Morning Brief: Public Perspectives of Regulation

A new report from the Pew Research Center finds an increase in those who believe government regulation of business "does more harm than good," climbing from 45 percent in March 2011 to 52 percent today. However, the public views regulation in some specific areas such as food protection, the environment, and auto safety as satisfactory or in need of strengthening.

Corporate regulation and taxation. Read more from top economists and business experts on solutions for addressing corporate tax reform.

Education and Human Capital

The Woes of Publicly-Traded Education Firms

Publicly-traded education companies face a number of challenges, writes Robin L. Flanigan for Education Week, including heightened levels of scrutiny and tensions associated with reconciling the best interests of students with profit and losses. But if a firm is intent on expanding, she writes, the level of funding that can only be provided by Wall Street is often necessary.

Education and human capital. Read more from experts discussing ways to improve U.S. education and immigration policies.

Infrastructure

A Smaller GOP Transportation Bill

House Republicans might scale down a five-year, $260 billion transportation bill in order to increase the chances of its passage in the coming weeks, according to AP. The Senate, for its part, is considering a $109 billion transportation package that would span two years. Congress has not passed a transportation bill since 2005.

Infrastructure. Read more on how upgrading the nation’s aging network of roads, bridges, airports, railways, and water systems is essential to maintaining U.S. competitiveness.

International Trade and Investment

Promoting Chinese Investment in the U.S.

The United States should learn from Ireland in attempting to woo Chinese investment, writes Nin-Hai Tseng for CNN Money. Where Washington greeted Vice President Xi Jinping with a list of complaints and sour rhetoric, Ireland is positioning itself to become China's gateway to Europe.

Tseng also references CFR's Policy Innovation Memo on fostering Chinese investment in the United States, quoting David M. Marchick, "Many Chinese executives believe the United States is unwelcoming of Chinese investment, even though the vast majority of Chinese investments in the United States have either been approved or have not required any approval."

International trade and investment. Read more from leading analysts on the debate over next steps in U.S. trade policy.