Tom Giovanetti is president of the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI), a 38-year-old conservative, free-market public policy “think tank” based in Dallas, Texas.
In addition to his administrative and fundraising duties, Tom writes for IPI and for leading publications on a variety of policy topics including tax policy, economic growth, self-government, civil liberties and constitutional protections, judicial supremacy, intellectual property, Social Security personal accounts, technology and Internet policy, and government spending. In addition to being regularly published in major outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, FoxNews.com and The Dallas Morning News, Tom writes often for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Tom frequently appears in the media and is a regular guest and occasional substitute host of the Mark Davis Show in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
Tom loves thinking out-of-the-box to design novel solutions to policy problems and explaining complicated policy issues in ways average folks can understand.
Tom's mission at IPI is to use issues to teach conservative, free market thinking and to push back against unprincipled populism. He seeks to encourage continued skepticism of Big Government, to maintain faith in markets, and to defend individual liberty as the best means of achieving human flourishing. His most recent work has focused on free market solutions to student loan debt, preserving online freedom, and persuading state legislatures to override local and municipal rules that restrict economic liberty.
Mr. Giovanetti has represented IPI at many national and international organizations, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and represented IPI during negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Mr. Giovanetti is a popular speaker and writer and testifies before state and federal legislative committees on a variety of topics.
Follow Tom on Twitter (X) at @tgiovanetti
Solving the Sugar Subsidy Problem
The problem of sugar subsidies frustrates those who believe in free markets and limited government and who oppose corporate welfare. But surrendering our consumer market to low-price manipulation simply makes us vulnerable to future high-price manipulation. Ultimately, the sugar problem can only be solved through a reformed and liberalized global sugar trading system, which should be the strategic goal of U.S. sugar policy.
Why Not Personal Accounts?
Personal Retirement Accounts (PRAs) should be the core of any conservative proposal for entitlement reform.
Sports Arenas Fail Taxpayers
Lack of transparency and ticketing policies that disadvantage the general public can’t be tolerated in a public facility. It should be a facility that works for the taxpayers, providing them every use and equal access, as with a publicly funded library or park.
Transforming Everything--Even How We Watch Football Games
The communications revolution is changing everything—including how guys watch football games. Even monitoring their blood pressure if their team lets them down.
The Wendy Davis Store: Open for Business
Wendy Davis has thrown her hat into the gubernatorial ring. IPI's Tom Giovanetti predicts that the Democratic darling will lose — but Republicans might get bloodied in the battle as well, unless Abbott beats her handily. If Davis loses by anything less than 10 percent, Democrats will be able to spin it as a victory of sorts, Giovanetti says — and they’ll be right.
Reform is Just a Word, in Taxes as in Health Care
Tax reformers need to keep a clear vision of what they’re trying to accomplish with tax reform, because if the purpose of the reform is to stimulate economic growth it must increase the after-tax rate of return to capital, otherwise reform could actually make things worse.
Is Tom Wheeler In for a Rude Awakening at the FCC?
Incoming Chairman Tom Wheeler should "nimbly" get the FCC going on the IP transition.
Did the Sequester Hurt the Economy?
The sky didn’t fall, job creation picked up instead of slowing down, and in the process we’ve managed to begin the process of restraining federal spending.
Continued Innovation Requires Government Cooperation
One clear theme from IPI’s Fifth Annual Communications Policy Summit is that we don’t need government to direct, fund or control innovation—we just need government to listen, learn, and cooperate where necessary.

