1. Edward Conard, author of the controversial economic manifesto Unintended Consequences, offers a contrarian reply to Fareed Zakaria’s recent call for increased public sector infrastructure investment.

2. Eugene Steuerle warns that Social Security has evolved into a “middle-age retirement system,” and he offers on how it might be reformed.

3. Sean Trende analyzes the Virginia gubernatorial race and concludes that the Democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe, has a slight edge. 

4. Ta-Nehisi Coates interviews geneticist Neil Risch on African American origins and race.