“Government Efficiency,” You Say? AEI Scholars Have Ideas

• Experts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argue that China's Third Plenum communiqué remains vague on demand-side measures, even though boosting consumption is widely seen as crucial for sustainable growth.

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• The analysis suggests that despite consensus on the need for stronger consumer demand, Beijing faces challenges in shifting from an investment-driven economy due to long-standing transfers that benefit manufacturing, infrastructure, and local governments at the expense of households.

• Ilya Somin at Cato Institute argues that supporting globalization and opposing world government are not contradictory positions because a world government could worsen voter ignorance, hinder foot voting, and potentially spiral into catastrophic authoritarianism.
• The article asserts that world government is unnecessary for solving global issues and could suppress beneficial diversity and competition between nations. Instead, voluntary cooperation among major powers can address international challenges effectively.

• Lindsey McLendon at Center for American Progress argues that Project 2025 aims to dismantle the U.S. system of checks and balances, granting politicians, judges, and corporations increased control over Americans' lives by enforcing extreme right-wing policies through the U.S. Department of Justice.
• The Center for American Progress asserts that Project 2025 would pressure local district attorneys to enforce severe abortion bans and other restrictive laws, exacerbating the maternal health crisis and reducing access to essential reproductive healthcare, particularly in states with already high maternal mortality rates.

• Elaine Kamarck at Brookings writes that in selecting Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, Donald Trump aimed to solidify his hard-right agenda, emphasizing Vance's alignment with Trump's core messages and MAGA base.
• The article examines how Trump's choice of Vance follows the "reinforcing model" of vice-presidential selection, where the VP candidate strengthens the presidential candidate's message and governance, rather than providing a traditional ideological or geographic balance.

• Adam Kissel at American Enterprise Institute argues that public universities suffer from a culture of timidity in discussing conservative ideas and that privatizing these institutions could introduce market discipline, potentially saving states billions in subsidies.
• The article advocates for states to wait until interest rates drop below 4 percent before attempting to privatize universities through an endowment/bond plan, suggesting this transition will lead to institutions better aligned with market needs and free from bureaucratic constraints.