Expert Commentary by Emily Washington

Freedom in the 50 States and Migration

Neighborhood Effects
By Emily Washington |
Apr 26, 2013
In last month’s publication of Freedom in the 50 States, Will Ruger and Jason Sorens point to net domestic migration as an indicator that Americans demonstrate their preferences for more libertarian states by where they choose to live. They explain, …

Third Edition of Freedom in the 50 States

By Emily Washington |
Mar 28, 2013
Today the Mercatus Center released the third edition of Freedom in the 50 States by Will Ruger and Jason Sorens. In this new edition, the authors score states on over 200 policy variables.…

Motor City Can’t Drive Itself Anymore

U.S. News and World Report
By Emily Washington |
Mar 05, 2013
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced that he would assign an emergency financial manager to Detroit, stating that the city cannot feasibly pay back its $14 billion in debt and long-term liabilities. The governor asserted that local policymakers have failed to provide basic services that Michigan municipalities are required to provide their residents.…

Rhetoric Alone Will Not Improve Educational Outcomes

U.S. News and World Report
By Emily Washington |
Feb 19, 2013
President Obama's support of an early childhood education entitlement program for low-income students has made headlinesas a bold proposal for education reform.…

States' Finances Threaten Whole Country

USA Today
By Emily Washington |
Jul 30, 2012
Individual countries across Europe have sent shock waves throughout an entire continent with their reckless fiscal policy, and leaders here at home would be wise to look at a similar situation arising among our own states.…

The Mercatus Summer Reading List

By Veronique de Rugy, Matthew Mitchell, Maurice P. McTigue, Tyler Cowen, Keith Hall, Adam Thierer, Jerry Brito, Eileen Norcross, Jason J. Fichtner, Emily Washington, Garrett Brown |
Jul 02, 2012
Randy E. Barnett, Restoring the Lost Constitution: The Presumption of Liberty…

Small Steps in VA Occupational Licensing Reform

Neighborhood Effects
By Emily Washington |
Jun 25, 2012
On July 1, hair braiding in Virginia will be deregulated. People will be free to braid hair without any license from the state saying that they are qualified to do so.…

Florida Senate Votes against Privatizing Prisons