About Us
America stands at a turning point in the fight to preserve consumer choice and economic freedom. For years, federal regulators have stretched their authority under the banner of “consumer protection,” imposing policies that reduce choice, raise costs, and stifle innovation. Even powerful leaders in banking, insurance, and investing have occasionally supported these measures, unintentionally reinforcing an anticompetitive and anti-choice environment. Entrenched regulators, influenced by opponents of consumer freedom, routinely resist reform.
There is a need for strong voices, more empirical research, and a pipeline of young legal and policy experts committed to consumer freedom—ready to serve in government and shape regulatory agencies.
That is why we launched the Institute for Consumer Financial Choice at the Law and Economics Center, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University. With an initial-year budget of just $200,000, the Institute will bring together researchers and others to inform policy makers. Donation information is included at the end of this document.
The centerpiece of the Institute’s first year will be a two-day event in May 2026 in Arlington, VA (GMU campus). The first day of the event features prominent speakers organized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to highlight the current state of consumer financial protection. The second day of the event has academic researchers presenting strategies to advance the 101 recommendations made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law. The Taskforce released its recommendations in 2020, but they were ignored by agency leaders.
The Institute is led by two of the nation’s foremost consumer choice experts: Professor Todd Zywicki and Professor Tom Miller. Both have spent decades exploring and highlighting market-based solutions in credit cards, payday lending, and installment loans. They will contribute their expertise at no cost to the first-year budget. Early research projects already underway include assessing whether the Military Lending Act has benefited service members. In addition, both will continue to testify to Legislatures and Congress. They will also write op-eds and generate amicus briefs. Professors Zywicki and Miller bring unmatched credibility and influence:
- Professor Zywicki has testified before Congress more than 25 times, addressed state legislatures nationwide, and advised audiences ranging from policymakers to academics and industry leaders. He is co-author of Consumer Credit and the American Economy, the leading text on the subject, and frequently appears in top-tier national media. He also chaired the CFPB’s Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law.
- Professor Miller, the inaugural Jack R. Lee Chair in Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit at Mississippi State University, leads the only U.S. academic chair focused on consumer credit economics. His primer, How Do Non-Bank Small Dollar Loans Work?, is essential reading for legislators and regulators alike.
With their leadership, the Institute will build a movement: undertaking and encouraging important relevant research, shaping regulatory debates, training new leaders, and ensuring that consumer choice remains a cornerstone of American economic freedom. Supporting this Institute means investing in a future where consumers, not regulators, decide.
Questions? Please contact Professor Miller at [email protected] and Professor Zywicki at [email protected].