Civitas Outlook

Civitas Outlook, the online journal of the Civitas Institute, publishes original writing about the ideas that create flourishing societies.

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The Tax Code Is the Abundance Agenda’s Missing Villain

The Tax Code Is the Abundance Agenda’s Missing Villain

A debate focused almost entirely on permitting and regulatory reform is insufficient. The tax code cannot remain a footnote. It is the missing villain.

Veronique de Rugy, Adam Michel
Economic Dynamism
Mar 31, 2026

The Dignity of Relational Beings

The Dignity of Relational Beings

Advancements in technology may lead us to discount the personal effort required to show up for others.

Ainsley Weber
Pursuit of Happiness
Mar 31, 2026

Dishonor and the Civil Service

Dishonor and the Civil Service

Those who serve in the government “should have, metaphorically speaking, their resignation letters in pocket in case they are ever confronted with a question of conscience.”

Aaron L. Nielson
Constitutionalism
Mar 30, 2026

All topics

Civitas Outlook seeks understanding from a variety of authors, ideas, and disciplines. Choose a specific topic above or explore our full library.

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Confusion about Commandeering
Jonathan H. Adler
Politics
Mar 3, 2026
A Climate Science Manual for Judges Discredits Itself
Jessica Weinkle
Politics
Mar 2, 2026
American Immortals
Michael Lucchese
Politics
Feb 27, 2026
The False Equivalence of Multicultural Day
Josh Blackman
Pursuit of Happiness
Feb 26, 2026
The Start-Up Paradox: The Coming Red Shift in Innovation
Arthur Herman
Economic Dynamism
Feb 26, 2026
Norman Podhoretz: American Patriot, Faithful Jew, and Indomitable Defender of Civilization
Daniel J. Mahoney
Pursuit of Happiness
Feb 25, 2026

Economic Dynamism

We consider the principles, policies, and culture that supports free market capitalism

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The Tax Code Is the Abundance Agenda’s Missing Villain
Veronique de Rugy, Adam Michel
Economic Dynamism
Mar 31, 2026
Washington’s Housing Fix Isn’t a Fix
Tobias Peter
Economic Dynamism
Mar 25, 2026
The Economist Who Knew Too Much
Julia R. Cartwright
Economic Dynamism
Mar 24, 2026
The Tragedy of Paul Ehrlich
Economic Dynamism
Mar 23, 2026
Cut Licensing, Cut Prices, Embrace AI
Kevin Frazier
Economic Dynamism
Mar 19, 2026
The Trump Administration’s Venture Capitalist State
Paul Mueller
Economic Dynamism
Mar 18, 2026

Politics

We investigate what it means to be a constitutional people who remain tethered to the rule of law.

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Parliament, Country, and Friendship
Luke Foster
Politics
Mar 25, 2026
Why Can’t We Have a Real Filibuster?
Joseph Postell
Politics
Mar 24, 2026
The Ways, Means, and Ends of FDR
Paul Moreno
Politics
Mar 20, 2026
Mamdani’s Audacious Estate Tax for New York
Richard Epstein
Politics
Mar 18, 2026
Oil, War, and Peace
Richard Epstein
Politics
Mar 12, 2026
Iran and the Laws of War
John Yoo
Politics
Mar 12, 2026

Constitutionalism

We discuss the political thought that undergirds a society of freedom and virtue.

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How Climate Litigation Imposes Back Door Carbon Taxes
Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Nov 6, 2025
The Localist Roots of Climate Litigation
Jonathan H. Adler
Constitutionalism
Nov 5, 2025
What Americans Mean By “Constitution”
Daniel E. Burns
Constitutionalism
Oct 31, 2025
The Struggle for the Shadow Dockets
Aaron L. Nielson
Constitutionalism
Oct 28, 2025
A Listening Heart
Jonathan H. Adler
Constitutionalism
Oct 27, 2025
Waging Municipal Lawfare
Doug Peterson, Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Oct 23, 2025

Pursuit of Happiness

We explore how citizens, neighbors, workers, families, and communities shape the future of American society.

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The Dignity of Relational Beings
Ainsley Weber
Pursuit of Happiness
Mar 31, 2026
Adams’ Duplicitous Cabinet
Myron Magnet
Pursuit of Happiness
Mar 27, 2026
The Mores of Machines
Thomas Dias
Pursuit of Happiness
Mar 19, 2026
Gratitude, Grit, and Miracles: The New Facts of Jewish Life in America
Tal Fortgang
Pursuit of Happiness
Mar 17, 2026
Becoming All-American
Titus Techera
Pursuit of Happiness
Mar 6, 2026
The Original Sin of U.S. Health Care
Avik Roy
Pursuit of Happiness
Mar 4, 2026

Technology & Innovation

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Who we are

We are a community of scholars exploring the ideas and institutions that create flourishing societies.

The Civitas Institute is part of the University of Texas at Austin.

Independent thought, civil discourse, reasoned deliberation and intellectual curiosity are central to our ethos.

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