Regulation
Government regulations at the federal, state, and local levels may seek to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the American public. Yet they can exacerbate poverty, increase opportunity inequality, raise prices, and reduce economic growth. Mercatus research demonstrates how improvements in the regulatory process can foster the life-enhancing innovation and dynamic competition on which the country’s future prosperity depends.
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Latest work in Regulation
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Trump’s Shoot-from-the-hip Agenda Points to Uncertainty | DC Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Regulatory Reform in Texas: An Opportunity for Greater Economic Growth
Cutting red tape could boost the state’s economy by up to $542 billion by the year 2037
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Bet Against the Department of Government Efficiency on Deregulation | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
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Why We Should Stop Waiting for the Pre-COVID Economy To Return | Tribune News Service outlets nationwide
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Year Ahead: The Economic Situation and Prospects for the Carolinas | Groundbreak Carolinas
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Trump Program’s Reaganite Precursor | The American Conservative
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
As ‘Tariff Man’ Returns, the Winners and Losers Get Ready | DC Journal
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Feature Feature
Streamlining Governance: Bold Ideas for Efficiency and Deregulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, December 2024
A look at the current US economy and why we need a ban on policy change in the year ahead
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Ode to Our Global Thanksgiving Bounty | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
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Did Greed or Misplaced Generosity Lead to Working-class Fury? | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
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How Congress Can Bridge the Divide: Face Each Other and Talk | The Hill
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Boosting Housing Affordability: Practical Suggestions for Congress and the White House
How executive actions and new laws in Washington can help reform efforts in the states.
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
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The Economic Situation, September 2024
- | Regulation Regulation
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Hard Data on States That Impose Big Regulatory Burdens | Cato Daily Podcast
- | Regulation Regulation
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Most and Least Regulated States | Washington Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
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From California to Idaho – Most, Least-regulated States Reveal Need To Get off Autopilot | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
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Part 2: Briefs Supporting the SEC Climate-change Disclosure Rules Commit Serious Errors | FinRegRag
- | Regulation Regulation
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Federal Agencies Are Missing the Mark on Celebrity Crypto Endorsements | Cointelegraph
- | Regulation Regulation
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Antitrust Cops Should Be Going After Medicare, Not Google | The Hill
Latest work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Trump’s Shoot-from-the-hip Agenda Points to Uncertainty | DC Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Regulatory Reform in Texas: An Opportunity for Greater Economic Growth
Cutting red tape could boost the state’s economy by up to $542 billion by the year 2037
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Bet Against the Department of Government Efficiency on Deregulation | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why We Should Stop Waiting for the Pre-COVID Economy To Return | Tribune News Service outlets nationwide
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Year Ahead: The Economic Situation and Prospects for the Carolinas | Groundbreak Carolinas
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Trump Program’s Reaganite Precursor | The American Conservative
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
As ‘Tariff Man’ Returns, the Winners and Losers Get Ready | DC Journal
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Feature Feature
Streamlining Governance: Bold Ideas for Efficiency and Deregulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, December 2024
A look at the current US economy and why we need a ban on policy change in the year ahead
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Ode to Our Global Thanksgiving Bounty | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Did Greed or Misplaced Generosity Lead to Working-class Fury? | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Congress Can Bridge the Divide: Face Each Other and Talk | The Hill
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Boosting Housing Affordability: Practical Suggestions for Congress and the White House
How executive actions and new laws in Washington can help reform efforts in the states.
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2024
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Hard Data on States That Impose Big Regulatory Burdens | Cato Daily Podcast
- | Regulation Regulation
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Most and Least Regulated States | Washington Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
From California to Idaho – Most, Least-regulated States Reveal Need To Get off Autopilot | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Part 2: Briefs Supporting the SEC Climate-change Disclosure Rules Commit Serious Errors | FinRegRag
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Federal Agencies Are Missing the Mark on Celebrity Crypto Endorsements | Cointelegraph
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Antitrust Cops Should Be Going After Medicare, Not Google | The Hill
Latest work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Regulatory Reform in Texas: An Opportunity for Greater Economic Growth
Cutting red tape could boost the state’s economy by up to $542 billion by the year 2037
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, December 2024
A look at the current US economy and why we need a ban on policy change in the year ahead
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Boosting Housing Affordability: Practical Suggestions for Congress and the White House
How executive actions and new laws in Washington can help reform efforts in the states.
