Public policy research and education boldly advancing peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity.
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For 40 years, the Independent Institute has advanced bold ideas, fearless inquiry, and principled solutions in defense of liberty.
From its beginnings as the original “garage think tank” near Silicon Valley to becoming a leading voice on economics, constitutional governance, education, healthcare, and public policy, Independent has challenged orthodoxy and shaped major national debates for four decades.
Watch our special 40th Anniversary video celebrating the people, ideas, and impact that have defined Independent since 1986 — and the work still ahead as we continue advancing peaceful, prosperous, and free societies.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
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National homelessness fell 3.3% in 2025, but is the decline real? A closer look suggests policy changes, counting methods, encampment sweeps, and immigration trends may explain much of the drop. Before celebrating, the data deserve closer scrutiny. | @ChrisCalto91066
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Before the Declaration of Independence came the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Adopted on June 12, 1776, it helped shape America’s founding principles of liberty, limited government, individual rights, and popular sovereignty. | William Watkins
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Private property enables individuals to pursue happiness through their own free choices. It also shields our individual and institutional projects from arbitrary power. | Alexander Salter
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How should we respond to the rise of AI? A new essay on Pope Leo XIV's Magnifica Humanitas argues that education, personal responsibility, and even digital fasting may do more to protect human dignity than government attempts to control innovation. | Robert Whaples
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A federal appeals court ruled that the Second Amendment does not protect armed drug traffickers from being disarmed, even inside their homes. The decision also highlights ongoing debates over how courts should use historical firearm regulations in constitutional analysis. | Stephen P. Halbrook
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What made Thomas Sowell’s approach to economics so distinctive?
Rather than relying heavily on abstract models, Sowell focused on comparative analysis—looking across different countries, cultures, and historical periods to answer major economic questions.
His work emphasizes that economic understanding doesn’t always require complex mathematical models. Sometimes, broader historical and comparative insight can reveal patterns that more abstract approaches miss.
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In 1963, President Kennedy argued that peace required diplomacy, not just military strength. As arms-control agreements disappear and nuclear tensions rise, his message remains relevant: fighting is easy. Diplomacy is hard. But lasting peace depends on it. | @abigail_r_hall
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Independent Institute retweeted
Jun 11
The War in Iran Is Coming for Insulin Markets: News Article
@IndependentInst independent.org/article/2026…
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Independent Institute retweeted
I’m excited to dive into this new @IndependentInst book. My chapter is of course about Frank Fetter, with new material about his overlooked work on the history of economic thought. Thanks to Robert Whaples for his editorial work and @ChrisCalto91066 for suggesting me. Link👇 🧵:
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Can AI enhance human flourishing without diminishing our humanity? A new analysis of Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas explores the risks of centralized AI power, government control, job displacement, and the importance of education, personal responsibility, and human values in the age of artificial intelligence. | Robert Whaples
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Private property is more than an economic concept. It underpins markets, protects individual freedom, strengthens civil society, and creates the conditions for human flourishing. Without secure property rights, prosperity, liberty, and voluntary cooperation become difficult to sustain. | Alexander Salter
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