Spotlight Report

In his 1985 address to the North Carolina Foundation for Research and Economic Education (NC FREE), Gov. James Martin laid out three keys to a more conservative view of government.

What do subsidies for “green” energy, mandated health insurance benefits, and quotas on imported sugar all have in common? Most obviously, all three policies generate a wealth transfer from the…

Key Points Health insurance benefit mandates benefit few but increase costs for all Mandates cost North Carolina policyholders in the individual and small-group insurance markets over $218 million per year…

How consensus-based budgeting works Most people are familiar with the concept of logrolling: accepting someone else’s proposal to get their acceptance of yours. In government, it often means more programs…

Despite no obvious geographical distinctions from the other U.S. states that would explain it, North Carolina is awash in solar energy facilities, more so than every other state except California.

During the 2015-16 school year, North Carolina licensed (via interstate reciprocity agreements) and subsequently employed 1,556 out-of-state teachers.1,2,3 At the same time, 828 public school teachers resigned to teach in other states. All told, the state imported 728 more teachers than it exported last year.

Economic impact studies are everywhere. Whether it’s to support a new highway project, special tax breaks for solar energy, the building of a civic center or sports complex,…

Few people noticed, but in 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a major reform: a sunset provision with periodic review for state rules.1 It’s a reform with proven…

For centuries, it was a universally accepted principle of Anglo-American law that a criminal conviction requires proof, not only of a wrongful act—which lawyers call the “actus reus”—but also…

The mission of the John Locke Foundation is to make North Carolina “First In Freedom” among the 50 states. These are not just words; our mission is clear and measurable.