James Broughel

Program Manager, Regulatory Studies Program

James Broughel is program manager of the Regulatory Studies Program at the Mercatus Center. Mr. Broughel is a doctorate student in the economics program at George Mason University. He earned his MA in economics from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Follow James on Google+

Policy Briefs

Baselines Jerry Ellig, James Broughel \| Jun 22, 2012 This Mercatus on Policy explores the importance of baselines in assessing the benefits and costs of federal regulations.	Regulatory Alternatives James Broughel, Jerry Ellig \| Feb 21, 2012 This Mercatus on Policy shows how regulatory process reforms should require agencies to thoroughly analyze alternatives and publish that analysis for public comment before they propose a regulation.
Regulation: What's the Problem? Jerry Ellig, James Broughel \| Nov 21, 2011 Instead of diagnosing the root cause of a problem before regulatory actions are proposed, agencies often decide what they want to do, write up the proposed regulations, and only then hand the proposals to their economists. This paper discusses the difficulties this process creates.

Expert Commentary

Dodd-Frank Remains a Troubled Work in Progress

American Banker

By Hester Peirce, James Broughel |

Jan 09, 2013

It has been more than five years since the financial crisis began and more than two years since the passage of the legislative response, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The nature and magnitude of the effects of the largest piece of financial legislation in generations will become clearer as regulators exercise the broad discretion given them under the act. Regulators’ efforts at implementation are far from complete, with many of the rules still unwritten and others not yet in effect. Regardless of how the rules are written, the act will certainly have far-reaching effects on the financial system and our economy.

Is It Time To End the Federal Reserve?

U.S. News and World Report

By Lawrence H. White, James Broughel |

Oct 02, 2012

Since it began operations 98 years ago, the Federal Reserve System has performed functions that are vital to the financial system. Yet the fact that the Fed now plays some important roles doesn't show that the Fed is the only institution capable of playing those roles, much less the best at doing them. In fact, history shows us that private institutions have been more capable at carrying out many of the Fed's activities. As the Fed begins a new and indefinitely large round of quantitative easing, it's time to consider whether the Fed, compared to its alternatives, has been doing more harm than good.

Dodd-Frank: Two Years Later, Countless Questions Remain

By Hester Peirce, James Broughel |

Jul 21, 2012

Today marks two years since the passage of the largest piece of financial legislation since the New Deal: the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Because many of the rules to implement Dodd-Frank have yet to be written, and others have yet to take effect, the full impact of Dodd-Frank is highly uncertain. Given what we do know, however, it may do more to create future crises than to prevent them.

Research Areas

Books

Dodd-Frank: What It Does and Why It's Flawed

| Jan 08, 2013

More than 360,000 words in length, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is the longest and most complex piece of financial legislation in American history. The nature and magnitude of its effects, both intended and unintended, will become clearer as regulators exercise the broad discretion given to them under the law.