Cato Studies

Can’t Afford to LiveCato senior fellow Michael D. Tanner examined the causes and consequences of rising housing costs in North Carolina and offers policy recommendations to increase housing affordability in “Keeping North Carolina’s Housing Affordable” (Policy Analysis no. 938). Tanner shows that restrictive zoning policies, excessive regulation, and supply constraints have led to an inadequate supply of affordable housing.“Poll: 87 Percent of Americans Worry about the Cost of Housing; 69 Percent Worry Their Kids and Grandkids Won’t Be Able to Buy a Home” (survey report). Vice president and director of polling Emily Ekins presents the findings of a national survey that underscores the urgency of addressing the housing affordability crisis in the United States. A majority of those polled would support building more houses if they knew it could lower the cost of housing and make it easier for people they know to move in.Legalize Guest WorkersAssociate director of immigration studies David J. Bier found that guest worker programs can be effective in reducing illegal immigration by providing legal channels for temporary labor migration, but that poorly designed programs have unintended consequences, such as exploiting guest workers. “How Guest Workers Affect Illegal Immigration” (Policy Analysis no. 937) concludes that government restrictions on migration cause illegal immigration, and a guest worker program is one way to relax those restrictions.Downsides of Smart Tech“The Human Perils of Scaling Smart Technologies: Evidence from Field Experiments” (Research Briefs in Economic Policy no. 312) found that although smart technologies can increase workplace efficiency, they can also result in negative outcomes, such as decreased motivation and reduced job satisfaction. The study highlights the importance of considering the human impacts of smart technology implementation and calls for further research on how to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of such technologies.Fatal Drug PolicyDeath rates from opioid poisoning tripled between 2000 and 2014 and the more recent surge in deaths has been attributed to illicit opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl. “Behavioral Responses to Supply‐​Side Drug Policy during the Opioid Epidemic” (Research Briefs in Economic Policy no. 313) by Simone Balestra, Helge Liebert, and Nicole Maestas is a comprehensive investigation of the direct and indirect effects of prescription drug monitoring programs. The study highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to drug policy that includes harm reduction strategies and prevention and treatment programs.Crypto ClarityDirector of financial regulation studies Jennifer Schulp and policy analyst Jack Solowey argue that the lack of clear and consistent regulation has created uncertainty and hindered the growth of the cryptocurrency industry. In “Regulatory Clarity for Crypto Marketplaces” (Working Paper no. 71), they detail the challenges facing the cryptocurrency industry in the United States and recommend a principles‐​based approach to regulation that fosters innovation while addressing the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading and investment.More Demand for School Choice“Survey: 55 Percent of Private Schools See Enrollment Rise” (survey report). A majority of private schools surveyed saw about a 5 percent increase in students in the 2022– 2023 school year. Center for Educational Freedom director Neal McCluskey suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to greater demand for private education, potentially due to concerns about the quality and safety of public school options.Fantastic Federal FailureThe Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been plagued with issues since its inception. In “Fintech Fraud or Federal Failure?” (Briefing Paper no. 147), policy analyst Nicholas Anthony found that the issues in the PPP resulted from a failure of federal oversight for the government program. Anthony recommends that Congress should carefully consider what is at stake when crafting such bills rather than rush billions of dollars in taxpayer money out the door.Authoritarianism Doesn’t Fix ChaosThe assumption that authoritarian regimes in the Middle East serve as the only bulwark against chaos is misguided and overlooks the political and social realities in the region. In “A Shaky Foundation: The Myth of Authoritarian Stability in the Middle East” (Policy Analysis no. 939), Jon Hoffman concludes that America should end its complicity in the crimes and atrocities committed by authoritarian governments and recognize the destructiveness of these partnerships by ending weapons sales to their regimes and removing the expansive U.S. military footprint in the region.Medical Law Enforcement“Cops Practicing Medicine” (white paper) suggests that the increasing involvement of law enforcement in medical care is a symptom of broader systemic problems in the health care system and highlights the need for comprehensive, evidence‐​based solutions to the opioid crisis. Senior fellow Jeffrey Singer and former research fellow Trevor Burrus show that neither the practice of medicine nor the act of self‐​medication belongs in the realm of the criminal legal system.