Commentaries & Insights

Our Commentaries and Insights are short-form publications intended to distill long-form research and synthesize current policymaking activity into easily understood concepts.


Herding Genetically Engineered Animals to Market

FDA’s decision to approve a genetically engineered salmon for human consumption bodes well for people interested in cheaper fish.

Missed Opportunity for EPA to Cut Back Renewable Fuel Standard

Congress and EPA should reevaluate whether the Renewable Fuel Standard is accomplishing its goals.

Midnight Rules: A Comparison of Regulatory Output Across Administrations

Understanding Midnight Regulatory Activity and how it's used

One (un)remarkable problem?

The public policy world is not exempt misunderstandings, and the renewed emphasis on retrospective regulatory review is a case in point.

Political Discourse Includes Regulatory Reform

This commentary provides a brief review of what the 2016 presidential candidates have to say about regulatory reform.

Early Notice from U.S. Agencies Could Help Avoid Creating Barriers to Trade

Early Notice from U.S. Agencies Could Help Avoid Creating Barriers to Trade

Evaluating Retrospective Review of Regulations in 2014

President Obama has encouraged agencies to review existing regulations and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them.

The Ozone Charade

New EPA standard seems driven by economic tradeoffs, despite agency's assertion

OMB Reports Higher Costs and Lower Benefits in 2015 Draft Report

The Office Management and Budget (OMB) released its annual Draft Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulations (“the Report”), which provides a window into regulatory activity conducted by federal agencies in Fiscal Year 2014. The Report indicates that the new regulations issued last fiscal year have both higher costs and lower benefits than those issued in FY 2013, and that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remains by far the largest contributor to both regulatory costs and benefits in this Report.