Edward Alden says increased internal and external border enforcement as well as economic crisis has decreased the population of unauthorized immigrants in both Europe and the US. Policies should provide incentives to encourage legal migration rather than just disincentives against illegal migration.

Sebatian Mallaby argues that excessive patent protections in the tech industry threaten innovation.

Peter Orszag contends that Representative Paul Ryan's budget plan is not a serious proposal for solving America's long-term fiscal problems.

Michael A. Levi analyzes Mitt Romney's energy plan, concluding that it has some reasonable ideas on supply but remains woefully incomplete.

Sebastian Mallaby argues that the woes of the U.S. workforce should convince politicans of the urgent need for tax, welfare, and education reforms.

Jagdish Bhagwati faults the Obama administration and the Democratic Party for fostering anti-Indian sentiment with their protectionist rhetoric.

Peter Orszag highlights the selection effect problem that can drive up health-care costs when private insurance plans bid to cover Medicare beneficiaries.

Michael Spence and David Brady cite risk aversion, rigid political systems, and a dearth of effective policy tools among the factors incapacitating political leadership in the world's major economies.

Sebastian Mallaby contends that work provides more than just financial income.

Robert Rubin writes that the ECB would risk losing its credibility and stoking inflation if it did not impose conditionality on its bond-buying program.

Michael A. Levi explains why the United States should allow liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and how to mitigate the associated risks.

Peter Orszag argues that Paul Ryan's proposals for Medicare and Medicaid reform would not reduce health-care costs so much as shift them around.

Peter Orszag calls for the revival of Build America Bonds to channel tax subsidies to state and local governments for infrastructure investment.

Sebastian Mallaby argues that the conditionality of the ECB plan to resume sovereign bond purchases will blunt the intervention's effectiveness.

Sebastian Mallaby argues that policymakers must decide whether the federal government will ensure the stability of the shadow banking system.

Benn Steil's column in Dow Jones' Financial News, co-authored with Dinah Walker, provides new evidence highlighting the endemic flaws in LIBOR as both a benchmark for setting market lending rates and a central-bank metric for judging policy effectiveness.

Peter Orszag explains that privatization would allow the U.S. Postal Service to free itself from congressional shackles and manage its operations more efficiently.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, confronting slowing growth and high unemployment, should unveil new stimulus tools at its next policy meeting, writes CFR's Sebastian Mallaby in an op ed.

Jagdish Bhagwati writes that the Doha round's failure at the hands of U.S. negotiators forebodes the return of protectionism.

Peter Orszag explains how summer inactivity can leave lasting negative impacts on a child's academic performance and physical health.