Hoover History Lab | Policy Briefs

Here we feature the recent works of Hoover History Lab authors that feature specific policy recommendations.
 

See also Books, Articles, and Commentary from the Hoover History Lab.

Lessons for American Immigration Policy from the Past 

By Cody Nager
Thursday, October 24, 2024

Many observers argue that current US immigration policy is broken. Can it be fixed? By examining past American immigration debates, we can identify three fundamental principles that make policy more effective: simplicity, selectivity, and locality. Applying these principles to current debates would lead to a better and more responsive immigration policy, benefiting both current and future Americans.
 

Pitfalls of State-Led Development: Brazil’s Past Offers a Warning for China

By Dian Zhong
Friday, October 11, 2024

China’s state-driven economic model is at a critical crossroads, and debates over its sustainability are often emotionally charged and ideologically driven. Zhong offers a fresh perspective by using Brazil’s past to illuminate China’s future. 

BRI Colonialism in Africa: China’s Exploits Can Help the West Reengage the Continent

By Kate Tully
Friday, October 11, 2024

The West faces a critical juncture as China, through its Belt and Road Initiative, expands into Africa to secure resource dominance. With African sovereignty and global order threatened, how can the West reengage Africa? 

Arms Uncontrolled: China’s Strategic Nuclear Weapons Expansion and Its Implications for the United States

By Lindsay Wu
Friday, October 11, 2024

Parity-based US strategic doctrines are being challenged: China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal to rival those of the US and Russia; the combined forces of Beijing and Moscow could easily outnumber those of the Western allies.

On Day One

By Hugo Bromley, Eyck Freymann
Monday, June 24, 2024  

The United States lacks an economic contingency plan for conflict with China. Hard decoupling through sanctions is not viable. Instead, the United States should prepare a “Day One” plan based on economic leadership and recovery. By harnessing incentives and market forces, Washington and core US allies can trigger avalanche decoupling in trade while working with the interests of third states and preserving dollar hegemony and the rules-based trading system.