Business and Economics Studies

NEW STUDY: Pandemic Response Grew Government ‘Barriers to Opportunity’ for Entrepreneurs

November 01, 2021 Wayne Winegarden

Government actions to “help” small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have worsened pre-pandemic government-imposed burdens to entrepreneurship, finds the final paper in the Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunityseries released today by the nonpartisan Pacific Research Institute, a California-based, free-market think tank. Click here...

NEW STUDY: Competitive Markets Reduce Electricity Costs, Improve Reliability, Lower Emissions

September 28, 2021 Wayne Winegarden

States with competitive electricity markets saw cheaper energy prices, more energy infrastructure investment to improve efficiency and reliability, and greater emission reductions compared to monopoly states, finds a new study released today by the nonpartisan Pacific Research Institute, a California-based, free-market think tank. “Residents and businesses...

NEW STUDY: Harmful Policy Choices Driving Employers, Every Age Group and Income Level Away from California

September 23, 2021 Pacific Research Institute

By Kerry Jackson and Wayne Winegarden DOWNLOAD THE STUDY Documenting California’s growing outmigration problem, a new study released today by the nonpartisan Pacific Research Institute found that harmful policy choices have increased economic and quality-of-life concerns and are chasing businesses, job opportunities, individuals of every age group...

CAPITAL IDEAS: More of California’s Big Cities on the Way to Becoming Next Detroit

July 23, 2021

DOWNLOAD PDF Two waves have rolled through California in 2021. One so hot that high temperature records were set throughout the state. The other so chilling that stores have shortened their hours and even closed altogether to avoid it. By now, the video of a shoplifter last...

CAPITAL IDEAS: Is This How California is Solving Its Housing Crisis?

June 17, 2021

DOWNLOAD PDF Not too terribly long ago, the Legislative Analyst’s Office said that to meet demand, each year the state needed 100,000 new housing units in addition to the 100,000 to 140,000 that are expected to be built annually, an impossibility in today’s political environment. But,...

CAPITAL IDEAS: California’s Past, Even if Not Perfect, Set Up Its Prosperous Future

May 12, 2021

DOWNLOAD PDF Even before it was a state, California was the New World’s new world. Everything that the Western Hemisphere promised was condensed and amplified in what became the 31st state. Not only was it arguably the greatest land of opportunity in human history, but rather...

NEW STUDY: Rejecting Push to Restrict Gig Entrepreneurship Key to Driving Innovation, Economic Growth, Higher Incomes

February 17, 2021 Wayne H Winegarden

Amid a renewed push in Congress and states to enact new gig economy restrictions following California’s controversial AB 5, a new study released today by the nonpartisan Pacific Research Institute finds that enacting these harmful laws would hinder innovation and restrict people’s ability to become...

NEW STUDY: Pandemic Response Grew Government ‘Barriers to Opportunity’ for Entrepreneurs

NEW STUDY: Competitive Markets Reduce Electricity Costs, Improve Reliability, Lower Emissions

NEW STUDY: Harmful Policy Choices Driving Employers, Every Age Group and Income Level Away from California

CAPITAL IDEAS: More of California’s Big Cities on the Way to Becoming Next Detroit

CAPITAL IDEAS: Is This How California is Solving Its Housing Crisis?

CAPITAL IDEAS: California’s Past, Even if Not Perfect, Set Up Its Prosperous Future

NEW STUDY: Rejecting Push to Restrict Gig Entrepreneurship Key to Driving Innovation, Economic Growth, Higher Incomes

ABOUT PRI

RESEARCH AREAS

OUR WORK

Gallery