Learning from What Works | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

Learning from What Works | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Economists, political scientists, reporters and pundits spend too much of their time looking at dysfunctional societies and trying to explain why there are poverty, joblessness and hopelessness. In many ways, Haiti is easy to explain - no rule of law and 200 years of corrupt and incompetent governments. Switzerland is the polar opposite. It has almost no corruption and has the rule of law with honest, competent judges and government administrators. The question should be, 'What can we learn from the Switzerlands of the world about how to do things right' rather than, 'What is wrong with the Haitis of the world?' Switzerland manages to run a smaller government as a share of gross domestic product than the United States and most other countries while providing a higher level of service, security, prosperity and freedom. How does it do that?"

"Health care insurance is subsidized, and everyone has access regardless of income, but there is no 'public option.'"

"In the U.S., roughly two-thirds of government is at the federal level, and one third is at the state and local level. Switzerland is just the opposite, with roughly two-thirds of government being at the state (canton) and local level."