Michael Tanner

Vicious Circles: Social Isolation and Poverty - FREOPP The loss of social connection and associated rise in loneliness has had a host of social, cultural, economic, and civic consequences.

ICYMI: My latest study for @FREOPP looks at social isolation and loneliness; how it’s related to poverty, and the role of civil society in fighting it. freopp.org/whitepapers/...

Vicious Circles: Social Isolation and Poverty - FREOPP The loss of social connection and associated rise in loneliness has had a host of social, cultural, economic, and civic consequences.

This morning @FREOPP released my latest white paper, a study of the relationship between our growing epidemic of social isolation and poverty, and the role of civil society. Poverty leads to social isolation and social isolation makes it harder to get out of poverty freopp.org/whitepapers/...

Bad economic ideas make affordability worse - FREOPP The administration announced two proposals that defy basic economic reason

In my latest blog for FREOPP I have some thoughts on Trump-style socialism.

TRUMP YEAR ONE It has been a year since President Trump was sworn in for his second term as president, time to step back and evaluate what he has and hasn’t done over the past year. That turned out to be tougher …

Donald Trump’s second term is a year old. On my personal blog, I take a look at what he’s done. Needless to say I am not pleased. tanneronpolicy.com/2026/01/20/t...

The overlooked beneficiaries of SNAP: rural Americans - FREOPP As the shutdown crisis appears to wind down, policymakers should abandon prejudicial stereotypes and help Americans who need assistance.

The shutdown driven debate over SNAP (food stamps) brought out an ugly pastiche of stereotypes and tropes about the program and poverty generally. In my latest blog for @FREOPP I look at who really gets benefits. freopp.org/oppblog/the-...

The Challenge of Rural Poverty - FREOPP Rural America is undergoing tremendous economic upheaval, but this turmoil offers policymakers an opportunity to enact real change.

My latest research for @FREOPP looks at rural poverty. We tend to think of poverty as an urban problem, but poverty is actually higher and more intractable in rural America. Fixing it will require its own unique agenda.

freopp.org/whitepapers/...

Why Marriage Is Failing America's Poor (And Making Inequality Worse) Economist Michael Tanner reveals why marriage rates are collapsing among the poor while staying stable for the wealthy—and what it means for America's future.

I recently joined Mind Body Health & Politics to talk about the collapse of marriage among America’s poor — why it’s deepening inequality, and how we can rebuild opportunity for struggling families.

🎙 Listen here: www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/p/why-marria...

A tragedy in Charlotte can provide lessons about the homeless mentally ill - Freopp Policymakers should create paths to mental health treatment—inculding involuntary commitment for severe cases—while protecting due process and respecting personal autonomy

What can a horrible murder in Charlotte tell us about our failure to help the homeless mentally ill? Can we do better? My latest for FREOPP.

freopp.org/a-tragedy-in...

What the new poverty data say and do not say - Freopp Policymakers need a better way to measure poverty that considers the ability of families to provide for themselves

This week the Census Bureau released the latest report on poverty rates. Unsurprisingly, I have thoughts.

freopp.org/oppblog/what...

ICYMI yesterday, here is my appearance on CSPAN, discussing homelessness in America. www.c-span.org/program/wash...

For my early-rising fans, I will be on CSPAN tomorrow at 8 am to discuss homelessness and mental heath

A balanced approach to homelessness and mental illness - FREOPP A recent EO could initiate a policy shift to implement better solutions for chronic social ills

Trump has released a new executive order on homelessness. As usual, I have thoughts. My latest blog for FREOPP. freopp.org/oppblog/a-ba...

Does Marriage Reduce Poverty? - FREOPP If properly designed and contextualized, efforts to encourage marriage can be important tools in reducing poverty.

My latest study for FREOPP looks at marriage a way to reduce poverty. My answer: Yes. No. Maybe. Government efforts to encourage marriage should be limited, carefully designed, and contextualized, but can be a useful tool in fighting poverty. freopp.org/whitepapers/...

Utah tackles welfare cliffs - FREOPP The Beehive State passed an important reform that will help struggling Utahns escape poverty and dependence

Thanks to the leadership of Utah Rep Tom Clancy for his leadership on welfare reform as Utah tackles welfare cliffs. This is an important step to help people escape poverty and become self-sufficient. I write about in my latest blog for FREOPP. freopp.org/oppblog/utah...

Trump’s trade war will hurt poor Americans most - FREOPP Tariffs invariably tax consumers

As President Trump prepares to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike in US history later today, a reminder that tariffs hurt the poor and low-income workers most. My FREOPP blog from late last month. freopp.org/oppblog/trum...

Trump’s trade war will hurt poor Americans most - FREOPP Tariffs invariably tax consumers

ICYMI, my latest blog for @FREOPP looks at the looming trade war and its likely impact on low-income Americans. freopp.org/oppblog/trum...

Trump’s trade war will hurt poor Americans most - FREOPP Tariffs invariably tax consumers

There are many, many reasons to oppose tariffs and Trump’s trade war, but one that’s not talked about enough: Tariffs are especially bad for low-income Americans. My latest blog for FREOPP.

freopp.org/oppblog/trum...

Opinion: Utah must lead on welfare reform to address benefits cliffs

My column in the Deseret News looking at welfare cliffs. Utah has a chance to lead.

www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...

Rethinking poverty for National Poverty Awareness Month - FREOPP The poverty of opportunity requires fundamentally changing how policymakers address the needs of poorer Americans

January is Poverty in America Awareness Month. So how are we doing fighting poverty? The answer is mixed and depends on what we mean by poverty. My latest blog for FREOPP.

freopp.org/oppblog/reth...

What Now? The election is over and the candidate that I voted for lost. That happens in a democracy (in my case, most of the time). What does this mean for policy and the country going forward? How should we…

With Donald Trump about to be sworn in again, I thought I’d re-up this piece from my personal blog. Both Trump supports and skeptics (like me) should chill a bit and see what happens next. tanneronpolicy.com/2024/11/25/w...

DOGE Should Tackle Our Welfare System - FREOPP The nation’s sclerotic, overly bureaucratic social welfare system fails both taxpayers and the poor it's meant to help

DOGE has a chance to both make government more efficient AND help those people who need it by tackling our sclerotic welfare system. My latest blog for FREOPP.

freopp.org/oppblog/doge...

Reimagining our Approach to Homelessness at Freedom & Progress 2024 YouTube video by The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity

I have some thoughts on dealing with homelessness. From FREOPP’s Freedom & Opportunity conference.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=4xzh...

What Now? The election is over and the candidate that I voted for lost. That happens in a democracy (in my case, most of the time). What does this mean for policy and the country going forward? How should we…

The election is over. Trump won. So what now? How should we respond? On my personal blog, I have some thoughts for both sides.
tanneronpolicy.com/2024/11/25/w...

What I Believe The last few years have left me increasingly politically homeless. The Republican party has abandoned any pretense of free markets or fiscally responsible economics, while ratcheting up populist de…

Given the migration to this site, I should reintroduce myself. i am currently a senior fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), specializing in poverty and social welfare issues. For a better idea of my ideological beliefs, see. tanneronpolicy.com/2024/05/19/w...
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My Vote 2024 Less than three weeks until election day.   Pundits like to describe every election as “the most important in our lifetime.”  This one may actually come close to meeting that criterion.  …

Election 2024: how will I vote and why? On my personal blog, I explain.
tanneronpolicy.com/2024/10/15/m...

Bad news on race, class, and social mobility - FREOPP Although the black-white income gap is shrinking among low-income Americans, disparities persist across several metrics

The latest research suggests class is slowly overtaking race as a determinant of economic mobility. Racial disparities remain and must be addressed but we also need to be concerned with deteriorating conditions for poor whites. My latest blog for FREOPP freopp.org/oppblog/bad-...

Fixing the Broken Incentives in the U.S. Welfare System  - FREOPP Most policymakers do not want social welfare programs to reduce work. Unfortunately, that is precisely what happens when recipients face so-called “benefit cliffs.”

The structure of welfare can trap families in poverty and dependence. Those who work and try to become self-sufficient can face marginal tax rates if 100% or more. In my latest study for FREOPP I look at welfare cliffs and how to fix them.
freopp.org/whitepapers/...

Trump and Biden trade policies would hurt poorest Americans One of their few areas of agreement is a policy that will almost certainly harm those who can least afford it.

Tariffs and trade protectionism harms the poorest among us. So why do both Trump and Biden support them? My latest blog for FREOPP.

blog.freopp.org/trump-and-bi...

Kamala Harris on poverty and welfare A hypothetical President Harris seems likely to do little more than double down on upholding the Biden administration’s policies.

If Kamala replaces Biden on the Democratic ticket, what will that mean for policies impacting the poor? In a blog today for FREOPP, I look at her record. blog.freopp.org/kamala-harri...

Reimagining the Policy Approach to Homelessness Identifying the several causes of homelessness and applying solutions that fit each one

My latest research study for FREOPP looks at homelessness. Neither “Housing First” nor sending in the police is likely to be a long term fix. There are better solutions.
freopp.org/reimagining-...