb111.jpg?itok=ziF46KUq)](https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-7th-edition-2009) [Cato Handbook for Policymakers, 7th Edition (2009)](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-7th-edition-2009) [![Media Name: hb109.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/serial_cover_phone/public/serials/covers/cato-handbook-policymakers/hb109.jpg?itok=_45-v3ls)](https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-6th-edition-2005) [Cato Handbook on Policy, 6th Edition (2005)](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-6th-edition-2005) [![Media Name: hb108.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/serial_cover_phone/public/serials/covers/cato-handbook-policymakers/hb108.jpg?itok=4hI7Bzk7)](https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-congress-policy-recommendations-108th-congress-2003) [Cato Handbook for Congress: Policy Recommendations for the 108th Congress (2003)](/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-congress-policy-recommendations-108th-congress-2003)