The Civitas Papers
A series of in-depth studies offering rigorous research and practical ideas for reform
Unlocking Public Value: A Proposal for AI Opportunity Zones
Today, governments write rules around AI’s costs but rarely measure its benefits, which leaves innovators to retreat and the public to wait. The answer is not to pause progress but to prove it: to create AI Opportunity Zones—new partnerships where governments get open access to advanced AI systems in exchange for testing them, transparently and rigorously, on society’s toughest problems.
Archive

The Rise Of Latino America
In The Rise of Latino America, Hernandez & Kotkin argue that Latinos, who are projected to become America’s largest ethnic group, are a dynamic force shaping the nation’s demographic, economic, and cultural future. Far from being a marginalized group defined by oppression, Latinos are integral to America’s story. They drive economic growth, cultural evolution, and workforce vitality. Challenges, however, including poverty, educational disparities, and restrictive policies, threaten their upward mobility. Policymakers who wish to harness Latino potential to ensure national prosperity and resilience should adopt policies that prioritize affordability, safety, and economic opportunity over ideological constraints.

Free Speech and the American University: A Proposal
In this Civitas Outlook symposium, Hadley Arkes presents a proposal for reforming the American university’s approach to free speech. Larry Arnn, Mark Bauerlein, Justin Dyer, David Forte, Mark Helprin, Michael Poliakoff, and Peter Wood respond.

Defending Technological Dynamism & the Freedom to Innovate in the Age of AI
Human flourishing, economic growth, and geopolitical resilience requires innovation—especially in artificial intelligence.

Religious Exemptions?: What the Free Exercise Clause Means
What is the original meaning of the Free Exercise Clause? Does that original meaning support religious exemptions from generally applicable laws? Three scholars who work on religious liberty issues share their electronic conversation on the topic.
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