News Release
FCC’s license-renewal reviews of ABC stations chill disfavored speech
On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court heard arguments in a First Amendment lawsuit by ABC television stations against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), seeking…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Competition and innovation with Jack Nicastro
In this week’s episode we cover the case of Suncor v. Boulder County at the Supreme Court, the problems with the Los…
Blog
Asking the right questions on inequality
A recent Congressional Budget Office report finds that inequality in America has declined slightly in recent years. Over at National Review, my colleague…
Blog
Forest Service proposes to correct course on Roadless Rule, 25 years later
The US Forest Service is finally taking action to correct a longstanding issue with the way it manages National Forest System land. On August…
Blog
Why can’t we just print more money?
Last week, I attended an event at a think tank where the conversation centered on the federal budget and national debt. At one…
Comment
CEI Comments on the Forest Service’s Proposed Roadless Area Conservation Rule
Dear Mr. White, On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, I appreciate this opportunity to provide comments on the Forest Service’s (USFS) proposed…
Blog
CEI files amicus brief urging Supreme Court to review EPA’s particulate matter standards
On October 2, 2026, CEI joined the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, the Heartland Institute, and Heartland Impact…
Blog
Here’s how one-in, ten-out is successfully cutting rules — but not draining the swamp
It’s October already, and while there’s no real fiscal year for federal regulation, the September 30 closing of the 2026 budgetary fiscal year marks…
Blog
The week in regulations: Drug prices and inedible almonds
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) learned the difference between the Atlanta Hawks and the Iowa Hawkeyes. President Trump rolled back some China tariffs and published…
Blog
This week in health care policy: September 28 – October 2, 2026
Drug pricing CMS finalizes GLOBE pilot. On September 30, CMS finalized the Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing model, a…
Legal Brief
Amicus Curiae Submission on the EPA’s Particulate Matter Standards
CEI joined the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, the Heartland Institute, and Heartland Impact in an amicus brief…
News Release
Modest job numbers signal slow economic growth: CEI analysis
Just 29,000 jobs were added to the US economy in September 2026, according to the latest monthly government report, while the unemployment rate rose…
National Review
The Affordability Crisis Hits Air-Conditioning
Do you think groceries, gasoline, medications, utility bills, and other necessities are too expensive? Consider yourself very lucky if you don’t have to buy…
Blog
Buy Now, Pay Later doesn’t mean pay more, owe more, and panic more
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) has become a familiar way to pay for everything from discretionary purchases to everyday expenses. BNPL lets consumers divide…
Blog
Diagnosing unemployment
The unemployment rate is a symptom, not a diagnosis. When it rises or falls, it shows that something is changing in the labor market,…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Real-world economics with Paul Mueller
In this week’s episode we cover spiraling health care costs, reforming state-level regulations, and how to keep asset managers accountable…
Blog
Reading the fine print on unemployment
When politicians talk about unemployment, it is worth remembering an old principle: buyer beware. The unemployment rate is a statistic, but politicians can transform…
Blog
Protestations aside, Washington wants to regulate AI. It also wants to run it
Washington’s latest AI summit between Trump and tech executives was billed largely as a meeting about safety. Ultimately, it was a meeting about something…
News Release
Coalition opposes Trump plan to pass deceptively-named Railway Safety Act
Today, a coalition of free market and conservative groups sent a letter to key Senate committee leaders opposing the Trump administration’s proposal to…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition opposing the Railway Safety Act
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito ChairmanEnvironment and Public Works CommitteeU.S. Senate The Honorable Ted Cruz ChairmanCommerce, Science, and Transportation CommitteeU.S. Senate The…
Blog
Tinplate tariffs are a microcosm of larger harm
Most of the talk about tariffs raising the cost of living is pretty abstract. In an op-ed syndicated by InsideSources, I look at…
News Release
Report analyzes and offers reforms to the current US-proxy advisory system
Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute released a new report that analyzes and critiques the current US proxy-advisory system and offers strong reforms that…
Study
Assets Undermining Management
In recent years, the two major proxy advisors in the United States have prioritized environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in their investing advice…
Blog
What Mexico City can teach America about the cost of public transit
I recently vacationed in Mexico. While in Mexico City, I tried to take the metro to attend a concert. At five pesos, or…
American Petroleum Institute
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: U.S. Diesel Export Ban Is a Bad Idea
Senior economist Ryan Young was cited by American Petroleum Institute regarding the consequences for a diesel export ban. As API President and…
Blog
The week in regulations: Safe explosives and baker’s yeast
President Trump proposed an export ban on diesel fuel. Mortgage rates topped 7 percent. Agencies issued new regulations ranging from bank mergers to window…
Comment
CEI Comments on FTC’s Proposed Policy Statement Regarding Personalized Pricing
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Proposed Enforcement Policy Statement Regarding Personalized Pricing.
Blog
This week in health care policy: September 21–25, 2026
Innovation watch FDA approves the first treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome. On September 17, the FDA approved Ultragenyx’s Fayuvi, a one-time…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Gen Z capitalism with Sam Raus
In this week’s episode we cover how data centers power our lives, how modern technology is fueling family togetherness, and the…
Wall Street Journal
How to Stop the Shadow Regulators
Legislating is out of fashion in Washington, but the current Congress does have opportunities left to do some good before riding off into the…
Blog
Are stablecoins already delivering what CBDCs promise?
Many proposals for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a digital form of the US dollar issued by the Federal Reserve, have circulated…
National Review
From Munitions Shortage to Ebola, Dodd–Frank Minerals Measure Makes Things Worse
A scan of news headlines warns readers of two seemingly unrelated dangers around the globe. One is a potential shortage of missiles, interceptors, and…
News Release
Diesel export ban idea won’t fix high prices: CEI analysis
Some lawmakers and candidates are calling for a federal ban on exporting diesel fuel as a means to bring fuel prices down. Sen.
Comment
CEI Comments on Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireline Deployments
COMMENTS OF THE COMPETITIVE ENTERPRIVE INSTITUTE The Competitive Enterprise Institute (“CEI”) respectfully submits these comments in response to the Commission’s Notice…
News Release
Coalition urges Senate to pass major GOOD Act regulatory transparency bill
A coalition of free market and conservative organizations urged the Senate to prioritize passage this year of a regulatory reform bill called the Guidance…
The Wall Street Journal
Don’t Expand Payroll Taxes for Social Security
In his column “Republicans’ Pre-Emptive Social Security Surrender” (Political Economics, Sept. 18), Joseph C. Sternberg makes a persuasive argument against expanding…
Blog
The week in regulations: School libraries and sport pilots
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Congress passed a Russia sanctions bill that gives President Trump more tariff authority. Agencies issued new regulations ranging…
Blog
Stop rogue government AI
Performative Washington, responsible for funding AI weaponry and R&D for years, purports to have suddenly discovered the dangers of artificial intelligence. Recent incidents…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition for the Guidance Out of Darkness (GOOD) Act
Dear Leader Thune: We write to urge Senate passage of the Guidance Out of Darkness (GOOD) Act, S. 252 / H.R. 1515 during…
Blog
America as an act of disobedience
CEI’s annual Julian L. Simon Memorial Award Dinner is on September 23. The theme is American Treasures. This post celebrates one of the…
Blog
Congress gives Trump new tariff powers
The power to tax is one of Congress’ most important responsibilities. But it keeps looking for and finding ways to dodge it. The most…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: The Overton Window with James Hohman
In this week’s episode we cover Treasury yields, oil prices, US-China-Taiwan security policy, and Trump’s $5,000 dividend checks. Our…
Center Square
After rate hike, economists weigh tariffs’ role in inflation
CEI’s Senior Economist Ryan Young was quoted by Center Square in their analysis of tariffs impact in inflation. Ryan Young, senior economist…
Blog
How The No Surprises Act worsened the problem of surprise bills
Next week, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) will convene a roundtable to discuss adjustments to the 2020 No Surprises Act, which has come under…
Blog
Trump administration targets implausible emissions scenarios
I submitted comments last week in support of the US Global Change Research Program’s proposal to amend the 2023 Fifth US National…
News Release
Federal Reserve raises interest rates, eyes on future economic policy: CEI analysis
Today, the Federal Reserve has decided to raise interest rates by 25 basis points, the first increase in over three years. The decision…
Blog
The intergenerational John Adams
CEI’s annual Julian L. Simon Memorial Award Dinner is on September 23. The theme is American Treasures. This post celebrates two of the…
Blog
Why the 5 percent Treasury bond interest rate matters
The recent rise of the 10-year Treasury yield to 5 percent has set off alarm bells among economists, policymakers, and investors. While the…
News Release
EPA respects rule of law, repeals greenhouse gas emissions regulations for power plants
The EPA has released the pre-publication version of its “partial” repeal of Biden administration power plant greenhouse gas emission standards. Those standards…
Blog
The rules Congress never gets to see
The 1996 Congressional Review Act (CRA) has been used to overturn only a few dozen federal regulatory directives since its enactment, most during the…
New America
The ROAD to Housing: Easing the Housing Supply
The biggest housing bill in decades was passed into law in July. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act is a bipartisan, omnibus legislation…
National Review
Prescription Drugs Save Lives at a (Mostly) Reasonable Cost
Prescription drugs are an extraordinary lifesaving and life-enhancing technology, so integrated into our daily lives that, nowadays, we perhaps take them for granted. Headlines and…
Blog
Jimmy Kimmel and the FCC: No time for equal time
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “equal time” rule aims to foster competing voices and ensure opportunities for debate. It was created in an era…
Blog
Pre-approved plans can speed up housing without compromising health and safety
Housing affordability has renewed interest in removing unnecessary barriers to homebuilding. While much of the discussion has centered on land use and zoning regulations…
Blog
The pointless trade war against Canada
Starting a trade war with Canada is one of the strangest decisions of Donald Trump’s presidency. Over at the Daily Wire, I try to…
Daily Wire
Trump’s $5,000 Down Payment On The Entitlement State
Donald Trump’s $5,000 “dividend” proposal to every U.S. adult should be taken seriously, not because the arithmetic has been worked out, since there isn’t…
Blog
The week in regulations: Waters of the United States and ASCII formatting
The country reflected on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. President Trump promised a $5,000 check to every American adult…
The New York Times
After the I.P.O., a Billion-Dollar Bill for Employee Paydays
CEI’s John Berlau was cited in an article from the New York Times regarding the allegation that companies tailor information to make financial futures…
American Family News
President Trump criticized for dangling a ‘dividend’ in front of voters if GOP wins midterms
CEI’s Clyde Wayne Crews was cited by American Family News about the Presidents offer of a winning dividend for the midterms. he…
Washington Times
Prices climbed slightly in August as Fed weighs interest rate increase
CEI’s Monetary Policy Analyst Steve Swedberg was cited by the Washington Times regarding inflation. Forecasters say the Fed could increase rates slightly…
Op-Eds
The Self-Harming Logic Of The U.S.-Canada Trade War
Politics is almost never about the merits. This is one of the toughest lessons to learn in Washington. Some people never learn it, especially…
News Release
Higher inflation in August as conflict overseas continues to affect domestic prices: CEI analysis
The Consumer Price Index report for August shows inflation increased 0.4 percent across all sectors, with one-third of the increase being attributed to…
Blog
9/11 and presidential power
America is a complicated country, founded on a simple idea: no kings. Even so, nearly every president since at least John Adams has grown…
Fox Business
Trump’s $5,000 dividend proposal could add $1.2T to federal deficit, analysts say
CEI’s Ryan Young was cited by Fox News regarding Trump’s new dividend proposal. Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Economist Ryan Young told FOX…
News Release
Another dividend check? Not so fast: CEI analysis
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: The search for critical minerals with Seaver Wang
In this week’s episode we cover the latest employment data, a new award for academic courage, free speech versus native…
Washington Examiner
Treasury triples buyback of longer-term debt to $6 billion
CEI’s Ryan Young was cited by the Washington Examiner regarding the increased buybacks from the Treasury. Higher yields on longer-term bonds can…
Blog
Misalignment by design: How AI could become the operating system of the administrative state (Part 2)
Read Part 1 here. The AI deregulatory alternative: Liberalize networks and what flows through them This is where the…
Comment
CEI Comments on the US Global Change Research Program’s Proposed Amendment to the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5)
Dear Dr. Wielicki, Thank you for the opportunity to comment[1] on the US Global Change Research Program’s (USGCRP) proposed amendment…
Blog
Misalignment by design: How AI could become the operating system of the administrative state (Part 1)
The AI debate asks how the federal government should regulate commercial artificial intelligence and “big tech,” with little recognition or appreciation that the government…
News Release
Canada implements tariffs on American goods as trade war escalates: CEI analysis
Today, Canada implemented tariffs against a variety of American goods, ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent. CEI senior economist Ryan Young…
Blog
Out, damned spot! Precautionary regulation could threaten the future of wearable AI
California may become the first state to take major statutory action to regulate wearable recording devices like smart glasses. Senate Bill 1130 has…
Blog
The week in regulations: Honey taxes and airline delays
August’s job numbers were better than expected. President Trump threatened to cut off trade to all nations that export more to America than they…
Washington Examiner
Higher rates spell an end to the case for putting huge programs on Uncle Sam’s credit card
CEI’s Ryan Young was cited by The Washington Examiner regarding higher interest rates. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury security, for…
Washington Examiner
It took 410 days to build the Empire State Building. Today, the EPA wouldn’t even pass the blueprint
When Congress gets back from its August recess, bipartisan permitting reform talks are expected to continue. There’s no reason…
News Release
Regulators propose improvements to Clean Water Act regs: CEI analysis
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a pre-publication copy of a supplemental notice of proposed…
DC Journal
This Labor Day, Respect the Right to Join (or Not) a Union
Labor Day was created to celebrate all the Americans who work to support their families. The least the government can do in return is…
News Release
US economy adds 162,000 jobs in August, higher than expected: CEI analysis
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report for August shows the economy added 162,000 jobs, higher than economists predicted. While the news is a…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Maximum New York with Daniel Golliher
In this week’s episode we cover climate collusion between California and Quebec, how luxurious college campuses are breeding socialists, and government…
Reason
Study: Even Well-Intentioned Regulators Do More Harm Than Good
CEI’s Soriya Chhe and Marin Murdock’s study The Protection Paradox: Good Intentions, Bad Market Outcomes was cited by Reason in their assessment of…
News Release
CEI praises Schumer’s good idea on trade reform
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced a bill, the End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act, to repeal Trump tariffs and duties on Canada…
Blog
The ‘no hire, no fire’ era is starting to crack
Families gathering around the barbeque next Monday to celebrate the national day off from work will probably be grilling more hot dogs and cheap…
Blog
The never-ending ferry tale: Why Washington shouldn’t subsidize ferries
The Trump administration recently announced $664.8 million in federal grants for ferry infrastructure, including $28.2 million for North Carolina’s Cherry Branch Ferry Terminal.
