The effects of regulation -- both benefits and costs -- are difficult to measure, particularly when considered in the aggregate. As a result, analysts often turn to indirect proxies to understand the reach and impact of regulations over time. Some of the statistics used to track aggregate regulatory activity over time are presented here.

Table of Contents:

Economically Significant Rules Published Across Administrations, Equivalent Periods

Using the database at Reginfo.gov to track the volume of regulations published during their time in office, this graph tracks Presidents Clinton and Bush's volume of regulations published during their time in office and overlays them with President Obama’s pace for regulatory output through October of 2016.   Download Data
 

Economically Significant Rules Published by Presidential Year, Final Quarters

This graph shows a comparision of the last quarter of every President’s time in office, which we define here as the Midnight quarter, and compare these to other non-Midnight quarters to illustrate the level of increase in regulatory output across administrations. Download Data

Pages in the Federal Register (1936 - 2015)

The number of pages in the Federal Register—the daily journal of the federal government in which all newly proposed rules are published along with final rules, executive orders, and other agency notices—provides a sense of the flow of new regulations issued during a given period and suggests how the regulatory burden will grow as Americans try to comply with the new mandates. Download Data
 

Total Pages in the Code of Federal Regulations (1975 - 2015)

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of all rules and regulations promulgated by federal agencies. Its size (which has grown from 71,224 pages in 1975 to 178,277 at the end of 2015) provides a sense of the scope of existing regulations with which American businesses, workers, and consumers must comply. The federal government tracks the number of pages and volumes in the CFR each year. Download Data

The Regulators' Budget

The Regulators’ Budget tracks the direct fiscal budget expenditures and agency staff devoted to regulatory activity.  By analyzing the federal personnel and expenses necessary to develop and enforce regulations, we can track regulatory trends over time. These data, developed by the George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center and the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy at Washington University in St. Louis, provide insight into the composition and evolution of regulation from 1960 to the present.

Benefits and Costs of Regulations

Agencies often estimate the Benefits and Costs of Regulations individually before they are issued.  Two federal agencies use different methods to estimated regulatory benefits and costs in the aggregate.  The Office of Management and Budget reports to Congress each year on the benefits and costs of major regulations issued over the preceding 10 years. The Small Business Office of Advocacy estimates the total cost of regulation, and the relative burden born by small entities.

This graph is based on the GW Regulatory Studies Center's analysis of OMB data.

Economically Significant Regulations Issued Each Year

Economically significant rules, as presented in this graph, are regulations issued by executive branch agencies that meet the definition in Section 3(f)(1) of Executive Order 12866 (“have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities.”  We present numbers by "presidential year" (February 1 to January 31) to understand priorities and activities during presidential terms. Download Data

Significant Regulations Issued by Presidential Year

“Significant regulations,”as defined by Executive Order 12866, are those that may “create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President’s priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive order.” We graph numbers of rules by "presidential year" (February 1 to January 31) to understand priorities and activities during presidential terms. Download Data

Major Rules Published

The Government Accountability Office reports on "major" rules published. The Congressional Review Act, passed in 1996, defines a major rule as "one that has resulted in or is likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, federal, state, or local government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, or innovation, or on the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets."  Download Data

Average Length of Review for Regulations