regulatory burden

Government red tape slows down the economy. That is a consistent finding in economic research literature. Federal regulation has been estimated to cost the U.S. economy over…

As North Carolinians celebrate Christmas and look back at 2015, John Locke Foundation Chairman John Hood has reminded us this week that Gov. Pat McCrory’s promised…

Model Resolution on Regulatory Overcriminalization

This report is an attempt to identify the scope and cost of regulations in the state of North Carolina. The state’s record is mixed in terms of regulatory burden. One prominent index ranks North Carolina fifth in the nation when it comes to business friendliness. In contrast, the John Locke Foundation’s “First in Freedom Index” ranks North Carolina 36th in “regulatory freedom.”

A transition away from licensure and into voluntary private certification would inject freedom and choice into the market for service professionals and into the labor market. It would pay dividends in terms of job creation particularly in low-income neighborhoods.

Most studies find that lower levels of taxes and spending, less-intrusive regulation, and lower energy prices correlate with stronger economic performance. The implications of this research track well with recent public policies adopted in North Carolina. Judging from the available empirical evidence, North Carolina’s new policy mix is likely to result in stronger economic growth in the coming years.