Merit is a central pillar of liberal epistemology, humanism, and democracy. Author Carlos Carvalho Merit is a central pillar of liberal epistemology, humanism, and democracy. The scientific enterprise, built on merit, has proven effective in generating scientific and technological advances, reducing suffering, narrowing social gaps, and improving the quality of life globally. This perspective documents […]
Objectivism Program
Exploring and applying Ayn Rand’s philosophy of reason, egoism, and capitalism. MAIN RESEARCHER Gregory Salmieri AFFILIATED FACULTY Tara Smith Gena Gorlin The Salem Center’s Objectivism Program (co-sponsored by the Ayn Rand Institute) aims to foster the study of Ayn Rand’s philosophy and its applications to contemporary affairs. We support research about and informed by Objectivism, […]
Policy Research Lab Projects
What are students in the Policy Research Laboratory working on? MAIN RESEARCHERS PRL Students PROJECTS COVID-19 Data Analysis Students: Jacob Roth, Daniela Serrano, Will Robinson, Matthew Vu Do Political Orthodoxies Influence Academic Publications? Students: Daniela Serrano Does Monopolistic Pricing Power Exist in Small Firm Mergers? Students: Will Robinson Effects of Covid-19 on Birthrates Students: Lily […]
COVID-19
We collect data from various sources to show the impact of COVID-19 and the related mitigation measures on the Top 20 Texas MSAs. Main Researchers Salem Center Team The mission of this project is to gather information about large areas of economic activity in Texas, starting with Austin then expanding to the rest of the […]
Financial Market Regulation
Promoting the relevance of academic research in the design, implementation, and evaluation of financial market regulation. Director Scott W. Bauguess Through events, analysis, and commentary, the program on financial markets regulation aims to elevate the role evidence-based decision making in the policy development process. Bringing the rigor of peer-reviewed research to decision-makers can mitigate the […]
Objectivity in Thought, Action, and Enterprise
It takes work for human beings to know reality and to form and achieve values within it. Understanding this work enables us to take greater control of our minds and our lives. MAIN RESEARCHER Gregory Salmieri Human beings—many of us, at least—aspire to be objective in our thinking and our decision-making. We aspire to conform […]
Coding Congressional Budget Office Bill Scoring Reports
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was created with the mandate to provide research assistance to Congress. Its most important role is to provide cost estimates for congressional bills that make it out of the committee system prior to voting on the chamber floors. On its website, the CBO maintains a record of all the bill […]
Ideologues and Technocrats: How Congress Solves Problems.
Ph.D. student E.J. Fagan is conducting a study looking into the influence of think-tanks and interest groups on the policy-making process. The Salem Center provided support for E.J. to collect the necessary information to evaluate his hypothesis of growing influence from the policy content of 16,000 think tank white papers, and one of 1,100 appearances […]
Cybersecurity Policy
By first understanding the behavioral consequences of policy changes in cyberspace, we are better able to defend and understand the increasingly connected world in which we live. MAIN RESEARCHER Taylor “TJ” Canann Cybersecurity Post of the Month The Huawei 5G Infrastructure Debate One of the greatest drivers of human progress in the last couple of decades […]
Corporate Influence Over the Policymaking Process
Understanding corporate influence over the policymaking process MAIN RESEARCHER Steven Rashin Corporations and organized interests influence the policymaking process from an idea’s inception through its codification into law to its implementation. There is a consensus between policymakers, scholars, and corporate leaders that a degree of corporate influence over policy is necessary to ensure that the […]