New Study: Regulation Doesn’t Hurt Jobs

by Stuart Shapiro

Republicans continue to have only one jobs program.  Eliminate regulations that protect public health.  But the evidence that regulation hurts employment levels is very mixed and a new study doesn’t help the Republicans.

In a recent paper, Professor Tara Sinclair of George Washington University and Kathryn Vesey of the National Association of State Budget Officers examine whether increases to the budgets of federal regulatory agencies slow economic growth and job creation. Through a number of statistical tests, they determine that there is no empirical basis on which to conclude that this measurement of federal regulation stunts job creation or economic growth.

Look, the evidence on this issue is mixed (not like on gun control for example).  But before we go eliminating regulations that save lives and keep people healthy, we need to step back and understand it better.

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.