Cato Event Podcast

To celebrate Constitution Day and the publication of the thirteenth annual Cato Supreme Court Review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When government imposes new taxes, rules, or regulations, it creates outcomes that often differ from the original intent. In some cases, these outcomes are so severe that they render the policy a failure. The law of unintended consequences has taken on an increasing importance during the era of ever-expanding government, and this book explores four important examples: cigarette taxes, alcohol prohibition, the minimum wage, and federal income tax. Hall examines how the policies came into being, what underlying political considerations influenced the process, the unintended outcomes of the policies, and why many of these policies are still in place. Because many of these unintended consequences are seriously adverse, the author argues that the moral of these four key examples is that whenever a new government policy is being considered, much more detailed review must be given to the range of potential unintended consequences—a practice that is rarely or accurately undertaken. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate Constitution Day and the publication of the thirteenth annual Cato Supreme Court Review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate Constitution Day and the publication of the thirteenth annual Cato Supreme Court Review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the controversial use of military vehicles and weapons by the police in Ferguson, Missouri, President Obama ordered a review of federal programs that facilitate the flow of weaponry from the Pentagon to local police departments. These military transfers raise a host of questions. Do the police need armored vehicles, M-16s, and grenade launchers to do their job effectively? Are the Pentagon programs adequately monitored? Should no-knock police raids be rare, or routine? Please join us for a wide-ranging discussion of modern American policing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shooting of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson sparked days of protest in Ferguson, Missouri. Meanwhile, in New York City, thousands of residents have protested the violent arrest that led to Eric Garner’s death. In recent years, the Department of Justice has sought to clean up police forces in Albuquerque, New Orleans, Seattle, and Detroit. Are the tensions that boiled over in Ferguson simmering in other cities? What are the lessons to be drawn from events in Ferguson? Has American law enforcement become overly aggressive and militarized? Are minorities being treated unfairly? Is police misconduct widespread? Join us for a wide-ranging discussion about Ferguson and American policing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of the 2008–2009 financial crisis a pervasive view began to emerge of banking as an inherently unstable occupation that must be tightly regulated and monitored by government agencies. Charles Calomiris and co-author Stephen Haber overturn this notion by presenting an inconvenient truth: not all countries suffer systemic banking crises. Some countries have managed to create a system that provides abundant credit without the propensity for banks to fail. So what is their secret? The answer is equally simple: The well-being of a banking sector depends on the ability of political institutions to limit rent-seeking by populist groups. Join the Cato Institute for a lively discussion of the true causes of the financial crisis and whether in light of the evidence presented by the authors the antidote (Dodd-Frank) causes more problems than it solves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When and why does the American public support war? Washington politicians and pundits often puzzle over these questions as they try to win support for their policies, but there is a large body of academic research on public opinion and war. Do events, such as casualties or the prospect of victory, affect support more, or do partisan identities or other attachments play a larger role? What sorts of arguments should hawks and doves make if they hope to win support for their views? Please join four leading political scientists as they examine the causes of public support for war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federalist Papers, which explain America's founding principles and the practical means for securing them, were instrumental in winning the hard-fought battle to ratify the Constitution. Yet today, high-school students often find it difficult to read them, if they are even encouraged to do so. To address that problem, and to help America's future leaders to better understand the principles embedded in the Constitution, One Generation Away has published a book of essays by leading constitutional scholars that explains the central themes of the Federalist Papers in a language that upper-level high-school students of today will more easily comprehend. Please join us for a discussion of this book by two of its authors, followed by a discussion of how it may be used in the classroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Motivated by the world's highest corporate tax rate and an aggressive form of worldwide taxation, several American companies are engaging in cross-border mergers to find tax jurisdictions with better policies. The Cato Institute will host a panel of experts on August 26 to discuss appropriate public policy responses to corporate inversions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.