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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Decoding Judicial Deference | Third Order
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
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Are Bank Customers Safer With the Safer Act? Doesn’t Look Like It. | FinRegRag
- | Regulation Regulation
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Occupational Licensing Reform Can Help Ease Workplace Shortages | Third Order
- | Regulation Regulation
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Trump Can’t Have It Both Ways on Tariffs | The Wall Street Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Puzzle of the Regulatory Process | Third Order
- | 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”
- | Regulation Regulation
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Special Interests Go Unchecked | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
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Don’t Whitewash the History of Bank Regulators’ Abusive Practices | American Banker
- | Regulation Regulation
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Big Brother and the Digital Dollar | The Wall Street Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Crisis of Technical Deference in AI Policy | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
USDOT Should Adopt a Policy of “Airspace Markets” for Advanced Air Mobility Operations
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
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Why Was America’s Credit Downgraded? | Lars Larson Show
- | Regulation Regulation
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Cities as Markets | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
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Roll Over, Hammurabi: Federal Regulations Are Hidden Behind Paywalls | National Review
- | Regulation Regulation
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How To Bail America Out From Overregulation | Discourse
- | 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
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Problem with a Federal Ban on Noncompete Agreements
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Battling Overregulation in State Courts
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Independent Work Provides Income Opportunities for Millions of Older Americans
Latest work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Decoding Judicial Deference | Third Order
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Are Bank Customers Safer With the Safer Act? Doesn’t Look Like It. | FinRegRag
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Occupational Licensing Reform Can Help Ease Workplace Shortages | Third Order
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Trump Can’t Have It Both Ways on Tariffs | The Wall Street Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Puzzle of the Regulatory Process | Third Order
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Policy Ideas for Helping Workers and Employers Get the Most Out of the Work They Do | CEI’s “How the World Works”
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Special Interests Go Unchecked | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Whitewash the History of Bank Regulators’ Abusive Practices | American Banker
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Big Brother and the Digital Dollar | The Wall Street Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Crisis of Technical Deference in AI Policy | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
USDOT Should Adopt a Policy of “Airspace Markets” for Advanced Air Mobility Operations
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Why Was America’s Credit Downgraded? | Lars Larson Show
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Cities as Markets | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Roll Over, Hammurabi: Federal Regulations Are Hidden Behind Paywalls | National Review
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How To Bail America Out From Overregulation | Discourse
- | 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
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Problem with a Federal Ban on Noncompete Agreements
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Battling Overregulation in State Courts
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Independent Work Provides Income Opportunities for Millions of Older Americans
Latest work in Regulation
- | 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
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Problem with a Federal Ban on Noncompete Agreements
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Battling Overregulation in State Courts
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Regulatory System Design: Some Solutions to the Delegation Problem
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT | Portable and Flexible Benefits: A Way Forward for Independent Workers
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Economic Situation, March 2023
- | Regulation Regulation
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Counting the Code: How Many Criminal Laws Has Congress Created?
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Economic Situation, December 2022
- | Regulation Regulation
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Consequences of Restricting Independent Work and the Gig Economy
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Human Cost of Regulations and Some Possible Solutions
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
RegAuthorities: The Regulations Authorities Dataset
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2022
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
The Failure to Establish Effective Rules for Financing U.S. Federal Entitlement Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Drones, Airspace, and the Sharing Economy
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, June 2022
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Census of Regulatory Restrictions
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Primer on Regulatory Impact Analysis
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulation | 2022 Edition
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
A 50-State Review of Regulatory Procedures
Latest work in Regulation
- | 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
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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
- | Regulation Regulation
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Colin O'Reilly on KOIL - Costs of Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
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James Broughel on The John Batchelor Show - Deadly Regulations
- | Regulation Regulation
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James Broughel on The Lars Larson Show - Regulations under Biden
- | Regulation Regulation
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James Broughel on POTUS Channel
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
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Brent Skorup on POTUS Channel
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
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Jennifer Huddleston on the John Batchelor Radio Show
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
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Brent Skorup on WGN's "Opening Bell"
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
Why the Kisor Case Could Change Regulatory Policy
Auer Deference and Administrative Law

- | Regulation Regulation
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Jennifer Huddleston on POTUS Channel
Latest work in Regulation
- | 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
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Independent Work Provides Income Opportunities for Millions of Older Americans
- | 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
- | 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
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Criminal Justice Reform through Administrative Streamlining: A Win-Win for Coloradans
Colorado House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Mandated Reciprocal Switching May Cause More Railroad Worker Accidents and Casualties
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Evidence-Free Policymaking at the Department of Health and Human Services
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Setting a Sensible Reduction Target for Ohio's Administrative Rules
Ohio House of Representatives, Government Oversight Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
How To Help Improve Understanding of Alternative Work Arrangements and the Gig Economy
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The EPA's Irrational, Uncompliant Benefit-Cost Analysis Requires Stronger Enforcement Mechanisms
Rescinding the Rule on Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Addressing Anticompetitive Conduct and Consolidation in Healthcare Markets: The Roles of State and Federal Regulation and Antitrust Law
Statement for the Record Submitted to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Trimming Barber and Cosmetologist Regulation Will Not Harm Consumers
Testimony before the Ohio Senate, Small Business and Economic Opportunity Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Ohio Should Open the Door To Skilled Workers
Testimony before the Ohio House of Representatives, State and Local Government Committee
Latest work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Decoding Judicial Deference | Third Order
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Are Bank Customers Safer With the Safer Act? Doesn’t Look Like It. | FinRegRag
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Occupational Licensing Reform Can Help Ease Workplace Shortages | Third Order
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Trump Can’t Have It Both Ways on Tariffs | The Wall Street Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Puzzle of the Regulatory Process | Third Order
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Special Interests Go Unchecked | Tribune News Service
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Whitewash the History of Bank Regulators’ Abusive Practices | American Banker
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Big Brother and the Digital Dollar | The Wall Street Journal
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Crisis of Technical Deference in AI Policy | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Cities as Markets | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Roll Over, Hammurabi: Federal Regulations Are Hidden Behind Paywalls | National Review
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How To Bail America Out From Overregulation | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How an Obscure Labor Rule Could Make Recession Inevitable | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
New Tools and Insights into Australia’s Regulatory Landscape
Introducing RegData Australia 2.3
- | Regulation Regulation
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Utah Is the First State to Truly Welcome the Gig Economy | The Salt Lake Tribune
- | Regulation Regulation
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The Other Opioid Crisis: Ethical Issues Surrounding Opioid Regulation | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
New Tools and Insights into Canada’s Regulatory Landscape
Introducing RegData Canada 2.3
- | Regulation Regulation
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New Tools and Insights Into State Regulations
Introducing the RegData Definitive Edition
- | Regulation Regulation
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Are More Progressives Coming Around on Overregulation? | Creators Syndicate
- | Regulation Regulation
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