22
June 2016
Past Event
Federal Agency Independence and the Suppressed Role of Economists: A Discussion with Professor Joshua Wright

Federal Agency Independence and the Suppressed Role of Economists: A Discussion with Professor Joshua Wright

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
June 22, 2016
22
June 2016
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Joshua Wright

Executive Director, Global Antitrust Institute, George Mason University

harold_furchtgott_roth
Harold Furchtgott-Roth

Senior Fellow and Director, Center for the Economics of the Internet

Created in 1887, the Interstate Commerce Commission was the first “independent agency” outside of the president’s control that had the combined powers of all three branches of government. Independent agencies proliferated during the New Deal era, the golden age for this so-called fourth branch of government.

The formation of independent agencies was based on an idealistic view of bureaucracy: shielded from shifting political winds, a small group of technically-skilled experts could address technical issues. Economic and engineering analyses would guide independent agency decisions. However, the 21st-century reality is that federal “independent agencies” are neither independent of the executive nor guided by economic and engineering principles. Instead, independent agencies have become useful appendages of the executive branch, and economic and engineering concepts are largely silenced.

On Wednesday, June 22, former FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright joined Hudson Institute’s Director of the Center for the Economics of the Internet, Harold Furchtgott-Roth, to discuss the institutional problems of the modern administrative state and solutions for promoting economic analysis in public policy.

Related Events
14
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Next Steps in US-China Great Power Competition with the House Republican Policy Committee
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Kevin Hern
Congressman Troy Downing
Congressman Joe Wilson
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik
Getty Images
14
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Next Steps in US-China Great Power Competition with the House Republican Policy Committee

Join Hudson Senior Fellow Michael Sobolik for a panel discussion with key members of the House Republican Policy Committee.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Kevin Hern
Congressman Troy Downing
Congressman Joe Wilson
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik
15
July 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
The Iranian Regime Under Pressure: What’s Next?
Featured Speakers:
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Dr. Ladan Boroumand
Moderator:
Zineb Riboua
Getty Images
15
July 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
The Iranian Regime Under Pressure: What’s Next?

Join Zineb Riboua, research fellow and program manager at Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, for a conversation with Mariam Memarsadeghi, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and Dr. Ladan Boroumand, cofounder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Dr. Ladan Boroumand
Moderator:
Zineb Riboua
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Drone Warfare and Securing America’s Military Against Emerging Threats with Senator John Boozman
Featured Speakers:
Senator John Boozman
Thomas H. Shugart
Timothy A. Walton
DVIDS
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Drone Warfare and Securing America’s Military Against Emerging Threats with Senator John Boozman

Senator John Boozman (R-AR), chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, will join Senior Fellow Timothy A. Walton for a conversation on how the US can mitigate these risks and accelerate the fielding of forces and infrastructure to retain US advantage.

DVIDS
Featured Speakers:
Senator John Boozman
Thomas H. Shugart
Timothy A. Walton
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Countering Communist Cyborgs: China’s Dystopian AI Ambitions and the Robotics Race
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Bill Huizenga
Martijn Rasser
Divyansh Kaushik
Bill Drexel
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik
Getty Images
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Countering Communist Cyborgs: China’s Dystopian AI Ambitions and the Robotics Race

Senior Fellow Michael Sobolik will host an event to introduce his new white paper featuring policy recommendations for the Trump administration and Capitol Hill to help secure America’s innovation advantage.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Bill Huizenga
Martijn Rasser
Divyansh Kaushik
Bill Drexel
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik