What does Russia—and 14 other countries—know that we do not? They have implemented the flat tax, a low, simple tax system to replace the complicated and costly tax programs that burden governments and taxpayers and slow economic growth. First proposed by Hoover senior fellows Robert Hall and Alvin Rabushka 25 years ago to replace the U.S. federal income tax, the flat tax has gone from being an idea to having been put into practice by 15 countries since 1994, with several more considering it, and several U.S. states.

The American Sociological Association announced recently that Hoover Institution senior fellow Joseph Berger and professor emeritus of the sociology department of Stanford University is the recipient of the 2007 W.E.B. DuBois Award. This is the highest award granted by the association in recognition of a career of scholarly achievements in sociology.