A Healthy, Functioning Economy Depends on Sound Regulation

For Immediate Release: May 27, 2025
Contact: David Rosen, drosen@citizen.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A healthy, functioning economy depends on regulation, according to a new report from the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards (CSS) released today that features recent and past examples of regulatory successes. The report details how regulations foster more competitive markets, greater consumer welfare, increased innovation, and greater productivity.

“Markets need regulation to work effectively, and regulations determine whether the economy works for all of us or just the wealthy and powerful few,” said Sam Berger, author of the report, consultant to CSS, and former associate administrator at the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. “There is no market that first exists on its own and then has regulations layered on it. Markets themselves are created by, kept honest, open, competitive, and thriving by regulation.”

“Clear rules of the road help to determine whether we get paid well and fairly for our work and whether we can buy goods and services we need at a reasonable price without endangering our health and safety,” said Rachel Weintraub, executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards. “Regulations improve distributional fairness by ensuring that costs of certain actions are not borne by those who can least afford them. They ensure government programs operate efficiently. They fuel innovation and entrepreneurship. They protect civil rights by prohibiting discriminatory practices, advance democratic values by supporting free speech and political participation, and preserve natural beauty, clean air, and clean water through conservation requirements.”