Julia Cataneo

Maplewood

Research and Editorial Assistant at American Enterprise Institute

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Articles

How Canada’s Liberals Won

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

Last week, Canadians voted in yet another Liberal government—the fourth in a row since 2015. The Liberals have proven themselves to be the most politically successful left-leaning party in the Western world over the past decade. In an age of populist conservative nationalism, they defy all odds. How do they keep doing it? Let’s begin with a look at the past few months in Canadian politics, illustrated by three useful images.
The Mega Millions Tax Increase

1 week ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

As Congress considers whether and how to extend the 2017 tax law, expect Democrats to continue to howl about the need to increase taxes on the rich.
Should Unhealthful Foods Be Excluded from SNAP?

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

In a recent opinion column in the Wall Street Journal, Allysia Finley argues that beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ought not be allowed to use their SNAP benefits to purchase candy and sugary sodas: “… such ultraprocessed foods … aren’t good for you.
Should Lawmakers Raise the Stock Buyback Excise Tax?

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

In 2022, lawmakers introduced a new excise tax on stock repurchases. This one percent tax applies to net share repurchases of large corporations and was projected to raise $73.6 billion over a decade. Republican lawmakers now face a budgetary challenge. They want to extend the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) without greatly increasing the budget deficit. Some have floated the idea of raising the stock buyback excise tax.
Thinking About the Tariffs and the Laffer Curve

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

At a legendary 1974 Washington dinner, economist Arthur Laffer supposedly sketched his famous curve on a napkin, demonstrating how excessive taxation could reduce government revenue. Now researchers have applied this concept to tariffs, revealing a harsh truth: Even under optimal conditions, additional tariff revenues would peak far short of the amounts claimed by the Trump White House and just a fraction of the $2.4 trillion from federal income taxes.
What We Value

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

Photographer Berenice Abbott once remarked that “Photography helps people to see.” I couldn’t agree more. As a social scientist, I deeply believe that photography has the power to capture unique perspectives and bring to light different norms and ways of life well beyond my statistical analyses, data, and prose. After visiting and enjoying countless galleries in recent years, I have become acutely aware of the photography’s gift.
A World with Smart AI but Not Human-Level AI

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

How long, if ever, before we achieve artificial intelligence that can pretty much do everything that a human worker can do currently? My short-hand way of gauging the speculative timeline relies, at least partially, on prediction markets. And the most recent message from them suggests tempering expectations, at least a bit. For example: The current Metaculus consensus sees artificial general intelligence happening in November 2032 versus a forecast of March 2030 back in February.
Finally a Serious Blueprint to Repair and Rebuild the US Military

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

The US military is deep in the “Terrible ’20s” where the majority of its conventional and strategic recapitalization bills are coming due across the armed forces. The Pentagon has been in stasis for a decade and a half because the reality is that it must cut its budget every year to simply maintain the status quo—much less innovate for the rapidly changing battlefield of today.
Reforms to Mitigate the Wage Effects of Employer Health Coverage

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

The burden of employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) for health care falls on the employees enrolled in the plans, but many of these workers believe their companies are paying, not them. Employers send premium payments to insurers for ESI but then offload the cost by restraining cash compensation for their workers. A 2023 working paper by Anqi Chen, Alicia H. Munnell, and Diana Horvath traces the long-term trend in employer-paid health coverage premiums relative to total worker compensation.
Uncertainty from the Trump Tariffs Is a Certain Thing

2 weeks ago | aei.org | Julia Cataneo

Economists overwhelmingly regard uncertainty as economically corrosive. When households and businesses face murky outlooks—concerning inflation, policy shifts, or global crises—their response is remarkably predictable: hesitation.