The Washington Sun
Bessent Downplays the Bond Market’s Latest Swing: It’s Not ‘Dire’
CEI’s Senior Economist Ryan Young was cited by The Washington Sun regarding bond markets and Bessent’s reaction. Ryan Young, a senior economist…
The National Desk
Why America’s $40 trillion debt is starting to worry markets
CEI’s Senior Economist Ryan Young was cited by The National Desk regarding America’s $40 trillion debt. America hasn’t had a balanced budget since…
Real Clear Investigations
Hydrogen: Energy’s Version of Waiting for Godot
CEI’s Paige Lambermont was cited by Real Clear Investigations regarding green initiatives in Washington. Here, as with other green initiatives that have…
The Hill
The Movement: Meta settlement gets praise, pushback from the right
CEI’s Director of the Center for Technology and Innovation Jessica Melugin gave comments to The Hill on Meta’s settlement decision to pay out up…
The Center Square
Don’t panic – Labor Day will still be around in the future
This Labor Day, instead of celebrating work, many Americans may be worrying about how much longer they will even have jobs in the age…
Washington Examiner
Grim $40 trillion debt milestone raises questions about fiscal commission
CEI’s Ryan Young was cited by the Washington Examiner regarding tackling debt with bipartisan reform. Ryan Young, an economist at the Competitive Enterprise…
Blog
The regulatory costs we still aren’t counting
Several years ago, I assembled a “Costberg” working paper surveying the largely impenetrable and undisclosed costs of regulation. The project grew out of…
Comment
CEI Comments on 340B Payment Change
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) submits these comments in support of several of the provisions in the rule recently proposed by CMS. Founded in…
Blog
The week in regulations: Voting by mail and $100,000 visas
The number of new final regulations in 2026 topped the 2,000 mark. President Trump escalated his trade war against Canada and issued an executive…
Reason
Canada Should Ignore Trump’s Protectionism and Unilaterally Enact Free Trade
CEI’s Senior Economist Ryan Young was cited by Reason regarding free trade. “Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s retaliatory tariffs come from understandable feelings…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: The future of financial regulation with Thomas Hoenig
In this week’s episode we cover the status of occupational licensing in the 50 states, the coming crack-up over entitlement spending,…
News Release
FDA deserves credit for approval pancreatic cancer drug
The FDA on August 26 approved a new breakthrough drug to treat pancreatic cancer. CEI Senior Fellow and Economist Jeremy Nighohossian praised…
Blog
Sports dominate prediction markets, but don’t bet on that being the whole story
Less than two years ago, the biggest controversy surrounding prediction markets was their enabling of speculation on elections. Then in early 2025, with…
Washington Times
US Trade War Could Be Bad News for Canadian Wallets
CEI’s Ryan Young is cited by Newsweek regarding the Canadian tariff war. “Trade wars have no winners. President Trump’s spat with Canada…
Blog
HHS cutting Head Start red tape shows the cost of regulatory micromanagement
Individual regulations are often defended as necessary on their own terms. But as CEI Senior Fellow Wayne Crews’ Ten Thousand Commandments documents, the…
News Release
Consumers will pay the price of a trade war between US & Canada: CEI analysis
Today, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs against the US, ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent on approximately $20 billion worth of American imports.
Washington Examiner
Gold and bitcoin rise on fears about US debt
CEI’s John Berlau was quoted by the Washington Examiner regarding cryptocurrency in the economy. As gold has gone up, so too have…