Skip to main content

Research Archive

Welcome to Our Research Archive

Search and filter by content type, issue area, author, and keyword

December 18, 2023

Kids aren’t for everyone. But it’s better for everyone if you have them.

If your social media habits are like mine, then every few weeks you run across a video celebrating life without children. A recent TikTok introduced viewers to a couple of “DINKs” — double income, no kids. They boast about how they can go to workout classes on the weekend, plan European vacations, “get into snobby hobbies like…

By Ramesh Ponnuru

December 18, 2023

The State of Democratic Capitalism: 2023

How to assess the health of democratic capitalism in the United States? Fundamentally, it is very strong. The marriage of democratic politics and a free-market economy continues to strengthen each, with free markets generating the employment opportunities and prosperity that lead to widespread support for our political system and the rule of law, strengthen democratic…

By Michael R. Strain

December 15, 2023

What Athletes Take off the Field

In today’s dynamic economy, the value of noncognitive skills cannot be overstated. While technical know-how and academic knowledge remain crucial, there is an increasing recognition of the role that skills like teamwork, resilience, and strategic thinking play in professional success. A fascinating area where these skills are intensively cultivated is athletics. Especially at competitive levels, sports serve as…

By Brent Orrell

December 15, 2023

Pro-Family Policy Priorities for States

Introduction America’s system of federalism means that the is- sues that most directly impact the lives of parents and families are often most appropriately dealt with at the state level. While many conversations about how to make family life more affordable and achiev- able in the U.S. tend to focus on the federal tax code,…

By W. Bradford Wilcox | Patrick T. Brown

December 14, 2023

Perspective: What Flexibility Means for Younger Workers — and Their Employers

Just about all workers say they want flexibility. But older and younger workers differ on what this means. As we think about the future of work, it’s clear that workers need to have the skills to help them adapt to rapidly changing technology. Many of the jobs today’s young adults occupy didn’t exist 50 years…

By Brent Orrell | Hunter Dixon

December 14, 2023

Harnessing Tailwinds on State and Local Land-Use Reform: A Bipartisan Playbook

As housing affordability concerns are affecting more and more Americans, market-oriented and liberal researchers have found common ground on the need for land-use reform. Join AEI and the Progressive Policy Institute as they develop a bipartisan housing playbook that can be deployed across cities and states, red and blue. Practitioners, legislators, and researchers from across…

By Edward J. Pinto | Robert Doar

December 14, 2023

The Myth of the 1%

The skewing of income toward the top 1% of earners has become a central issue in American politics, with both Republicans and Democrats proposing higher taxes on the rich. But new research finds that it may not be true, suggesting that policymakers would do better to focus more on helping the working class. WASHINGTON, DC—For…

By Michael R. Strain

December 13, 2023

Stronger Families, Safer Streets

The debate about how best to respond to urban crime—a debate that has become more important in light of recent increases in violent crime and homicide in many cities across America—has tended to focus on two perspectives. The first prioritizes tackling the “social structural factors” (unemployment, economic inequality, poverty, etc.) that are thought to be…

By W. Bradford Wilcox | Rafael A. Mangual | Seth Cannon | Joseph E. Price

December 12, 2023

Underserved: A Conversation with Ja’Ron Smith and Chris Pilkerton

Event Summary On December 12, AEI’s Scott Winship and former Trump administration officials Ja’Ron Smith and Chris Pilkerton discussed how policymakers can improve the lives of people in underserved communities across the country. Mr. Smith and Mr. Pilkerton began with a presentation connecting President Abraham Lincoln’s opportunity agenda with traditional conservative economic philosophy. They explained…

By Scott Winship | Ja'Ron Smith | Chris Pilkerton

December 12, 2023

Virginia’s Gov. Youngkin Offers A Republican Path On Pre-K

The public wins when Democrats and Republicans are both offering principled solutions to pressing challenges. That’s too rarely been the case when it comes to early childhood education. For a public seeking more accessible, appealing, and affordable options, the political response has disappointed. Democrats have offered expensive, heavily regulated plans to jam more four- and five-year-olds into…

By Frederick M. Hess