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.
Featured
Latest Work in Regulation
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden Wants To Restrict Work and Flexibility for Freelancers | Reason
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Land Tax Won’t Make Cities More Affordable | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Cost of Battery Production Tax Credits Provided in the IRA | Forbes
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Future of Montana | KBUL-AM’s “Montana Talks”
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Counting the Code: How Many Criminal Laws Has Congress Created?
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Year in Review: What Economic Lessons did We Learn in 2022? | The Washington Examiner
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Should the Fed Send Billions to Banks but not a Dime to Taxpayers? | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Unintended Consequences of the FRA's Minimum Train Crew Size Rule
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
- | Mercatus Policy Download Mercatus Policy Download
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
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, December 2022
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Consequences of Restricting Independent Work and the Gig Economy
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Human Cost of Regulations and Some Possible Solutions
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Gavin Newsom Can Stop Water Projects From Drowning in Red Tape | Forbes
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
RegAuthorities: The Regulations Authorities Dataset
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2022
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Regulation Debate Misses the Point of Crypto | Wall Street Journal
- | 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
Latest Work in Regulation
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden Wants To Restrict Work and Flexibility for Freelancers | Reason
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Land Tax Won’t Make Cities More Affordable | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Cost of Battery Production Tax Credits Provided in the IRA | Forbes
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Future of Montana | KBUL-AM’s “Montana Talks”
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Counting the Code: How Many Criminal Laws Has Congress Created?
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Year in Review: What Economic Lessons did We Learn in 2022? | The Washington Examiner
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Should the Fed Send Billions to Banks but not a Dime to Taxpayers? | The Hill
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Unintended Consequences of the FRA's Minimum Train Crew Size Rule
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
- | Mercatus Policy Download Mercatus Policy Download
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
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, December 2022
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Consequences of Restricting Independent Work and the Gig Economy
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Human Cost of Regulations and Some Possible Solutions
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Gavin Newsom Can Stop Water Projects From Drowning in Red Tape | Forbes
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
RegAuthorities: The Regulations Authorities Dataset
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2022
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Regulation Debate Misses the Point of Crypto | Wall Street Journal
- | 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
Latest Work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Arizona
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in California
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Colorado
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Connecticut
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Delaware
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Florida
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Georgia
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Hawaii
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Idaho
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Illinois
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Indiana
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Iowa
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Kansas
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Kentucky
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Louisiana
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Maine
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Maryland
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Massachusetts
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Michigan
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Regressive Effects of Regulations in Minnesota
Latest Work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
James Broughel on Newsradio WGAN
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
The Future of Local, State, and Federal Regulations in 2019

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Brent Skorup on The Schilling Show, WINA Radio
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
RegData Work Nominated for 2018 Templeton Freedom Award

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
President Trump's Regulatory Reform Efforts
What's Going Well, and What Should Come Next

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
Here's to Win-Win Regulatory Reform!

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
Inclusive Regulatory Reform: Solutions for the Poor and Entrepreneurs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Mercatus Original Video Mercatus Original Video
2018 State of the Union Recap

- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Adam Thierer on NPR's "On Point", WBUR Boston
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Video Mercatus Original Video
Reg Reform: What Patrick McLaughlin Says is Needed to Get it Right
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
James Broughel on Newstalk 590 WVLK (Kentucky)
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Patrick McLaughlin Talks about the Cost of Regulations on WDEV (Vermont)

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Richard Williams Discusses Why the New Food Nutrition Labels Do Not Work
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Adam Millsap discusses New Jersey's proposed walking and texting law

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Video Mercatus Original Video
Visualizing the Growth of Federal Regulation Since 1950

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Michael Marlow Discusses His Public Interest Comment on Proposed FDA Rule on Tobacco Products

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Jerry Brito Discusses Bitcoin on KVI

- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Jerry Ellig Discusses Regulatory Reform on Federal News Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on Federal Spending

- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Mercatus Original Video Mercatus Original Video
Decision-Making 101: Regulatory Impact Analysis

Latest Work in Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
How to Build Beneficial Regulatory Sandboxes
Testimony before the Utah Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
A Sensible Sunset Review Process for Kansas
Testimony before the Kansas Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
HHS’s Innovative New Sunset Regulation
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Reflections on Regulatory Reform in New Jersey
Testimony before the New Jersey Assembly, Commerce and Economic Development Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Occupational Licensing Is Holding Back New Jersey
Testimony before the New Jersey Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Administrative Rule Reform in Oklahoma
Testimony before the Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee and Oklahoma House Committee on Administrative Rules
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comment for the Comptroller of the Currency's Proposed Rule Regarding National Banks and Federal Savings Associations as Lenders
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Recommendations to Improve Consistency and Transparency in the EPA’s Clean Air Act Benefit-Cost Analyses
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Recommendations for Improving Department of Energy Regulatory Impact Analysis for Energy Conservation Standards
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Prompting a Regulatory Reset in Arizona
Testimony before the Arizona State Senate, Committee on Government
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Occupational Licensing on Childcare
Testimony before the US House of Representatives, Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Ohio Occupational Licensure and Universal Recognition
Testimony before the The Ohio Senate, General Government and Agency Review Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Nebraska Could Be a Leader in Regulatory Reporting
Testimony before the Nebraska Legislature, Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Arizona Occupational Licensing: Barriers to Opportunity in the Grand Canyon State
Testimony before the Arizona State Legislature, Senate Committee on Military & Veterans Affairs
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Considering a 21st-Century Approach to Warrant Requirements for Electronic Information
Testimony before the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Considerations for North Dakota regarding Consumer Data Privacy Policy
Testimony before the North Dakota Legislature, Interim Commerce Committee
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Wisconsin Occupational Licensing: Easing the Burden for Service Members, Former Service Members, and Military Spouses
Testimony before the Wisconsin State Legislature, Senate Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing, and State-Federal Relations
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Michigan's Certificate-of-Need Program: Lessons from Research
Testimony before the Michigan Senate Committee on Health Policy and Human Services
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Barriers to Work in the Mountain State
Testimony before the West Virginia Legislature, Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization
Latest Work in Regulation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How to Get the Future We Were Promised | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Cut Red Tape to Grow Iowa’s Economy | The Gazette
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden Says He Is Fixing Supply Chains, But His Regulatory Actions Say Otherwise | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden’s Regulatory Agenda Rests On Shaky Economics, But There’s A Way To Fix It
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Virginia Has Led the Way on Cutting Red Tape. Will the Next Governor?
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Many Pitfalls of Regulating and Subsidizing Child Care | Discourse
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Corn Laws Repeal at 175
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Internet Doesn’t Need Heavy-Handed Regulation
A Facebook VP’s proposal to regulate the Internet would undermine competition, innovation, and free speech.
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Four 'Gig Work' Misconceptions Driving Counterproductive Reforms
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack Sounds the Alarm for Regulatory Reforms
- | Antitrust and Competition Antitrust and Competition
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Republicans Will Regret Their Breakup With Big Business
The party has moved from apologizing for corporate America to threatening it.
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
When It Comes to Fighting Social Media Bias, More Regulation Is Not the Answer
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Iowa Can Stay in Front of the Next Tech Breakthrough
Iowa ranks No. 48 nationally for ’drone readiness’
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Regulatory Reform Can Take Mississippi to Mars
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will the Biden CFPB Clamp down on Innovation and Regulatory Sandboxes?
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
UK Uber Ruling Shows Old Labor Regs Don't Fit Today's Workforce
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Executive Orders Aren’t Always the Best Tool
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Out of the Gate, Biden Ditches Bipartisanship
For those who hoped Biden would lead from the center, his early actions are a worrying sign about things to come.
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Nebraska Makes Progress on Relieving Regulatory Burdens; More Needs to Be Done
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary