Regulation

Research

The Economic Situation, March 2013 Bruce Yandle \| Mar 01, 2013 There was only one lane open as I made my trip to Atlanta; the other three were blocked with those unhappy yellow and black make-believe barrels used by the highway folks. Traffic flow was constrained by efforts to repair potholes and broken pavement. We in the slow lane had little choice in the matter. Instead of 70, we were slowed to 20 miles per hour. We had to accept our fate, or find another route at the next exit.	The Perils of Classifying Social Media Platforms as Public Utilities Adam Thierer \| Mar 19, 2012 The problems long associated with regulating public utilities could occur with social networks in the absence of competitive pressure.
Pick Your Poison: Do Politicians Regulate When They Can't Spend? Noel D. Johnson, Matthew Mitchell, Steven Yamarik \| Jun 28, 2011 In this paper, the authors investigate whether laws restricting fiscal policies across U.S. states lead politicians to regulate more instead.	Eleven Ideas for State Legislatures in 2011 Daniel M. Rothschild \| Jan 18, 2011 This Mercatus on Policy paper shares eleven bold reform ideas that could help states balance their 2012 budgets and avoid boom-and-bust budgeting cycles in the future.
Maryland's Fiscal Slide Eileen Norcross \| Jan 13, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 marks Maryland's third year of recession and fifth year of structural deficits. This article highlights how Maryland started on this path of fiscal instability and what the future holds if this trajectory continues.	The Death of Fiscal Federalism Veronique de Rugy, Stefanie Haeffele-Balch \| Jun 02, 2010 In May 2009, the federal government forced South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to take his state's share of federal stimulus funds and spend the money on new programs rather than on paying down debt.

More Research

Expert Commentary

Californians Stifled By Lack of Freedoms San Diego Union-Tribune By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 If you’re finding it harder and harder to live in California, you’re not alone.	Freedom and Prosperity: Some Comparative Historical Reflections on State Policies and Performance Pileus By Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 States like California and New York are living off the accumulated capital of past economic freedom. Now that the political tide has turned decisively against economic freedom in those states, they are shedding people and jobs and growing more slowly than the rest of the country. Places like the Dakotas, Carolinas, Oklahoma, and Texas, which have reversed their anti-market policies of the past, represent America’s dynamic economic future.
Study of States Shows Freedom Works Best Washington Examiner By Veronique de Rugy \| Apr 05, 2013 People follow jobs, and jobs follow freedom. That's one of the main results from the third and much improved edition of the Mercatus Center's "Freedom in the Fifty States: Index of Personal and Economic Freedom."	States Limiting Freedom Pushes People Out USA Today By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Mar 28, 2013 Google's auto-complete feature has long been a source of amusement, but as a recent feature on BuzzFeed makes clear, it also says a lot about what it's like to live and work in different states in the country.
Good Business Climate Won't Need Incentives By Maurice P. McTigue \| Apr 12, 2012 Kansas policymakers left for recess on the heels of very disappointing jobs news. According to the latest jobs report, Kansas ranked fourth in terms of jobs lost with a 5,700 decrease in employment. As legislators prepare to return in a couple of weeks, they should consider what’s best for the Kansas economy and pursue goals that make Kansas a better place to do business than any other state.	How To Keep More Kids on the Streets By Donald J. Boudreaux \| Mar 13, 2012 If minimum-wage legislation only destroyed jobs for teenagers, it would be bad enough. But its long-term consequences are more dire.

Experts

Eileen Norcross

Eileen Norcross is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her primary research interests include fiscal federalism and institutions, state and local governments, and economic development.

Emily Washington

Emily Washington is a Policy Research Manager for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She manages the Spending and Budget Initiative and State and Local Policy Project portfolios.

Videos

Veronique de Rugy and Will Ruger Discuss Freedom in the 50 States on Stossel

Veronique de Rugy, William Ruger | May 03, 2013

Freedom in the 50 States 2013

William Ruger, Jason Sorens | March 28, 2013

Podcasts

Jason Sorens Discusses Freedom in Virginia on Virginia Public Radio

Jason Sorens | April 23, 2013

Jason Sorens Discusses Freedom in Virginia on Virginia Public Radio based on the 2013 edition of Freedom in the 50 States.

