Research

Through original, empirical research, we seek to better understand the nature of individual, economic, and political liberty.

Rational Judicial Review: Constitutions as Power-sharing Agreements, Secession, and the Problem of Dred Scott

Judicial review and originalism serve as valuable commitment mechanisms to enforce future compliance with a political bargain.

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Sep 15, 2025
Amicus Brief: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish

Civitas Research Fellow Michael Toth's work was cited in a Supreme Court brief.‍

Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Sep 11, 2025
The Causal Effect of News on Inflation Expectations

This paper studies the response of household inflation expectations to television news coverage of inflation.

Carola Binder, Pascal Frank, Jane M. Ryngaert
Economic Dynamism
Aug 22, 2025
The Rise of Inflation Targeting

This paper discusses the interactions between politics and economic ideas leading to the adoption of inflation targeting in the United States.

Carola Binder
Economic Dynamism
Aug 11, 2025
Epstein & Yoo: Amicus Brief in Supreme Court of Maryland
Richard Epstein, John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Jul 24, 2025
AI and the Future of Society and Economy
Joel Kotkin, Marshall Toplansky
Economic Dynamism
Jul 17, 2025
Automated Detection of Emotion in Central Bank Communication: A Warning
Carola Binder, Nicole Baerg
Economic Dynamism
Jul 1, 2025
How to Save Our Urban Centers
Joel Kotkin
Pursuit of Happiness
Jun 26, 2025
National Poll from Civitas Institute: Americans Concerned About AI, Economic Issues
Daron Shaw
Pursuit of Happiness
Jun 11, 2025
Defending Technological Dynamism & the Freedom to Innovate in the Age of AI
Adam Thierer
Economic Dynamism
Jun 6, 2025
All research
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Divorce, Family Arrangements, and Children's Adult Outcomes

Pursuit of Happiness
May 22, 2025

Religious Exemptions?: What the Free Exercise Clause Means

Constitutionalism
Apr 28, 2025

Partisan Trust in the Federal Reserve

Economic Dynamism
Apr 22, 2025

The American Dream Is Not a Coin Flip, and Wages Have Not Stagnated

Economic Dynamism
Mar 6, 2025

Political Economy and the Rise of Commercial Humanism

Economic Dynamism
Feb 28, 2025

Rational Nondelegation

Constitutionalism
Feb 27, 2025
Other

Content

Exodus: Affordability Crisis Sends Americans Packing From Big Cities

The first in a two-part series about the Great Dispersion of Americans across the country.

Joel Kotkin, Wendell Cox
Pursuit of Happiness
Sep 9, 2025
Demystifying the New Deal

Carola Binder reviews False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery, 1933–1947 by George Selgin

Carola Binder
Economic Dynamism
Sep 5, 2025
Decadent Ideology, Decaying Fraternity

Richard Reinsch reviews Prosperity and Torment in France by Chantal Delsol.

Richard M. Reinsch II
Politics
Sep 4, 2025
Why Is California Losing Good Jobs to Other States? It’s Not Rocket Science

The system that made California dynamic and prosperous for so long is now broken and backward-looking

Joel Kotkin
Economic Dynamism
Sep 4, 2025
Trump’s Factory Revival Is Happening

Think what you will of President Trump’s chaotic-seeming tariff policies. The ostensible goal — the revitalization of US manufacturing — is of decisive importance for the success of the nation.

Joel Kotkin
Economic Dynamism
Sep 4, 2025
Why Trump’s ‘Emergency’ Tariffs Won’t Fly

The trade deficit isn’t a sudden surprise, short in duration, and great in harm: the usual characteristics of an emergency.

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Sep 2, 2025
Stanford’s Graduate Student Union Tries to Stifle Dissent

The university may fire me because I won’t pay dues to a labor organization whose views I find repugnant.

Jonathan Hartley
Pursuit of Happiness
Aug 29, 2025

The Libertarian

The inimitable Richard Epstein offers his unique perspective on national developments in public policy and the law.

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Law Talk

Welcome to Law Talk with Richard Epstein and John Yoo. Our show is hosted by Charles C. W. Cooke.

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The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

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Epstein: Executive Power & Authoritarianism

Constitutionalism
Sep 17, 2025
44:10

Epstein: Tim Kaine’s Misunderstanding of Natural Rights

Constitutionalism
Sep 15, 2025
15:49

Trump’s Tariff-for-Income-Tax Swap

Economic Dynamism
Aug 21, 2025
19:25

Kotkin: Non-Aligned Nations Navigating a Multipolar World

Politics
Aug 19, 2025
47:01

Why Postliberalism Is Gaining Ground: Phillip Muñoz on America’s Founding Values

Constitutionalism
Aug 7, 2025
1:23:20
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