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FRASER INSIGHT
Issue 55 | Spring 2020
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Welcome back to Fraser Insight, the Fraser Institute’s U.S. newsletter. As the public-health, social, political and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis set in, we hope you and yours are safe. And we hope that receiving Insight just as planned and right on schedule serves as a reminder that our lives and our world will indeed get back to normal. Here’s to that being sooner rather than later.
This issue of Insight highlights the latest offering in the Fraser Institute’s Essential Scholars series: The Essential John Locke. In addition to a new book, our John Locke project includes a dedicated website, educational videos and links to a number of resources about Locke. Find out more in our In Context section, where we showcase in-depth research and analysis. In addition to the Locke book, this issue includes a report on the economic rights of women around the world.
The In Print section includes timely commentaries, blogs and op-eds exploring a range of topics—China’s trade policy, economic success stories in the Midwest, the climate-change debate, and of course, the impact of COVID-19. In fact, we recently launched a dedicated section [[link removed]] of our website focused on the public-policy response to this public-health crisis.
Finally, the In Focus section highlights the Institute’s move into the top 15 in the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go-To Think Tank Index. We are humbled by this recognition from our peers, and we will keep up the good work.
We encourage you to share Fraser Insight with friends and colleagues by inviting them to sign up for Insight here [[link removed]]. Visit our website [[link removed]], which serves as a storehouse for cogent commentary [[link removed]] and in-depth analysis [[link removed]]—all from a free-market perspective. Follow us on Twitter [[link removed]]. Join us on Facebook [[link removed]]. And check out the In Touch section for more contact info.
In Print: Commentary and Review
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Analyzing the Policy Responses to COVID-19 [[link removed]]
This dedicated section of our website provides daily analysis about how policymakers in the U.S., Canada and around the world are responding to the COVID-19 crisis, while offering insights on how the principles of economic freedom can serve as guideposts as we navigate our way through this challenging period.
Price Controls, Anti-Gouging Laws Make Matters Worse [[link removed]] Fraser Forum, March 27, 2020
The best way to deal with the destruction of supplies or extraordinary increases in demand is to let prices do their job.
Employers Must Be Allowed to Temporarily Lay off Workers during COVID Crisis [[link removed]] National Newswatch, March 27, 2020
In this extraordinary time of uncertainty, high regulatory and severance costs alongside legislative uncertainty will exacerbate an already bad situation.
Don’t Shoot the Financial-Market Messenger [[link removed]] The Conversation, March 25, 2020
Shuttering financial markets would be a mistake. Amid the volatility, financial market prices still convey much needed information.
Indiana Climbing in Economic Freedom Rankings [[link removed]] Center Square, March 17, 2020
States at the top of the EFNA rankings tend to have a common focus in their economic policies: a low tax burden, slow growth in government spending, a light regulatory burden that makes it easier for entrepreneurs to be successful, businesses to grow, taxpayers to save and invest. States that take the opposite approach see less economic prosperity—and more moving trucks headed outbound.
Canadian Policymakers Should Study Michigan’s Success [[link removed]] Toronto Sun, March 11, 2020
Michigan’s smart policy choices helped turn around the state’s economic fortunes.
China Sees Trade as Tool of State Policy [[link removed]] Fraser Forum, March 9, 2020
China uses trade as a weapon.
Climate Science and Climate Policy [[link removed]] National Post, March 4, 2020
Mainstream science and economics do not support much of the current climate policy agenda—and certainly not the radical extremes demanded by activist groups.
Coronavirus Shockwaves Felt around World Economy [[link removed]] Fraser Forum, March 3, 2020
Recent economic blows resulting from COVID-19 raise the specter of a supply-side shock vaguely reminiscent of the oil price shocks of the 1970s.
Time to Fight Climate Extremists [[link removed]] Sudbury Star, February 10, 2020
Last year was the year the climate issue took a sharp turn towards extremism. Let’s hope 2020 is the year sanity makes a comeback.
Congressional Voting on USMCA Underscores Influence of Interest Groups [[link removed]] Fraser Forum, January 10, 2020
The recent approval of the USMCA illustrates how concentrated groups can influence the positions of politicians on specific issues, even when many of their constituents likely hold different positions.
In Focus: Research and Analysis
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Essential Scholars Series: John Locke [[link removed]]
No single individual is ever the sole founder of any major stance in political philosophy—or in any other field of human inquiry. That’s because, knowingly or unknowingly, every theorist makes important use of ideas and contentions previously developed by other thinkers. Nevertheless, if one were forced to name the founder of the classical liberal perspective in political thought, one could legitimately choose the English philosopher John Locke.
Women's Economic Rights—What's Changed and Why Does It Matter? [[link removed]]
Despite improvements worldwide, 54 countries imposed greater restrictions on the economic rights of women over a recent two-year period, while 83 countries improved women’s economic rights in that same period. Currently, 37 countries restrict the ability of married women to obtain passports; 17 restrict their ability to travel outside their home; 13 countries restrict a woman’s right to own property; and 39 countries restrict their ability to inherit property. And in five countries—Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau and Niger—there are restrictions on a woman’s ability to open a bank account.
In Context: News and Events Fraser Institute Jumps into Top 15
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The Fraser Institute now ranks 14th among all think-tanks worldwide, according to the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go-To Think Tank Index [[link removed]]. The annual index ranks more than 8,200 public policy research organizations.
“Being recognized as one of the top 15 think tanks in the world speaks volumes about the quality of research and programs produced by our diverse staff and senior fellows across Canada and the United States,” said Niels Veldhuis, Fraser Institute president. “We are particularly proud to rank in the top ten worldwide for our digital communications, including 7th for best use of the Internet and 8th for best use of social media,” he noted.
In addition, the Institute ranks 3rd in the world for social policy research; 6th in the world for national and international health policy research; and 15th for most innovative policy ideas.
In Touch: Connect with Us
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To learn more about our research team, visit our senior staff [[link removed]] and senior fellow [[link removed]] pages. We always welcome your feedback at [
[email protected]]. To find out more about supporting the Fraser Institute, call (800) 665-3558, ext.568, or donate online [[link removed]].
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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of 86 think-tanks. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. To find out more, call (800) 665-3558 ext. 590.
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