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2024
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Snapshots of State Regulations | 2024 Edition
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Economic Situation, June 2024
- | Regulation Regulation
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EDGE (Estimated Debt Guarantee Expenses) Database
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Critical Risks: Rethinking Critical Infrastructure Policy for Targeted AI Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Navigating Data Security Challenges: Policy Innovations and Reform Options
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, March 2024
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
How State Occupational Licenses Affect Jobs and Salaries
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Right-to-Work Laws and Labor Market Discrimination: Evidence from a Field Experiment
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Assessing the Impact of Worker Reclassification: Employment Outcomes Post–California AB5
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, December 2023
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT | Rolling Back the Regulatory Burden in the States
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT | Tackling the Human Cost of Regulations
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
State AI Task Forces Need to Protect Civil Liberties
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2023
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, June 2023
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Privacy Policy and the Future of the Online Economy
How Changes in Policy May Affect Digital Advertising and the Market for Online Services
Latest work in Regulation
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Hard Data on States That Impose Big Regulatory Burdens | Cato Daily Podcast
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Most and Least Regulated States | Washington Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
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Which States Have the Worst Regulations? | Lars Larson Show
- | Regulation Regulation
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We Don’t Need AI Regulations | Ethical Machines
- | Regulation Regulation
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Inflation Has Been ‘Streaky’ and a Rate Cut May Be Premature | CNBC
- | Regulation Regulation
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Banks and Their Customer Relationships: What Is the Appropriate Role of Bank Regulators? | Consumer Finance Monitor
- | Regulation Regulation
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Does Trump's Second Term Mean Less Autonomy for the Fed? | Scripps News
- | Regulation Regulation
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Cataloging the Myriad Ways You Can Land in Jail | Cato Daily Podcast
- | Regulation Regulation
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Many Variables Affecting Economy | South Carolina Public Radio
- | Regulation Regulation
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Policy Ideas for Helping Workers and Employers Get the Most Out of the Work They Do | CEI’s “How the World Works”
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Why Was America’s Credit Downgraded? | Lars Larson Show
- | Regulation Regulation
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George McGovern, Joe Manchin and Government Regulation, 2023 | The John Batchelor Show
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Future of Montana | KBUL-AM’s “Montana Talks”
- | Regulation Regulation
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Dr. Bruce Yandle's December 2022 Economic Situation Report
Upon assessing the year-end economic situation, Bruce continues to find a two-faced economy.
- | Regulation Regulation
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Healthcare Regulation and Free Riders | KHOW radio’s Ross Kaminsky Show (Denver, CO)
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
Repealing the Corn Laws, 175 Years Later
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
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Drones and Federalism w/ Brent Skorup
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
- | Mercatus Policy Download Mercatus Policy Download
Digital Platforms: Antitrust or Regulation?
What potential enforcement actions are being proposed against big digital platforms?
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Brent Skorup and Adam Thierer on the Deep Dive Podcast - Legal Issues for Commercial Drones
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
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Brent Skorup on KJZZ - Drone Policy
Latest work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Quantifying Overcriminalization in Federal Law
US House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance | Overreach: An Examination of Federal Statutory and Regulatory Crimes
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Flexible Benefits for a Flexible Workforce: Legalizing Access to Portable Benefits for Independent Workers
Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Unlocking Opportunity: Allowing Independent Contractors to Access Benefits
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
App-Based Workers Want to Keep Their Gigs—and Gain Flexible Benefits
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions | App-Based Drivers/Transportation Network Carriers
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Utah’s Tax Credit Bill to Support Independent Contractor Benefits
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Response to Representative Andy Barr and Representative Maxine Waters
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
How Do We Prepare the Government for AI?
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Regulatory Reform and Cutting the Red Tape in Pennsylvania
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Virginia’s Approach to Reducing Regulatory Burden as a Model for Pennsylvania
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
A Public Interest Comment on Public Charter Operations
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Relevant Statutes Do Not Authorize the Predictive Data Analytics Proposal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
USDOT Should Adopt a Policy of “Airspace Markets” for Advanced Air Mobility Operations
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Independent Work Provides Income Opportunities for Millions of Older Americans
Senate Aging Committee | Beyond the 9 to 5: Dismantling Barriers and Building Economic Resilience for Older Workers
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Texas State Agency Review
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
The Future of Work: Independence and Flexibility for Women and Millions of Americans
Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Modernizing the Contingent Work Supplement to Better Understand Alternative Work Arrangements
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Utah’s Portable Benefits Bill: Supporting Gig Workers and the Independent Workforce
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Unintended Consequences of the FRA's Minimum Train Crew Size Rule
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Strengthening Louisiana's Democracy through Legislative Review of Regulations
Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
One Giant Leap for Evidence-Based Policy in Kansas
Kansas House Committee on Federal and State Affairs | Hearing on Substitute for Senate Bill 34
Latest work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Trump’s Shoot-from-the-hip Agenda Points to Uncertainty | DC Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Bet Against the Department of Government Efficiency on Deregulation | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why We Should Stop Waiting for the Pre-COVID Economy To Return | Tribune News Service outlets nationwide
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Year Ahead: The Economic Situation and Prospects for the Carolinas | Groundbreak Carolinas
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Trump Program’s Reaganite Precursor | The American Conservative
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
As ‘Tariff Man’ Returns, the Winners and Losers Get Ready | DC Journal
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Feature Feature
Streamlining Governance: Bold Ideas for Efficiency and Deregulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Ode to Our Global Thanksgiving Bounty | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Did Greed or Misplaced Generosity Lead to Working-class Fury? | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Congress Can Bridge the Divide: Face Each Other and Talk | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
From California to Idaho – Most, Least-regulated States Reveal Need To Get off Autopilot | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Part 2: Briefs Supporting the SEC Climate-change Disclosure Rules Commit Serious Errors | FinRegRag
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Federal Agencies Are Missing the Mark on Celebrity Crypto Endorsements | Cointelegraph
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Antitrust Cops Should Be Going After Medicare, Not Google | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Access to Weight-loss Drugs Could Drastically Improve Societal Equity | The Washington Post
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Did Latin America’s Wealthiest Country Fall So Far? | DC Journal and InsideSources
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Treasury Department vs. Fair Access Laws (Pt. 3) | FinRegRag
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Cutting Red Tape To Spur Economic Growth | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Trump and Vance Shouldn’t Give in to European-style Labor Regulation | Fortune
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary