Balsa Research
A policy shop working to implement the civilizational low-hanging fruit.
Research Areas
We answer neglected questions to craft shovel-ready policies that actually address core underlying human needs. We model issues, commission academic studies, draft viable legislation, and spread ideas.
Repealing the Jones Act to revitalize our domestic coastal shipping industry.
Reforming NEPA to better safeguard our environment and communities.
Improving federal housing policy to address the housing crisis.
Supporting reasonable AI policy for preventing negative outcomes.
Our hypothesis: The work necessary to get good policy implemented is slow, expensive, unglamorous, and subject to adverse selection. Good, smart people working in policy need to focus a substantial portion of their time on pleasing donor bases, reinforcing party lines, and navigating internal politics inside institutions.
They are not being given the adequate time and resources necessary to write good laws and repeal bad ones effectively.
This is the cause of much of the current dysfunction in American policy.
To test that hypothesis, Balsa Research focuses on doing policy work that foregrounds actually solving problems that people face. We seek funding only from deeply aligned donors, and work to generate value that is free for anyone to use.
Balsa Research is seeking experts and contributors in all areas to help research policy issues, spread ideas, work with lawmakers, and fund our mission. Reach out to volunteer by filling out this google form.
If you want to help fund our efforts, donate today.