February-0207
Up one levelIs Science the Key to the Middle East?
Many Arabs abhor the U.S. government—but they admire American science and technology. We should use our labs as common ground.
A Non-Random Walk down Wall Street
From Philippe Starck to Sarbanes-Oxley, real estate and regulations are transforming New York’s financial landscape.
The Truth about the Drug Ads
Many people love to hate DTCA, but research suggests the ads do more good than harm.
Perfectionists for Freedom
Brian Doherty’s new history finds that each libertarian is unhappy in his own way.
The Cheap Way Out
Students could do better—and taxpayers could save money—if we rewarded those who finish high school in three years with community college scholarships.
Reaganomics Revealed
A new book traces the late president’s philosophy to a turbulent decade at General Electric.
Measuring a Teacher’s Worth
Public-school teachers’ salaries are not directly influenced by market forces, but rather by the whims of the political process. How should politicians decide whether to increase their pay? In an age of statistical manipulation and easy punditry, Adam Smith remains a trustworthy guide.
Seeing Past a Red Herring in the Medicare Debate
President Bush is not “cutting” Medicare spending—all the media hype notwithstanding. His plans would, however, eliminate trillions of dollars worth of fiscal liabilities.
Milton Friedman, Technology Maven
Milton Friedman lives on, despite his demise: he’s the rightful patron saint of blogging.
Saving Lives Through Honest Accounting
A new initiative by Senator Tom Coburn could bring badly needed transparency to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Legislators Should Live in a Glass House
A little-known new project could make it easier to hold congressmen of both parties accountable.
A Profit-Taking Candidate
Recent remarks by Hilary Clinton suggest an energy policy that would score political points, but harm the economy.
Good Intentions Could Pave a Better Road in Liberia
Donor countries should let Liberia’s problems, rather than their own favorite causes, guide their aid.
Getting a Handle on Public Health
Steven Johnson’s new book shows how we beat cholera, and what we can learn from the experience.
Life and Death at an Indian Call Center
The country has found a new use for its most famous business model—a far cry from tech support.
Mississippi Fails to Learn From History
The state’s malarial litigation climate may deprive its citizens of homeowner’s insurance.
Ségolène la Socialiste?
Ségolène Royal, the Socialist candidate for President of France, talks like Mitterrand—but if elected, she may be forced to govern like Lionel Jospin, whose far-left rhetoric was matched by pro-growth policies and extensive privatization.
Too Many Eggs in One Web?
The Internet is famously resilient—but it would be surprisingly easy to cut millions of people off from the global network.
Girl Scouts Want You To Die
My local liquor store is selling Girl Scout cookies, and last week I chose Thin Mints over gin, thinking myself quite virtuous. Little did I know…
Taxing Logic
Those who want to fund new spending with higher rates should acknowledge the future failure their logic presumes.