Economic Analysis of Regulation

This project seeks to assess the state of research on the economic costs of regulation. It will draw primarily on studies of the costs of specific regulations, but also consider estimates of the overall cost of regulations in the U.S. economy. The project will convene a team of researchers to consider the structure of regulation, various empirical strategies for measuring the costs of regulation, and the effect of regulations on consumer welfare and economic output. The project will also consider the role of cost-benefit analysis in regulatory policy analysis. One important project goal is drawing together established experts on regulatory policy, including some who studied the deregulation initiatives in many industries during the 1970s and 1980s, as well as early-career scholars who are interested in regulation.