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Regulatory Policy Economics

Mercatus Center research seeks to understand the consequences – both intended and unintended – of regulatory policy and its impact on society and to improve the state of knowledge to which regulatory policy refers, thereby fostering solutions that promote a freer, more prosperous, and civil society.  Through careful and independent analyses employing contemporary economic and legal scholarship Mercatus scholars assess proposed and existing regulations from the perspective of the public interest.

Recent Publications

The Trillion-Dollar War 

News Articles and Op-Eds
Veronique de Rugy
April 15, 2008

This article by Mercatus Center Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy appeared as the May 2008 cover story in Reason. The article addresses the current spending levels and process used to fund the War on Terror. 

The Never-Ending Emergency: Trends in Supplemental Spending 

Mercatus Policy Series
Veronique de Rugy
April 14, 2008

In this Mercatus Policy Series paper, Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy takes a look at the use of supplemental spending over the last 25 years. The paper addresses the budget rules that lawmakers are subject to, it looks at trends in supplemental spending, demonstrates how the White House and Congress have abused their powers to request and pass supplemental bills, and also offers four different and complementary ways to fix the supplemental spending process.

Public Interest Comment on Proposed Amendment to the Policy Regarding the Establishment of Airport Rates and Charges 

Public Interest Comments
Jerry Ellig, Mark Adams
April 2, 2008

This comment to the Department of Transportation is a response to the department's Notice of Proposed Amendment to its Policy Regarding the Establishment of Airport Rates and Charges.

Midnight Regulations: An Update 

Working Papers
Veronique de Rugy, Antony Davies
March 28, 2008

In this working paper, Veronique de Rugy and Antony Davies show that, going back to 1948, when the White House switches parties, the number of pages in the Federal Register increases on average by 17 percent in the three months following an election. This outburst of regulatory activity is called "midnight regulation," and it suggests a consistent effort on the part of administrations of both parties to hurry regulation through before they leave office.

Public Interest Comment on High Cost Universal Service Support 

Public Interest Comments
Jerry Ellig, Andrew Perraut
March 27, 2008

This comment addresses three Notices of Proposed Rulemaking by the Federal Communications Commission regarding High Cost Universal Service Support. 

Public Interest Comment on Establishing Procedural Requirements to Govern Section 10 Forbearance Petition Proceedings 

Public Interest Comments
Jerry Brito, Andrew Perraut
March 7, 2008

This comment addresses the Federal Communications Commission's request for comments on the need for procedural requirements to govern forbearance under Section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended, and specifically the proposals made by Covad Communications Group, NuVox Communications, XO Communications, Cavalier Telephone, and McLeodUSA Telecommunications (hereinafter "Covad") in their joint petition.

The Law and Economics of Hedge Funds: Financial Innovation and Investor Protection 

Working Papers
Houman B. Shadab
March 5, 2008

A hedge fund is a type of private investment pool that actively trades securities and is not subject to the full range of restrictions on investment activities and disclosure obligations imposed by the federal securities laws. This working paper explores the law and economics of hedge funds, and shows that the economic outcomes attained by hedge funds are in part attributable to the legal regime under which they operate.

Facts and Figures about Seven Years of Homeland Security Spending 

Working Papers
Veronique de Rugy
March 3, 2008

In this working paper, Veronique de Rugy discusses ten facts about Homeland Security spending since 2001.

Regulation by Litigation 

Journal Articles
Andrew P. Morriss, Bruce Yandle, Andrew Dorchak
February 1, 2008

This article appears in Vol. 9, Issue 1 of Engage: The Journal of the Federalist Society's Practice Groups. The authors discuss the use of litigation to achieve regulatory outcomes.

Put more government data online 

News Articles and Op-Eds
Jerry Brito
January 8, 2008

In this Des Moines Register article, Jerry Brito makes a case for making public information available online in order to facilitate transparency.

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