The Open Market Blog

• By: Ryan Young
• 09/03/2009

Even the humble wooden crate cannot escape the government’ watchful regulatory eye.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 09/02/2009

In Wisconsin, you need a license to work as a soil scientist.

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 09/01/2009

Bryan Caplan says there are only two ways for a monopoly to form: government protection, or being the best.

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 09/01/2009

It is a federal offense for telemarketers to charge their customers without permission. In English, this is called stealing. Which was already against the law…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/31/2009

It’s certainly possible to blame Herbert Hoover’s policies for the Great Depression. Just not on the grounds that those policies were free-market.

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/31/2009

In Virginia, state law requires hearing aids to be calibrated at least annually. Records must be kept for three years.

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/27/2009

Having already solved all of the country's economics woes, the FTC now has time to threaten to step in and stop Budweiser from selling cans…

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/26/2009

In the long run, a competitive, cut-throat market process driven by innovation is better for consumers than if government were to fund and direct research.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/26/2009

Want to fly a plane? The FAA just published 72 pages worth of changes to its already extensive certification rules. 173 changes in all.

Labor and Employment

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/25/2009

Appliances have to have little badges on them that say they comply with rule that requires the little badges. Perhaps the rule came from the…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/24/2009

If anything qualifies as an anti-competitive practice, fining and jailing people for competing with you would certainly top the list. Which brings us to a…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/24/2009

As expected, The Department of Justice is launching an antitrust investigation into the Microsoft-Yahoo search engine partnership. As I've said before, this is not an…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/21/2009

It is illegal for children to sell lemonade in New York City without a permit.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/20/2009

The $787,000,000,000 stimulus contains a provision requiring the Department of Homeland Security to buy american textiles. Basically, that means TSA uniforms will go up in…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/19/2009

In 49 states, it is illegal to practice medicine outside of the state in which you are certified. Tennessee is the lone state with an…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/18/2009

It is a violation of federal regulations to “operate a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce” if you have insulin-treated diabetes.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/17/2009

Ending the levy would “likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping,” so it’s here to stay. Domestic tape producers must be pleased. Consumers,…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/14/2009

Federal spending is going up. Tax receipts are going down. 2009's federal budget deficit is now up to $1.27 trillion as a result. That's about…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/14/2009

If you’re planning on hunting migratory birds this year, be sure to read all 14 subparts and 61 sections in Title 50 of the Code…

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 08/12/2009

If your company makes mustard bottles that are reusable as beer mugs, you are specifically required to put a country-of-origin label on your product.

Consumer Freedom