Scholar Commentary

Traffic congestion is a growing problem in most cities. A new study by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute finds that in 2017, congestion cost Americans $166 billion, or more than $1,000 per commuter each year in wasted time and fuel. This represents nearly a 47

Staking a claim in the public debate over facial recognition software, presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has called for a ban on police use of the technology. While cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Calif., and Somerville, Mass. have already banned

Recently, Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) presented a plan to eliminate carbon emissions in the country by 2050. The bill would implement a national renewable energy standard, similar to renewable portfolio standards that currently exist in 35 states and the District of

One out of four people today requires a government license to earn an honest living. In 1950, that number was only one out of 20. Occupational licensing — regulations that require training and state-issued certification to practice certain trades — has seen massive

CGO Research Director Megan E. Hansen talked about her new policy paper, Executive Discretion and the Antiquities Act, and shared suggestions for how to improve public lands management on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal morning program.

If all you knew of America’s biggest tech companies was what emerges from the echo chambers and grandstanding that is Washington, D.C. political chatter, you’d likely have grave concerns about their collective future. Perhaps you are concerned. After all, if one thing

Megan E. Hansen, CGO Research Director, discusses what can be done to balance national land and public need. See original posting from The Lars Larson Show.

In their first meeting late last month, a group of 16 legislators, tax attorneys, and members of the governor’s office formally began studying Utah’s tax system to make recommendations to Utah’s legislature that will both ensure stable sources of revenue for the state

Christopher Koopman, Executive Director, talks with American Radio Journal’s Lowman Henry about the impact on consumers of anti-trust actions against big tech firms. See original posting from American Radio Journal.

Photo: Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP For generations, Bruce Adams and his family have lived off the land by grazing cattle in southeastern Utah. When President Obama designated 1.35 million acres as Bears Ears National Monument

A recent study released by the American Public Power Association (APPA) concludes that, “between 1997 and 2018, increases in retail electric prices in states with deregulated electric markets and regulated states were about the same, though with a slightly higher

CGO Research Manager Brian Isom was a guest on the Next Round podcast of the Pacific Research Institute. He discusses why the Paradise and Napa Valley fires were so destructive, why devastating wildfires are becoming much more common in the West, the political

On June 9, 2019, Dr. Robert Krol of California State University, was a guest on Economics Detective Radio to discuss the policy paper he wrote for The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University titled Can we Build our way out of Urban Traffic

Protecting national parks is vital. Ensuring park managers have the ability to respond to market signals is equally vital. CGO Research Director Megan Hansen and Undergraduate Research Fellow Rebekah Yeagley examine how proposals to eliminate entry fees will affect

Today marks 49 years since Earth Day was first established by Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI). Since then, the United States has made great strides towards improving the nation’s collective impact on the environment. Air pollution has fallen drastically. Efforts to clean

This article was originally posted on the Medium publication The Benchmark In what is being called “the first known example of a government intentionally using artificial intelligence for racial profiling,” China is using facial recognition technology and its

Last month, the House failed to override President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the border. This vote is just one flash point in an ongoing debate about immigration policy, and rightly so. A large and growing body of research shows that building a

On March 12, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new rule to allow the year-round sale of E15 fuel, a gasoline mixed with biofuel produced from corn. The ethanol industry trumpeted these changes as a boon to the environment, arguing that gasoline with

Sony recently re-released an updated version of aibo, the robotic dog it sold from 1999 to 2006. The “canine” is built and designed for companionship, using artificial intelligence to remember different people. It also recognizes how they react to its behavior

In the race to 5G, China is winning. The United States was slow out of the gate and is now playing catch up. The question at this point is not so much when we will get there but whether or not we will beat China. More importantly, it’s about what kind of economic

While much attention over Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ Green New Deal has focused on the mystery of the disappearing website FAQ, its call to arms against flight travel, and the dangers of bovine flatulence, one of its more overlooked pillars is already

Just before the holidays, Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., pointed to innovation as our best hope to curb carbon emissions. “Technology breakthroughs,” he said, “have led to an American energy renaissance and a growing economy.” Senator Barrasso is absolutely right:

A recent editorial in the Des Moines Register pointed out the stringent licensing laws that pervade the cosmetology industry in Iowa. As the article discusses, current occupational licensing rules require beauticians in training to undergo more than a year of full-time

In his 2019 State of the Union address, President Trump outlined a moral duty to build a wall along the southern U.S. border to prevent illegal immigration. But it’s not likely that he’ll receive congressional approval or funding for it. Democrats included no funding

After closing for 35 days, the US government is open once again, at least until February 15. The deadlock over funding for President Trump’s border wall remains unresolved, however. The short-term nature of the funding bill that President Trump signed promises a return

At a meeting earlier this month, the Utah State Board of Education discussed concerns that too many teachers in the state are unlicensed. A 2016 change by the board allowed Utah schools to hire people without licenses to overcome a shortage of teachers in Utah. One

As the Idaho housing market continues to boom, complaints about substandard general contractors and shoddy building practices are on the rise. Many argue that contractors should be required to obtain a license from the state and further licensing laws are the best way

Doug Shaw, the owner of Sanctuary Tobacco for 26 years, expects to retire and close his shop if efforts to ban flavored tobacco in California are successful. Lawmakers in the state are considering a ban because of growth in the use of flavored tobacco products like

Recently, the Salt Lake City Council approved rules allowing more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), often simply called mother-in-law apartments. The change comes after nearly a decade of slogging through compromises and slow deliberation. Although the changes are

As the government shutdown drags on, the fallout of political bickering in Washington, D.C., is being felt thousands of miles away in America’s beloved national parks. In place of scenic vistas and natural beauty, visitors instead find dirty restrooms and