Vending Research Reports

Economic Liberty | Vending

A Golden Opportunity for the Golden State

California’s sidewalk vendors face a patchwork of arbitrary and anticompetitive rules that make it difficult—or even impossible—to ply their chosen trade and share in the prosperity of the United States’ largest economy. Now the California…

Upwardly Mobile

Economic Liberty | Vending

Upwardly Mobile

Executive Summary As old as the country itself, American street vending has never been more prominent. It’s the subject of television shows, think pieces and—less happily—burdensome regulations in cities coast to coast. Despite vending’s popularity…

Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide

Cosmetology | Economic Liberty | Food Freedom | Hair Braiding | Occupational Licensing | Transportation | Vending

Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide

You have the right to earn an honest living. This is called “economic liberty” and it is protected by the U.S. Constitution. But often, entrepreneurs face burdensome, arbitrary and anti-competitive laws that make it difficult,…

Economic Liberty | Vending

Street Eats, Safe Eats

Boston |Las Vegas |Los Angeles |Louisville |Miami |Seattle|Washington, D.C. Introduction America loves food trucks. These new mobile vendors are creating jobs, satisfying hunger and making downtowns cool…

The Attack on Food Freedom

Economic Liberty | Vending

The Attack on Food Freedom

Today’s bans and strict regulations ultimately limit the choices available to eaters—which include quite literally everyone—and, in the process, prevent food entrepreneurs from earning an honest living.

Seven Myths and Realities about Food Trucks

Economic Liberty | Vending

Seven Myths and Realities about Food Trucks

Using facts and real-world examples, IJ shows that there is no basis for the argument that restaurants need government intervention to “protect” them from food trucks.

Food-Truck Freedom

Economic Liberty | Vending

Food-Truck Freedom

In order to foster the conditions that will let food trucks thrive, this report offers recommendations based on the legislative best practices of Los Angeles and other cities.

Streets of Dreams

Economic Liberty | Vending

Streets of Dreams

Street vending is, and always has been, a part of the American economy and a fixture of urban life. Thanks to low start-up costs, the trade has offered countless entrepreneurs—particularly immigrants and others with little…