Shikha Dalmia
Senior Analyst, Reason Foundation
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Shikha Dalmia is a senior analyst at Reason Foundation, a nonprofit think tank promoting free minds and free markets.

From 1996 to 2004, Dalmia was as an editorial writer at the Detroit News, covering a variety of policy issues, including the environment, immigration, Social Security, welfare reform, health care and foreign policy. She also worked as a reporter for the Patriot, a national daily newspaper based in New Delhi, India.

Dalmia's work has appeared in Reason magazine and numerous other print publications, such as the Los Angeles Times, New York Post, The Weekly Standard, San Francisco Chronicle and Chicago Tribune. She is a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal op-ed page.

Dalmia, who taught news writing courses at Michigan State University, earned a Master's degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. She also holds a B.S. from the University of Delhi and a post graduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communications.

She lives in the Detroit area with her husband and son.

Studies by Shikha Dalmia

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Op-Eds and Commentary by Shikha Dalmia

Detroit's Economic Plans Shrivel as Scandals Rage
Mayor Kilpatrick's battles further delay economic revival
April 26, 2008 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Scrap the Visa Cap
America's ability to attract new foreign-born workers and to keep the existing ones is diminishing
April 5, 2008 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Why Penalize Peter to Deport Pablo?
The SAVE Act won't stop illegal immigration, but might cost you your job
April 1, 2008 | Detroit News
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

The New New Thing
Are subsidies wrecking the development of a clean energy source?
March 24, 2008 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Legacy Admissions Hurt Middle-Class Students
Stanford, Yale, Harvard and other universities offer tuition breaks but don't fix admissions process
March 18, 2008 | San Francisco Chronicle
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Legacies of Injustice
Alumni preferences threaten educational equity--and no one seems to care
February 2008 Issue | Reason
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Saying No to CoerciveCare
Obama's plan isn't perfect, but it is much better than HillaryCare and Schwarzenneger's GovernatorCare
January 31, 2008 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Benazir Bhutto's Political Future
The murdered former leader may help Pakistani democracy more in death than in life
December 31, 2007 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Dingell Bells
Congressional Democrats' Christmas gift for U.S. automakers
December 31, 2007 | The Weekly Standard
By Henry Payne and Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Ahnuld's Folly
NYers lucky to escape fake warming fix
December 26, 2007 | New York Sun
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

No Child Left Behind Act: Keep it or Kill it?
Law has not lived up to grand expectations
December 13, 2007 | Reason Roundtable
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Indira and the Islamists
One vacation from democracy can be a huge setback for secularism
November 13, 2007 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Snow: President Bush is 'Aggressively Curious'
Former press secretary says Bush invites debate, stands on principle
November 8, 2007 | Detroit News
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Lessons From Abroad
School choice only helps education
October 29, 2007 | Chicago Tribune
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Going Protectionist Over a Fantasy Highway
Xenophobes see a threat to U.S. sovereignty in a Texas freeway project that would ease trade with Mexico
September 20, 2007 | Los Angeles Times
By Shikha Dalmia and Leonard Gilroy, Reason
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Stop Government Takeover of Health Care
GOP's focus on illegal immigrants sidetracks fight on kids care program
September 5, 2007 | Detroit News
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Employers and Workers Are Victims of New Immigration Policy
Bush's crackdown: all politics, no principle
August 20, 2007 | Los Angeles Business Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Health Care Costs Imperil Big Three
The UAW's health care dreams
July 27, 2007 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

