Economic Liberty

IJ’s ability to achieve previously unheard-of wins for small-business owners has attracted national attention. For example, in 2013, the Los Angeles Times pointed to “a growing trend of successful ‘economic liberty’ cases championed by the Institute for Justice.” These victories have vindicated the rights of thousands of different entrepreneurs in roles as varied as day-care providers, food truck owners and wine makers. Our clients have ranged from entrepreneurs trying to support their families to immigrants pursuing the American dream to people with criminal histories doing their best to get back on their feet. Regardless of the occupation and the person, the rule of law IJ seeks is the same.

Through strategic litigation, research and public advocacy, IJ demonstrates not only that economic liberty is morally and practically important but that the right to economic liberty has a genuine basis in the text, history and original public meaning of the U.S. Constitution and should be rigorously enforced in our nation’s courts.

In addition to IJ’s litigation efforts, our attorneys and strategic research team continue to publish a wide variety of reports on issues relating to economic liberty. These reports have measured the scope and scale of occupational licensing barriers to entrepreneurship, examined the justifications for local and state restrictions on entrepreneurship, and even documented how private interests manage to strategically use the power of government to squelch competition.  Academics and journalists across the country have cited these studies, helping to drive the public debate on the importance of economic liberty.

Through strategic litigation, research and public advocacy, IJ demonstrates not only that economic liberty is morally and practically important but that the right to economic liberty has a genuine basis in the text, history and original public meaning of the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions and should be rigorously enforced in our nation’s courts. The precedents we set through our work and the victories we achieve have already paved and will continue to pave the way for thousands of hard-working men and women to enter the workforce and provide for themselves and their families through honest enterprise.