Policy Brief
Analysis and commentary; the default for shorter pieces.
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Policy Brief
Out of One, Many
Why banks, payment networks, merchant servicers, and financial firms will face a harder four years, and what to do about it.
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Policy Brief
Unlicensed, Unregulated, Unpunished: Still No Justice in Tara Jaramillo’s Predatory Lending Scheme
Tara Jaramillo’s payday lending scheme didn’t happen despite New Mexico’s interest rate cap: it happened because of it, with a little help from Fred Nathan and the price-fixing crusaders at Think New Mexico.
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Policy Brief
An Overdue Course Correction at the CFPB
Acting CFPB Director Russ Vought’s rollback of state enforcement overreach marks a critical return to legal restraint, restoring constitutional balance and regulatory clarity to America’s financial system.
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Policy Brief
Ensuring Accountability and Impact in Opioid Settlement Spending
The $26 billion opioid settlement offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to combat America’s deadliest drug crisis, if states and localities spend the funds transparently, strategically, and solely on opioid abatement.
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Policy Brief
Colorado’s House Bill 1282 Swipe Fee Legislation: A Price Control by Another Name
Colorado’s interchange swipe fee cap will ultimately harm small businesses, drive up banking costs, and gut credit card rewards.
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Policy Brief
Why Alaska’s Senate Bill 39 Should Be Rejected: Lessons from New Mexico’s Failed Rate Cap
Alaska’s Senate Bill 39 (SB 39) proposes a 36% APR cap on consumer loans up to $25,000. The bill aims to regulate financial services, prevent “predatory” lending, and bring state laws in line with federal consumer…
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Policy Brief
Backdoor Price Control: New Mexico’s HB476 Interchange Fee Cap Scheme
New Mexico’s HB 476 stealthily caps interchange fees by targeting sales tax, bypassing federal oversight while shifting costs to consumers and small businesses.
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Policy Brief
Arizona End-Run: How HB 2629 Sneaks in a Credit Card Interchange Fee Cap
Arizona’s HB 2629 stealthily caps interchange fees by targeting sales tax, bypassing federal oversight while shifting costs to consumers and small businesses.
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Policy Brief
Earned Wage Access: A Financial Lifeline or the Next Credit Trap?
Earned Wage Access (EWA) has rapidly gained traction amidst the demand for short-term liquidity, but questions remain about the preservation of borrowers’ financial autonomy.
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Policy Brief
The Price of Credit: How Rate Caps Hurt America’s Cash Poor
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”