Comment on FTC-DOJ Draft Merger Guidelines
The proper goal of merger enforcement policy is to prevent only those mergers that seem likely to reduce the welfare of consumers
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Promotes best practices for regulatory analysis
Improves regulatory processes and institutions
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"The GW Regulatory Studies Center has done phenomenal work in cataloguing and analyzing reforms in regulatory policy...[it is] a national treasure."
Cass R. Sunstein
Robert Walmsley University Professor, Harvard
OIRA Administrator Under President Obama
Featured Regulation Policy
Modernizing Regulatory Review Actions
In April 2023, the White House issued Executive Order 14094 “Modernizing Regulatory Review” and proposed updates for the documents guiding benefit-cost analysis and economic discount rates for regulations (Circular A-4) and spending (Circular A-94) across federal agencies. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is working to implement these much-anticipated changes, which comprise the most significant regulatory policy initiatives of the Biden administration and raise interesting benefit-cost analysis issues, including the appropriate discount rate, who has standing in a benefit-cost analysis, and how distributional impacts should be measured.
As these actions develop throughout the upcoming year, the Regulatory Studies Center will be covering these actions extensively through engaging events, public comments, insightful commentaries and op-eds, and podcast discussions with our experts.
Our Latest:
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Recent Antitrust and Regulatory Changes Both Unravel the Consensus, Susan Dudley & Mary Sullivan, September 18.
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Open Letter to the OIRA Administrator On Circular A-4, by 15 former presidents and editors of the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis (SBCA), August 28.
- Peer Reviewer Comments on Proposed OMB Circular No. A-4, “Regulatory Analysis” (Full PDF document), August 21.
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Individual Peer Reviewer Comments by Joseph Cordes on Circular A-4, August 21, 2023
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Podcast: Discounting to Achieve Policy Preferences, Susan Dudley. August 15.
Our Latest Publications
Economically Significant Final Rules Published by Presidential Year
Is Communications-Company Ownership of Video Content a Threat to Competition?
Evidence from the financial markets that carrier integration into video production has not redounded to the benefit of these companies’ stockholders
Letter to OIRA Administrator on Circular A4
Former SBCA presidents emphasize the importance of best practices for discounting and distributional impacts for making the new OMB Circular a durable guide
Current Highlights
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"Your input and expertise during the drafting of the Early Participation in Regulations Act of 2019 and SMART Act of 2019 was invaluable."
Joint Statement (PDF)
Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
Senator James Lankford (R-OK)
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