Technology and Innovation
Technology and innovation drive greater opportunity, choice, and mobility throughout society. But among policymakers, these market drivers face a precautionary approach that has resulted in a convoluted labyrinth of permits and red tape that encumber entrepreneurial activities in the name of keeping Americans safe. Mercatus research makes the case that a permissionless approach grounded in the notion that experimentation with new technologies and innovations should generally be permitted by default.
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Latest Work in Technology and Innovation
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The Taxman Will Eventually Come for AI, Too | Bloomberg Opinion
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- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comments to NTIA on the National Spectrum Strategy
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- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Alignment and Future Threats | Discourse
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- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Biomedical Revolution Needs a Few Good Economists | Bloomberg Opinion
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Freight’s Worst Easter Candy, Trucking Downturn Turns 1 and Acquisitions | FreightWaves’ “What the Truck?”
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- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing AI Progress | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing Our AI Policy Guide | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Feature Feature
AI Policy Guide
A digital resource designed to equip policymakers with the core concepts needed to identify, understand, and address artificial intelligence policy challenges

- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
By Pausing AI, We’d Only Be Hurting Ourselves | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why a Pause, Should Give You Pause | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing AI Progress | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How AI Will Make Land More Valuable | Bloomberg Opinion
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- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Tiktok’s ‘More Threatening’ Security Concern Is Its Algorithm | Fox Business Network
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- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Bank Runs, The Economy and World-transforming AI | Honestly with Bari Weiss
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
GPT4—AI Unleashed? | ChinaTalk
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- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Is About To Transform Childhood. Are We Ready? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Early Thoughts on GPT-4's Policy Implications | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
FAA Holds Safety Summit After Uptick in Close Calls | Fox News 5
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Welcome to Digital Spirits!
Applying Classical Liberal Thought to AI Policy
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Artificial Intelligence Vs. Humanity | Bloomberg Radio's "Crash Course"
Latest Work in Technology and Innovation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Taxman Will Eventually Come for AI, Too | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comments to NTIA on the National Spectrum Strategy
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Alignment and Future Threats | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Biomedical Revolution Needs a Few Good Economists | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Freight’s Worst Easter Candy, Trucking Downturn Turns 1 and Acquisitions | FreightWaves’ “What the Truck?”
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing AI Progress | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing Our AI Policy Guide | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Feature Feature
AI Policy Guide
A digital resource designed to equip policymakers with the core concepts needed to identify, understand, and address artificial intelligence policy challenges

- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
By Pausing AI, We’d Only Be Hurting Ourselves | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why a Pause, Should Give You Pause | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing AI Progress | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How AI Will Make Land More Valuable | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Tiktok’s ‘More Threatening’ Security Concern Is Its Algorithm | Fox Business Network
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Bank Runs, The Economy and World-transforming AI | Honestly with Bari Weiss
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
GPT4—AI Unleashed? | ChinaTalk
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Is About To Transform Childhood. Are We Ready? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Early Thoughts on GPT-4's Policy Implications | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
FAA Holds Safety Summit After Uptick in Close Calls | Fox News 5
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Welcome to Digital Spirits!
Applying Classical Liberal Thought to AI Policy
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Artificial Intelligence Vs. Humanity | Bloomberg Radio's "Crash Course"
Latest Work in Technology and Innovation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Drone Technology, Airspace Design, And Aerial Law In States And Cities
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Narrowing the Rural Digital Divide with Consumer Vouchers
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT: How to Create a Fresh Start Initiative in Your State
A Step-by-Step Guide
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Books Books
Evasive Entrepreneurs and the Future of Governance: How Innovation Improves Economies and Governments

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- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Aggregated Smartphone Location Data to Assist in Response to Pandemic
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
The “Value” of Propaganda: Machine Predictions of Rare Events Based on Text Data
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How Drones Can Help Fight the Coronavirus
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Which States Are Prepared for the Drone Industry? (2020 edition)
A Fifty-State Report Card
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Predicting Authoritarian Crackdowns
A Machine Learning Approach
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Predicting Authoritarian Crackdowns
A Machine Learning Approach
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Smart Cities, Dumb Infrastructure
Policy-Induced Competition in Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Systems
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Innovation Unbound
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, September 2019

- | International Freedom and Trade International Freedom and Trade
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Can Blockchain Technology Facilitate International Trade?
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How the United States Should Respond to China’s Intellectual Property Practices
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Technological Innovation and Economic Growth
A Brief Report on the Evidence
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- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
5G Basics and Public Policy
Latest Work in Technology and Innovation
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- | 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
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Brent Skorup on KJZZ - Drone Policy
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 1
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Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 2
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Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 3
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Brent Skorup on C-SPAN - Antitrust Policy Pt. 4
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- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Weifeng Zhong on The Lars Larson Show - Semiconductor Shortage
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Brent Skorup on ABC News Radio - Drone Report Card
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Adam Thierer on American Radio Journal - The Great Deplatforming
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Adam Thierer on The Dan Proft Show - The Great Deplatforming
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Brent Skorup on The John Batchelor Show - Google Antitrust
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Brent Skorup on POTUS Channel
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Jennifer Huddleston on the John Batchelor Radio Show
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
Interpreting CDA Section 230 and its Future
Is Section 230 due for a reform? And if so, how?

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Christine McDaniel on France 24
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Brent Skorup on WGN's "Opening Bell"
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- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
On Innovation: Don’t Ask for Permission
Building Tomorrow Podcast
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Jennifer Huddleston on POTUS Channel
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on Fox Business' "Cavuto: Coast to Coast"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Mercatus Original Podcasts Mercatus Original Podcasts
How State and Federal Governments Are Responding to Concerns about Data Privacy

Latest Work in Technology and Innovation
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- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Safety, Innovation, and Autonomous Vehicles
Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Safety Exemptions and the Regulatory Approach to Autonomous Vehicles
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Colorado Broadband Policy Should Focus on Competition and Deployment
Testimony before the Colorado House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
The Freedom to Innovate and Eliminating Barriers for More Innovators
Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Lifting Barriers to Entrepreneurship
A "Permissionless Innovation" Approach to Competition and Consumer Protection Policies
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Leased Access Mandates Infringe on the First Amendment Rights of Cable Operators, and the FCC Should Decline to Enforce the Regulations
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
University-Industry Collaboration for Stronger Innovation
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Internet of Things and Consumer Product Hazards
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Creating an Environment for Permissionless Innovation
Testimony before the US Congress Joint Economic Committee
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Montana Should Urge Scrutiny and Reform of the Universal Service Fund Subsidy Programs
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Informational Injury in FTC Privacy and Data Security Cases
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
In the Matter of Restoring Internet Freedom
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
In the Matter of Modernization of Media Regulation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Department of Transportation’s Proposed Vehicle-to-Vehicle Technology Mandate Is Unprecedented and Hasty
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Highly Automated Vehicle Policies in Pennsylvania
Testimony before the Pennsylvania Joint Senate and House Transportation Committees
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Creating an Environment of Permissionless Innovation in Outer Space
Testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Space
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comment on the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy
- | Regulation Regulation
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Rethinking TNC Regulations: Enshrining the Past Forestalls the Future
Presentation before the Virginia Joint House and Senate Transportation Committees
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence
Latest Work in Technology and Innovation
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing Our AI Policy Guide | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Feature Feature
AI Policy Guide
A digital resource designed to equip policymakers with the core concepts needed to identify, understand, and address artificial intelligence policy challenges

- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
By Pausing AI, We’d Only Be Hurting Ourselves | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why a Pause, Should Give You Pause | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Introducing AI Progress | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How AI Will Make Land More Valuable | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Is About To Transform Childhood. Are We Ready? | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Early Thoughts on GPT-4's Policy Implications | Digital Spirits
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Welcome to Digital Spirits!
Applying Classical Liberal Thought to AI Policy
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Artificial Intelligence Vs. Humanity | Bloomberg Radio's "Crash Course"
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is ChatXiPT Really That Scary? | ChinaTalk
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
General-purpose Technologies Are Key To Unleashing Economic Growth | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Making Transportation Faster, Cheaper and Safer | Discourse
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Who Will Be AI’s First Billionaire? It’s a Trick Question | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Should You Talk to ChatGPT? A User’s Guide | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Quantum Computing Is Coming — And There’s More the Biden Administration Can Do To Prepare | The Hill
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Basic R&D in Digital Assets Could Lead to Breakthroughs in Innovation, Competition | The Hill
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
AI Is Improving Faster Than Most Humans Realize | Bloomberg Opinion
- | International Freedom and Trade International Freedom and Trade
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is China’s Quantum Computing Breakthrough All That? | The Washington Examiner
- | Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary