At this event, the authors argued that long-term economic development is affected not only by the size of government, but also by what governments do and how that activity is financed.

Government sponsored enterprises could be reformed using a specific plan that ensures the availability of mortgage financing while focusing the government on its relative strengths of providing a backstop against financial catastrophes and directing appropriate subsidies for affordable housing.

The chained Consumer Price Index can be used to index tax brackets and federal benefit payments.

At this event, panelists discussed the current health care reform bill and Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. delivered a keynote discussing the impact of health care reform.

Worthwhile Medicaid reforms would directfunds to the states and populations that need them most.

Instead of trying to find ways that government can remain involved in housing finance, the new Congress should consider how to withdraw the government from any role in financing prime mortgages and implement various promising private-financing mechanisms--covered bonds, the Danish system, and a more focused and regulated securitization system.