This paper estimates the impact of corruption on growth of output per worker in U.S. states. The authors find that corruption plays a significant and causal role in lowering growth and investment across the States.

This paper assesses the potential impact that an optional federal charter (OFC) for property and casualty insurance would have on social resiliency in affected communities in the United States. It discusses the benefits and problems associated with the current state regulatory system and then gives a similar analysis of federal regulation. Specific attention is given to the National Insurance Consumer Protection Act, which is the most recent OFC proposal. The paper concludes with a list of recommendations for policy makers to consider when evaluating the insurance regulatory system with focus on enhancing social resiliency.

This paper assesses the quality and use of regulatory analysis for economically significant regulations produced by federal agencies in 2008. A nine-member research team used a six-point (0-5) scale to evaluate regulatory analyses according to criteria drawn from Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review, Office of Management and Budget Circular A-4 on Regulatory Analysis, and scholarly research.

For every attempt to cap government spending by regulation or statute, lawmakers seem to find new and creative accounting techniques that allow them to continue spending recklessly. In fact, there is evidence that creative bookkeeping is at the center of many countries' financial troubles.

This chart examines the change in the composition of personal income in the United States since 1929. The most notable trend is the increase in the portion of personal income coming from government transfers.

This chart compares percent changes in public and private worker compensation within each of the five largest sectors in the United States during the 12 months ending March 2010.

After a seven-year hiatus, the statutory "pay-as-you-go" (PAYGO) federal spending rule is once again the law of the land. Numerous policy makers have touted its benefits while emphasizing their renewed commitment to fiscal responsibility. President Obama recently described PAYGO as a very simple restraint: "Congress can only spend a dollar if it saves a dollar elsewhere."

In a March 2009 address, President Obama declared, “There are certain things only a government can do. And one of those things is ensuring that the foods we eat . . . are safe and don’t cause us harm.” Though this idea that only the government can control food safety risk may have been true at the turn of the 20th century, since then three important changes have occurred.

In this testimony, Richard Williams, Director of Regulatory Studies and Government Accountability at the Mercatus Center, addresses the key question of whether there are sufficient checks and balances on federal regulatory agencies. He recommends that 1) all aspects of regulations should be evidence-based, 2) that OIRA analysts should be focused on their role as quality control officers, and 3) that an examination should be made to determine the extent to which too many regulations result in organizational issues that adversely affect the underlying goals regulations are intended to address.

The notice of inquiry seeks comment on whether a cyber security certification program “would create business incentives for providers of communications services to sustain a high level of cyber security culture and practice.” Assuming it has legal authority to implement such a program, the Commission should ask itself two questions to help determine whether a certification program is necessary.

Jerry Ellig participated in panel discussion before Texas policy makers in Austin, Texas at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Policy Orientation on the future of the Texas Public Utility Commission and competition policy in electric and telecommunications markets.

Jerry Ellig was invited to give a lecture at Pepperdine University about the future of regulations in the federal government.