Government-granted patent monopolies have limited the ability to produce and stockpile large quantities of the drugs deemed most effective in treating the Avian Flu. This report examines alternative mechanisms for financing the development of pharmaceutical products.

This report debunks the myth that labor market protections, such as unions and unemployment benefits, are responsible for high European unemployment rates.

This paper notes that the typical worker's earnings have increased little over the last six years, despite apparently rapid productivity growth. It provides a quick examination of key measurement issues that might explain this gap.

This report shows that Europe's welfare states have nearly closed the employment gap with respect to the United States for workers aged 25 to 54 years old.

This paper forecasts that weakness in the housing market is likely to push the economy into a recession in 2007. Economist Dean Baker provides predictions for GDP, job and wage growth; inflation (CPI); investment; exports and imports; and more.

This updated paper provides key economic indicators of the state of the housing market -- including new 2006 data. It gives an up-to-date analysis of the available data sources, such as home sales, mortgage applications, vacancy rates and construction.

This issue brief compares projected savings from drilling in presently restricted offshore zones, savings under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and the projected savings from the fuel efficiency schedule proposed by Senator Obama. The issue brief projects savings through 2027,...

The rate of new drug development has stagnated, in spite of large increases in both private and public sector spending on biomedical research. The flip side of slower progress is higher drug costs. The cost of developing new drugs has been rising at an average real rate of more than 7 percent...

This report traces the increase in U.S. inequality over the last quarter-century. It outlines the myriad drivers of this trend, including deliberate policy decisions on trade, immigration, interest rates, and health care costs.

This report describes the key economic indicators that indicate the state of the housing market. It gives up-to-date analysis of the available data sources, such as home sales, mortgage applications, vacancy rates and construction.