More Podcasts

More Media Clippings

The Economic Situation, March 2013 Bruce Yandle \| Mar 01, 2013 There was only one lane open as I made my trip to Atlanta; the other three were blocked with those unhappy yellow and black make-believe barrels used by the highway folks. Traffic flow was constrained by efforts to repair potholes and broken pavement. We in the slow lane had little choice in the matter. Instead of 70, we were slowed to 20 miles per hour. We had to accept our fate, or find another route at the next exit.	The Perils of Classifying Social Media Platforms as Public Utilities Adam Thierer \| Mar 19, 2012 The problems long associated with regulating public utilities could occur with social networks in the absence of competitive pressure.
Pick Your Poison: Do Politicians Regulate When They Can't Spend? Noel D. Johnson, Matthew Mitchell, Steven Yamarik \| Jun 28, 2011 In this paper, the authors investigate whether laws restricting fiscal policies across U.S. states lead politicians to regulate more instead.	Eleven Ideas for State Legislatures in 2011 Daniel M. Rothschild \| Jan 18, 2011 This Mercatus on Policy paper shares eleven bold reform ideas that could help states balance their 2012 budgets and avoid boom-and-bust budgeting cycles in the future.
Maryland's Fiscal Slide Eileen Norcross \| Jan 13, 2011 Fiscal Year 2011 marks Maryland's third year of recession and fifth year of structural deficits. This article highlights how Maryland started on this path of fiscal instability and what the future holds if this trajectory continues.	The Death of Fiscal Federalism Veronique de Rugy, Stefanie Haeffele-Balch \| Jun 02, 2010 In May 2009, the federal government forced South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to take his state's share of federal stimulus funds and spend the money on new programs rather than on paying down debt.

Californians Stifled By Lack of Freedoms San Diego Union-Tribune By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 If you’re finding it harder and harder to live in California, you’re not alone.	Freedom and Prosperity: Some Comparative Historical Reflections on State Policies and Performance Pileus By Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 States like California and New York are living off the accumulated capital of past economic freedom. Now that the political tide has turned decisively against economic freedom in those states, they are shedding people and jobs and growing more slowly than the rest of the country. Places like the Dakotas, Carolinas, Oklahoma, and Texas, which have reversed their anti-market policies of the past, represent America’s dynamic economic future.
Study of States Shows Freedom Works Best Washington Examiner By Veronique de Rugy \| Apr 05, 2013 People follow jobs, and jobs follow freedom. That's one of the main results from the third and much improved edition of the Mercatus Center's "Freedom in the Fifty States: Index of Personal and Economic Freedom."	States Limiting Freedom Pushes People Out USA Today By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Mar 28, 2013 Google's auto-complete feature has long been a source of amusement, but as a recent feature on BuzzFeed makes clear, it also says a lot about what it's like to live and work in different states in the country.
Good Business Climate Won't Need Incentives By Maurice P. McTigue \| Apr 12, 2012 Kansas policymakers left for recess on the heels of very disappointing jobs news. According to the latest jobs report, Kansas ranked fourth in terms of jobs lost with a 5,700 decrease in employment. As legislators prepare to return in a couple of weeks, they should consider what’s best for the Kansas economy and pursue goals that make Kansas a better place to do business than any other state.	How To Keep More Kids on the Streets By Donald J. Boudreaux \| Mar 13, 2012 If minimum-wage legislation only destroyed jobs for teenagers, it would be bad enough. But its long-term consequences are more dire.

Mercatus Center

Regulation

Regulation

Research

The Economic Situation, March 2013

The Perils of Classifying Social Media Platforms as Public Utilities

Pick Your Poison: Do Politicians Regulate When They Can't Spend?

Eleven Ideas for State Legislatures in 2011

Maryland's Fiscal Slide

The Death of Fiscal Federalism

Expert Commentary

Californians Stifled By Lack of Freedoms

Freedom and Prosperity: Some Comparative Historical Reflections on State Policies and Performance

Study of States Shows Freedom Works Best

States Limiting Freedom Pushes People Out

Good Business Climate Won't Need Incentives

How To Keep More Kids on the Streets

Experts

Eileen Norcross

Emily Washington

Videos

Veronique de Rugy and Will Ruger Discuss Freedom in the 50 States on Stossel

Freedom in the 50 States 2013

Podcasts

Jason Sorens Discusses Freedom in Virginia on Virginia Public Radio

Media Clippings

Michigan Needs Different Tack on Alcohol Control

How to Keep More Kids on the Streets

Does Privatizing Retail Alcohol Sales Increase or Decrease Consumption?

Freedom in Virginia: How we doin'?

Slaves of New York: State is Dead Last in Liberties