In the Public Interest
Democracy, shared prosperity, and the common good
In the Public Interest is a comprehensive research and policy center on privatization and responsible contracting.
In the Public Interest
Democracy, shared prosperity, and the common good
In the Public Interest is a comprehensive research and policy center on privatization and responsible contracting.
The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service
The story of billionaire Charles Koch’s connections, influence, and ideological push to weaken and ultimately privatize one of America’s most essential public services.
July 2020
The Postal Service helped us survive Spanish Flu. Amid coronavirus, Trump is trying to bankrupt it.
The October 25, 1918 edition of the Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer, a local Connecticut newspaper, reads like it was written during the COVID-19 pandemic. The frontpage reports a decline in cases of the Spanish Flu. [...]
May 2020
Black men with prostate cancer are twice as likely to die as white men. Except those with VA health [...]
Go figure. When African American men don’t experience delays in diagnosis or treatment, they survive just as often as white men.
February 2020
Privatized foreign air traffic control systems continue to fall further behind the U.S.
In the Public Interest teamed up with the National Consumers League, the Alliance for Aviation Across America, Consumer Action, and FlyersRights.Org to release a fact sheet summarizing issues with privatized air traffic [...]
September 2018
Why public space is so valuable
Homelessness is skyrocketing in Denver due to rising housing prices and rents, and the police are cracking down. But the public library is taking a different approach.
July 2017
Will the Supreme Court Supercharge Privatization?
The Supreme Court's decision in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association could threaten the economy and American democracy.
September 2015
The Value of Public Service
'Red tape' and 'bureaucracy' can save lives, especially in essential public services, like health, education, public safety, and infrastructure.
August 2015
The New IT Thing
It’s become painfully clear that governments can no longer afford to simply buy the claims of corporations seeking a multi-million dollar contract. Claims of “cost-savings” and “efficiencies” must be properly [...]
June 2015
Let’s Keep the Postal Service Public
When it comes to public services, it’s hard to think of anything more democratic than the post office. Enshrined in Article 1 of the Constitution and operating for 240 years, the public postal service guarantees universal [...]
February 2015
A Divide Wider than the San Andreas Fault
Irresponsible contracting is just one of the many causes of the widening wealth gap in California and other modern economies. Capital and Main’s series will help ensure that California is a leader in creating an economy [...]
February 2015
What’s the Matter with Texas?
Texas has a reputation as a “business-friendly” state, but when it comes to contracting, is the Lone Star State too friendly with its private-sector vendors? That’s the question now before the state legislators in [...]
February 2015