The Knee Regulatory Research Center

The Knee Regulatory Research Center The Center’s mission is to inform citizens, policy makers, and other researchers of the extent, scope, and effects of occupational regulation.

Supported by a generous grant from the Charles Koch Foundation, the CSOR is housed in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. Why the study of regulations matters
Estimates suggest that more than one in four workers (approximately 25%) in the United States is directly impacted by occupational regulation, a percentage that has grown from 5% in the 1950s. Thi

s is far higher than the percentage of workers receiving the minimum wage or the percentage of workers belonging to a union. Last summer, the White House released a report documenting the costs and benefits of occupational licensing and suggested that state governments conduct a similar analysis of existing occupational regulation. The administration would like to establish a framework for licensing reform that encourages a thoughtful approach to licensing and results in a regulatory environment that better serves the public interest. Development of a national database of occupational regulation
To enhance public awareness regarding the impact of occupational licensing and to encourage more discussion and research on the topic, the Center will produce, update, and maintain a national database of occupational regulation that will be freely available to the public. The Center will also organize panels at national research conferences and prepare research reports on the subject. Saint Francis students will have the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Center. The Center will also hire new staff and host visiting researchers from other Universities visiting the campus.

Knee Center Director Alicia Plemmons joined a panel of top economists to discuss alternative pathways to occupational li...
06/02/2026

Knee Center Director Alicia Plemmons joined a panel of top economists to discuss alternative pathways to occupational licensing. This includes what research finds about apprenticeships, continuing education, and data collection needs to answer future questions.

Day 2 of the Occupational Licensing and Public Policy Conference at the Hoover Institution starts off with our Research ...
06/02/2026

Day 2 of the Occupational Licensing and Public Policy Conference at the Hoover Institution starts off with our Research Fellow and Assistant Professor Kihwan Bae serving on a panel discussing interstate migration policies, such as universal licensing recognition and reciprocity agreements.

One of our Knee Center research rockstars, Kihwan Bae, presenting his joint work on licensing and earnings inequality wi...
06/01/2026

One of our Knee Center research rockstars, Kihwan Bae, presenting his joint work on licensing and earnings inequality with Morris Kleiner (U. of Minnesota and Senior Research Affiliate at KRRC), Conor Norris (Director of Labor Research at KRRC), and Edward Timmons (Archbridge Institute).

Day 1 of the Occupational Licensing and Public Policy conference at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. We ar...
06/01/2026

Day 1 of the Occupational Licensing and Public Policy conference at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. We are excited to see so many licensing scholars, Knee Center affiliates, and regulators in one place! It has been an honor for the Knee Center to have the opportunity help fund this conference. Get ready for lots of updates about our team and this event over the next two days.

This week in our blog series, Knee Center PhD Student Yimin Wang jumps into the discussion and provides insight into why...
05/29/2026

This week in our blog series, Knee Center PhD Student Yimin Wang jumps into the discussion and provides insight into why it can be empirically difficult to measure the effects of immigration on labor and health outcomes.

Empirical Challenges for Measuring Immigration Impacts Yimin Wang | Friday, May 29, 2026 According to the Pew Research, the immigrant share of the US population reached 15.8% in 2025, marking the highest share ever recorded.[1] Alongside the rise of immigration has come copious debates. Should we op...

In a follow up to their policy brief with the Bluegrass Institute, Knee Center team members, Liam Sigaud and Edgar Orozc...
05/27/2026

In a follow up to their policy brief with the Bluegrass Institute, Knee Center team members, Liam Sigaud and Edgar Orozco, had the opportunity to publish an op-ed giving an overview of Certificate of Need in Kentucky with the esteemed Caleb Brown. Great work, y'all!

Defenders of KY's certificate of need laws rest on the promise that restricting supply lowers costs and protects rural hospitals. Neither is true.

The summer workers learned how to tie their ties. Internship and early career jobs in the Knee Center are a full-service...
05/26/2026

The summer workers learned how to tie their ties. Internship and early career jobs in the Knee Center are a full-service professional development experience!

This weekend, take a few moments to check out our undergraduate blog series, where Knee Fellow McPherson Stone describes...
05/22/2026

This weekend, take a few moments to check out our undergraduate blog series, where Knee Fellow McPherson Stone describes the unique and interesting phenomenon of pump jockeys in NJ.

The Odd Staying Power of NJ Filling Station Attendants McPherson Stone | Friday, May 22, 2026 Imagine you're driving across state lines, and you are running low on fuel. You pull off the road, coast into a gas station, and you start opening the door only to have it swung close in a moment. Before yo...

Our excellent Research Associate, Liam Sigaud and PhD student, Edgar Orozco, partnered with the Bluegrass Institute on t...
05/21/2026

Our excellent Research Associate, Liam Sigaud and PhD student, Edgar Orozco, partnered with the Bluegrass Institute on this fantastic break down of all things Certificate-of-Need in Kentucky.

Kentuckians struggle to receive timely, high-quality care. This policy brief examines Kentucky's current certificate of need laws, summarizes relevant empirical research, and discusses several evidence-based CON reforms that would improve access and competition in Kentucky’s health care system.

Shout out to our awesome students presenting at the Midwestern conference hosted by Institute for the Study of Political...
05/20/2026

Shout out to our awesome students presenting at the Midwestern conference hosted by Institute for the Study of Political Economy!

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