
Scholar Commentary
Here at The Center for Growth and Opportunity, we have a unique way of confronting challenges. Relentless optimism. Bold commitment. Fearless innovation. We want to leave the world a better place than when we got here. Whether it’s our award-winning students, or our world-class researchers, we look to work together to find creative solutions to today’s most pressing issues. We’re committed to turning ideas into action.


The Great Antidote – Randy Barnett

Radio: Contact Tracing and Technology
Lowman Henry of American Radio Journal talks with senior research fellow, William Rinehart, about the promise and pitfalls of contact tracing. Will notes that application based contact tracing should only be considered as a supplement to manual contact tracing.

Op-ed: The Case For Contact Tracing Apps Built On Apple And Google’s Exposure Notification System
Apple and Google have now released their update to their mobile operating systems to include a new capability for COVID-19 exposure notification.

Podcast: How to make America innovate again
Senior Research Fellow Eli Dourado discusses how to make America innovate again on Political Economy Podcast with James Pethokoukis.

OP-ED: How Can Biden Win Over the Left? One Answer May Lie at the Post Office
So how might Biden appeal to the left without angering his moderate supporters? One potential solution lies, in all places, at the post office.

Blog: There Aren’t Luddites in a Quarantine

Op-ed: Craft beer revolution is in danger amid coronavirus crisis. Here’s what can help save it.
Bingeing “Tiger King” and working on a good beer buzz are the only two things we can all agree on. Headlines across the country have made it clear — Americans are drinking their way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Podcast: Regime Uncertainty for Developers of Coronavirus Tests
When the FDA takes action against developers of diagnostic tests, it seems to come primarily during times when new tests are desperately needed. Will Rinehart of the Center for Growth and Opportunity discusses the problem.

Podcast: Deregulating for an easier pandemic response
The coronavirus has marched through parts of the federal regulatory apparatus like a boll weevil through a cotton field. CDC, FDA, even the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have all trimmed, relaxed or altered regulations.

TV: Federal Regulations and Coronavirus Response
Senior Research Fellow, William Rinehart, talks with C-SPAN’s Washington Journal host, Pedro Echevarria, about the impact of federal regulations on U.S. coronavirus response.

Op-Ed: Home-Based Businesses Are Coming
With the rapid spread of Covid-19, working from home is having a moment. With most major cities now under stay-at-home orders and nonessential businesses closing down across the country, millions of Americans are working remotely for the first time. Will it stick?

CHART: Regulatory Reaction Timeline of COVID-19
The introduction of the COVID-19 virus has precipitated a variety of responses from a range of different institutions. But there is disagreement about whether or not institutional responses have been effective and timed efficiently. For example, university researchers

Accelerating availability of vaccine candidates for COVID-19
Without a vaccine for COVID-19, the pandemic will be here for some time. Measures such as social distancing and robust surveillance can control the spread of the disease, but there will always be a risk that a flare-up will take lives, especially those of elderly and immunocompromised individuals.

Op-ed: Changing Antitrust rules will cause confusion
Last week Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced a new bill alongside Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to change a critical section of antitrust law. According to Klobuchar, the Anticompetitive Exclusionary Conduct Prevention Act of 2020

Op-ed: Our national parks deserve better
With springtime quickly approaching, many families are preparing for summer road trips to America’s national parks. But instead of wide-open spaces, visitors may be greeted with long lines, full campgrounds and nowhere to park. Outside of California’s Joshua Tree

Op-ed: Repressive state-laws can harm mental health
A popular theory about mental health for children and young adults revolves around increased social media exposure. Digital technology now allows for the quick and rampant display of narcissistic sentiments and even intentions to bully. Research in this area is

Op-ed: Surprise Trump immigration deal would boost US economy
In a surprising break from the usual proposals from President Trump’s administration, Politico reported this week on the beginnings of a compromise that would provide more visas and increase the number of immigrants. Not much is known about the structure of the deal so

Op-ed: Positive changes to the Endangered Species Act
An ecologist at the University of Sydney estimates that at least one billion animals have died in the wildfires that continue to rage across Australia. Even once the flames die out, widespread damage to habitats may push some species closer to extinction. Photos of

A 15-year-old N.J. law is costing patients real time and money with no real benefit, study finds
There are a lot of great things that make New Jersey unique — costly dialysis clinic regulations that might limit access to the most vulnerable residents of the state should not be one of them. Diabetes nationally has afflicted more and more Americans, and New

Op-ed: Clearing a Path for New Infrastructure
The United States seems incapable of developing modern infrastructure, despite bipartisan support for that goal. Since 2008, China has built more than 15,000 miles of high-speed rail, while the U.S. has built none and is unlikely to do so anytime soon. According to the

Op-ed: Utah tax reform a step in the right direction
New Years in Utah brings a new tax system for the state. Overall, Utahns will see a tax cut along with new, targeted programs for those in need. Though, tax reform skeptics have begun gathering signatures for two separate repeal efforts in order to undo the

Op-ed: Democrats wrong on big-tech solutions
From Elizabeth Warren to Tulsi Gabbard, the Democratic presidential candidates have come out strong for breaking up big tech. It has become a central focus of Warren’s campaign, which has caused business leaders like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to voice concern, and the

TV: Legal Marijuana and Drunk Driving
Author of Are Marijuana and Alcohol Substitutes? Evidence from Neighboring Jurisdictions working paper, Benjamin Hansen joins the Kennedy show on Fox Business to discuss how drunk driving decreased in Idaho after Washington state legalized marijuana.

Podcast: Brian Isom discusses wildfires on the Upzoned podcast
Brian Isom, CGO research manager, discusses his recent op-ed in the Orange County Register about wildfires, power outages, and market incentives to make even the driest, most overbuilt corners of the US fire-safe.

Op-ed: Healthcare policy and the challenge of inertia
California’s Health Insurance Marketplace, Covered California, began its 2020 open enrollment period on October 15th and will continue through January 31st. It is an exciting year for the Marketplace. More generous subsidies are available for Californians this year

The Benchmark: The future of education may not be what you think
Ongoing discussions about the future of work continue to center around how to prepare people better to step into the rapidly growing tech field. In a recent survey, 80 percent of companies said they will need more employees with tech skills soon. Thanks to continued

Op-ed: What college football can teach us about innovation
When most people think of disruptive innovation, they think of the world-changing apps and platforms that most of us have come to enjoy. Perhaps they may even think of flying cars, robotics, or wonder what transformational tech will come next. Unfortunately, the idea

Op-ed: Power Outages are Not the Wildfire Solution California Needs
Planned power outages across the state of California left over 2 million people in the dark last month. The blackouts, which were planned by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE), were meant to reduce the risk of wildfires as high

Op-ed: Let’s Make Utah the ‘Sandbox State’
The Federal Communication Commission recently announced that Salt Lake City would join New York City as the only two 5G innovation zones nationwide. The goal is to create “city-scale testbeds for advanced wireless communications and network research, including 5G