Steve Swedberg is a Policy Analyst with the Center for Economic Freedom, focusing on financial, monetary, and transportation policy.
Steve holds a Master of International Public Affairs from the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which entailed a concentration in international trade and finance public policy. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Government, and East Asian Studies from Lawrence University.
Before joining CEI, Steve was a Fiscal Analyst at the North Carolina General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division where he analyzed transportation policy for the legislators of North Carolina. Additionally, he has K-12 education and housing policy research experience from the American Institutes for Research (AIR), as well as nine years of market research experience.
When he is not researching or analyzing public policy, Steve enjoys traveling, studying foreign languages, running, line dancing, playing billiards, reading, spending time with friends and family, and playing the clarinet and piano.
Authored by Steve Swedberg
News
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…
Inflation increases slightly in July, Americans still paying higher prices: CEI analysis
July’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report shows inflation increased 0.1 percent across all sectors, in line with economists’ predictions. With new proposed tariffs…
Jobs numbers drop in July, May and June’s numbers revised downward: CEI analysis
The new jobs report brings bad news to the labor market, with a net loss of 23,000 jobs for July and a downward…
Blog
The never-ending ferry tale: Why Washington shouldn’t subsidize ferries
- By: Steve Swedberg
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.
Sports dominate prediction markets, but don’t bet on that being the whole story
- By: Steve Swedberg
Less than two years ago, the biggest controversy surrounding prediction markets was their enabling of speculation on elections. Then in early 2025, with…
HHS cutting Head Start red tape shows the cost of regulatory micromanagement
- By: Steve Swedberg
Individual regulations are often defended as necessary on their own terms. But as CEI Senior Fellow Wayne Crews’ Ten Thousand Commandments documents, the…
Op-Eds/Articles
Fortune
A quartz countertop tariff could double your kitchen renovation cost — and kill 13 jobs for every one it creates
- By: Steve Swedberg
Americans are already facing a difficult housing market in which buying a home or making renovations has become more expensive. Even something as basic…
Chicago Tribune
Steve Swedberg: Springfield’s interchange fee ban takes a costly swipe at Illinois consumers
- By: Steve Swedberg
I have many fond memories of growing up in the Chicago suburbs, including eating out at Lou Malnati’s, visiting Chicago museums on weekends and…
Studies
The Hidden Costs of Interchange Fee Bans
- By: Steve Swedberg
The state of Illinois risks transforming the Land of Lincoln into the Land of Patchwork Price Controls. The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA), passed…
Questions for Kevin Warsh
Kevin Warsh is President Trump’s choice to succeed Jerome Powell as the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Warsh’s…
Citations
Reason
Border Patrol Saves America From Canadian Trucker Delivering Goods in New Mexico
- By: Steve Swedberg
Reason cited CEI’s Steve Swedberg in relation to the Department of Transportation launching the Freedom Haulers Initiative. The Trump administration is well…
Reason
The Bond Market Is Unhappy With the Federal Reserve’s Unwillingness To Fight Inflation
- By: Steve Swedberg
CEI’s Steve Swedberg was cited by Reason in relation to the Federal Reserve and their response to inflation. But if the Federal…
Washington Times
Inflation rises again, driven by energy costs amid Iran war
- By: Steve Swedberg
The Washington Times cites Finance and Monetary Policy Analyst Steve Swedberg on inflation and rising costs: “The economic data provide little support for…
Regulatory Comments
CEI comments on enabling supersonic flight
Dear Administrator Bedford and Staff, The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) respectfully submits these comments in response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Notice…
CEI Comments on Massachusetts act prohibiting card interchange fees
- By: Steve Swedberg
Dear Chairmen Feeney and Murphy, The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) respectfully submits these comments in response to Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Bill S.688, An…