For Prosperity, Immigrants Need the Family
Letter to the Editor
July 21, 2007 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Lessons of a Serial Killing
We need to start searching for workable reforms to end the apartheid-like justice system
July 6, 2007 | Live Mint
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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This Fourth of July, Salute Rush Limbaugh
Why you should thank the people who killed the immigration bill
July 4, 2007 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Dam the Salmon
Environmentalists can't bring themselves to embrace any sacrifice
May 30, 2007 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Reagan Embraced Amnesty, So Should Bush
Unskilled workers don't have a path to permanent residency
May 7, 2007 | Los Angeles Business Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Can Carbon Taxes Work in India?
More than half of India's economy is fueled by "dirty" fuels like coal and wood
April 30, 2007 | The Mint
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Queueless on Immigration
Why should day laborers have to "touch back"?
April 26, 2007 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Experimenting With School Choice: A Tale of Two California Districts
Oakland, Compton show school choice can improve results more than the status quo
February 23, 2007 | Education Week
By Lisa Snell and Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Restraining Conspicuous Health Care Consumption in America
Socialized medicine is not the answer
January 24, 2007 | Reason Roundtable
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Arnold's Wrong Model
Bush may promote state health plans, but California isn't a good model
January 22, 2007 | The New York Sun
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Fixing Michigan's Budget
Rework Medicaid, suspend merit scholarships, trim government
January 18, 2007 | Detroit Free Press
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Schwarzenegger's Health Care Plan May Turn Uninsured Into Criminals
Universal health care plan isn't ready, could hurt businesses
January 18, 2007 | San Francisco Examiner
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Delhi Dilemma
Will anti-business planners improve quality of life?
December 19, 2006 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Blacks and Hispanics Don't Need Racial Preference Laws
As California shows, minorities get into good schools all the same
November 26, 2006 | Chicago Sun Times
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Midterm Election Silver Lining
Michigan's affirmative action vote may signal national trend
November 22, 2006 | Washington Times
By Henry Payne and Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Anti-Immigration: A Ticket to Nowhere
Republicans' anti-immigration movement cost them, even in Arizona
November 20, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Education After Affirmative Action
California's students have benefited from end of racial preferences
November 7, 2006 | San Francisco Examiner
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason and Henry Payne
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Bonds Won't Make Housing Affordable
Instead of Prop 1C, California would be better off air-dropping money to taxpayers
November 1, 2006 | Orange County Register
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Taking 'Takings' to the Voters
The California, Idaho, Arizona, and Washington initiatives
October 30, 2006 | The Weekly Standard
By Shikha Dalmia and Leonard Gilroy, Reason
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Say (None of the Above) to Michigan!
How Dick DeVos blew a gimme in the Great Lakes State
October 30, 2006 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Michigan's Messy DeVos
State's economy tanks and Republican stumbles
October 26, 2006 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Securing Racial Spoils
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative would ban government affirmative action programs
October 26, 2006 | Washington Times
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason and Henry Payne
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Cow-dung Economics Guide California's Oil Tax Initiative
Tech billionaire wants to ding oil company profits
September 29, 2006 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Property Rights Approaches to Global Warming: Scope and Limits
Private approaches are not a cure-all for global warming, but they are better than authoritarian schemes
September 7, 2006 | Reason Roundtable
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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An Unhealthy Policy Prescription
Why Gov. Mitt Romney's universal health care plan isn't right for Massachusetts, Michigan or elsewhere
September 4, 2006 | Viewpoint - Mackinac Center for Public Policy
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Schwarzenegger Gives Up
His effort to reform Sacramento? Terminated.
August 28, 2006 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Indian Town Holds Lessons for Detroit
Bangalore cut taxes and red tape to boost high-tech entrepreneurs
August 17, 2006 | Detroit News
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Betting on Republican Values
Internet gambling and the GOP campaign to protect us from freedom
July 20, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Have You Hugged a Hummer Today?
Hybrid vehicles' overall energy costs exceed those of comparable non-hybrids
July 19, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Searching for Alex Kozinski
Controversial 9th Circuit judge on free speech, privacy, and the Kelo decision
July 2006 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Facing Down The Bulldozers
What's a legitimate use of the power of eminent domain?
June 23, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Much-Heralded Plan to Stop Global Warming Fails
Europe's carbon trading scheme flops, now what?
June 22, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Michigan Snubs Innovative Way to Rein in Health Costs
Accounts give Medicaid patients an incentive to spend tax dollars wisely
June 15, 2006 | Detroit News
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Can Bill Ford Defeat His Green Goblins?
As automaker runs out of gas, nature bunny great-grandson steers into a hole
June 1, 2006 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Where Did India's Skilled Labor Come From?
The surprising role of private education
June 2006 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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What Detroit Can Learn From Bangalore
A booming city's lessons for a town in decline
June 2006 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Defend America, Buy More Iranian Oil
Energy independence isn't a good national security strategy
May 5, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
 » Full Text

Illegal Immigrants are Paying a Lot More Taxes Than You Think
Eight million illegals pay Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes
May 1, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Hands Off My Fridge, Meathead
Taxing and tactics should be questioned in California universal preschool debate
March 16, 2006 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell, Reason
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Big Stake in Wetlands Case
Existing wetlands already outsize California and feds want more
February 20, 2006 | Washington Times
By Shikha Dalmia and Leonard Gilroy, Reason
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The Culture War's French Connection
Morning-after pill fuels hypocrisy on both sides
February 7, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Euthanize Federal Mission Creep
Oregon's assisted suicide law saved by Supreme Court's liberal justices
January 26, 2006 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Meathead Is at It Again
California's universal preschool plan will hurt businesses, teachers
December 8, 2005 | The Wall Street Journal
By Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell, Reason
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Universal Preschool Is Inviting Universal Disaster
Reiner's plan is failing in Quebec, won’t work in CA
December 4, 2005 | San Francisco Chronicle
By Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell, Reason
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Hard Lessons from the Big Easy's Public Schools
New Orleans private schools fight for survival
November 29, 2005 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Telecommuting: A Refuge From Traffic and Social Engineers
Planners need to remove obstacles to telecommuting
November 10, 2005 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Inherit the Windfall
The defense of oil profits we'll probably never see
November 9, 2005 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Gambling: A Risk Worth Taking
Anti-gambling crusaders don't have a case
November 4, 2005 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Blight Loophole Could Allow Cities to Grab Homes, Land
MI amendment won't stop eminent domain abuse
November 3, 2005 | Detroit News
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Clean Water Act's Ever-Expanding Reach
Michigan landowner takes government's water grab to Supreme Court
October 27, 2005 | Reason.org
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Puddle Jumpers in the Great Lakes State
EPA's twenty-year war to make everything a wetland
October 24, 2005 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Bush's Disaster Socialism
How both parties declared the era when big government was over, over
October 14, 2005 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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Endangered Species Act Needs Dose of Sanity
Changes encourage property owners to help preservation efforts
October 5, 2005 | Tech Central Station
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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The Iconoclast
Interview with author Salman Rushdie
August/September 2005 | Reason.com
By Shikha Dalmia, Reason
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