Richard Morrison is a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, where his work focuses on the relationship between economic and political freedom. He has been widely cited for his research on corporate governance and finance regulation, in particular environmental, social, and governance (ESG) theory. He is also the host of the Free the Economy podcast.
He was previously a senior editor at CEI and managing editor of the blog OpenMarket. He also served as the program manager of CEI’s Center for Advancing Capitalism, where he coordinated outreach to the business community, universities, and other key allies. Before re-joining CEI in 2014, he was manager of communications at the Tax Foundation, where he was also the host and producer of the weekly Tax Policy Podcast. Prior to that he served as CEI’s director of media relations and director of new media between 1999 and 2010, during which he hosted the podcast Liberty Week.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in Government from Claremont McKenna College.
Authored by Richard Morrison
News
Leftwing conspiracy theories about 1971 “Powell memo” debunked in new CEI report
A new Competitive Enterprise Institute report debunks a leftwing conspiracy theory that free market interests seek a “corporate domination of America” (as Greenpeace put…
Biden Veto Means ESG Investment Rule Means Politicized Investing for Pensions
President Biden today vetoed a resolution passed by Congress that would have stopped a Labor Department rule on ESG investing. Specifically, the rule, “Prudence and…
SEC Climate Disclosure Mandate Exceeds Agency’s Statutory Authority, Raises Constitutional Concerns
WASHINGTON—The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) plan to mandate companies disclose energy use and planning for climate change-related financial risks lacks authorization from Congress, infringes…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: The future of energy and environmental policy with Travis Fisher
- By: Richard Morrison
In this week’s episode we cover the political path toward abundance, the need for permitting reform beyond the National Environmental Policy Act,…
Free the Economy podcast: Making college pay with Preston Cooper
- By: Richard Morrison
In this week’s episode we cover Javier Milei’s election as president of Argentina, how much money it takes to be happy,…
Free the Economy podcast: Getting out of control with Neil Chilson
- By: Richard Morrison
In this week’s episode we cover the American Nuclear Society’s Winter 2023 conference, the opportunities and pitfalls of online side-hustles, and the…
Op-Eds/Articles
Real Clear Markets
What Comes After An ESG Craze That’s Not Ready to Die?
- By: Richard Morrison
Could this year be the end of the beginning for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing? Buzz in the business press suggests …
FIU News
Environmental forum brings together diverse viewpoints, experts on environmental policy
- By: Richard Morrison
“If you’re serious about climate but you’re also serious about democracy, you’re going to have to figure out how to make them work together.” New…
Discourse Magazine
The Abundance Agenda: Energy, the Master Resource
- By: Richard Morrison
The idea of an abundance agenda in American law and policy is generating an increasing amount of interest from Americans across the political spectrum, and…
Studies
Threats Then and Threats Now
Executive summary In 1971 Lewis Powell, a prominent Republican lawyer who would go on to serve on the Supreme Court, wrote a memo warning about…
The SEC’s Costly Power Grab
- By: Richard Morrison
The concept known as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing has gained an increasingly high profile in recent years, with advocates producing a large volume…
Frequently Asked Questions on ESG Theory
- By: Richard Morrison
View Full Document as PDF Q: What does “ESG” stand for? A: ESG is short for “environmental, social, and governance.” It is a…
Citations
The Hill
The rise and fall of ESG investing
- By: Richard Morrison
The Hill cites CEI’s Richard Morrison on ESG investing: In response, influential free-market groups such as the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, the …
Ballotpedia
A look ahead at ESG in 2023
- By: Richard Morrison
Competitive Enterprise Institute senior fellow predicts larger government role in shaping ESG policies. Other 2023 forecast pieces have made predictions based not just on calendar…
Real Clear Investigations
The Left’s Little Financial Engine That Could (Change the World Radically)
- By: Richard Morrison
Richard Morrison, senior fellow at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute, said Amalgamated can, at a minimum, “serve as an example for other managers and CEOs…
Regulatory Comments
CEI Comment on SEC ‘Investment Company Names’ Rule
- By: Richard Morrison
Introduction The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is pleased to have the opportunity to comment on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) current notice of proposed…
CEI Comments to SEC on Proposed Climate-Related Disclosures Rule
- By: Richard Morrison
Comment letter submitted by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, et al. June 2022 In the matter of the proposed rule “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related…
Comment on Proposed Rule “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights”
- By: Richard Morrison
Assistant Secretary Khawar: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Employee Benefits Security Administration’s recently proposed rule on the Investment Duties regulation under…
Podcast Episodes
The Future of Energy and Environmental Policy with Travis Fisher
This week we cover the political path toward abundance, the need for permitting reform beyond the National Environmental Policy Act, the Biden administration’s continuing assault...
Making College Pay with Preston Cooper
This week we cover Javier Milei’s election as president of Argentina, how much money it takes to be happy, Thanksgiving lessons about property rights, and...
Getting out of Control with Neil Chilson
This week we cover the American Nuclear Society’s Winter 2023 conference, the opportunities and pitfalls of online side-hustles, and the complex task of measuring incomes...