Knee Regulatory Research Center

Contents

The Knee Regulatory Research Center is a United States-based academic research center at West Virginia University's John Chambers College of Business and Economics.[1][2] Founded in 2016, the Knee Center conducts nonpartisan research on state-level regulation, focusing on labor, healthcare, and regulatory issues.[3][4][5][6]

The Knee Center maintains a national database that documents and tracks the occupational licensing regulations of hundreds of professions across the U.S.[7][8] It also prepares other research reports for policymakers and the general public, in addition to organizing educational panels at academic conferences.[9]

Organization

The Knee Center was established in 2016 at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania.[10] It was founded to advance research on state-level regulatory policy, particularly in the areas of occupational licensing and economic freedom.[11][12] The Knee Center educates the public about policies it says remove barriers to employment and economic prosperity, such as reducing the burden of occupational licensure and repealing certificate of need laws to increase healthcare access.[13]

In 2021, the Knee Center relocated to West Virginia University to broaden its research efforts and create new programming.[14] It created a publicly available database that provides licensing information on 50 professions across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.[15] The Knee Center introduced the database in a paper for the Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy.[16]

In 2024, the Knee Center published a report on child care regulations, ranking U.S. states and finding that restrictive child care regulations are linked to higher costs and lower access.[17][18] Louisiana topped the ranking as the least restrictive state, while Massachusetts was the most restrictive.[19]

In addition to educating non-students, the Knee Center also provides hand-on opportunities for students interested in economics, public policy, and research.[20]

Leadership

Alicia Plemmons serves as director of the Knee Center, while Drake Thibodaux is assistant director.[21][22] Darwyyn Deyo is director of regulatory frontiers, while Conor Norris is director of labor.[23][24]

Edward Timmons founded the Knee Center.[25][26] He was a professor at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics.[27][28]

References

  1. 1.Pesto, Mark (2018-03-13). "St. Francis center gets new name after couple donates $1M". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. 2.Millsap, Adam A. "New Study Finds That Universal Recognition Of Occupational Licenses Increases Employment And Mobility". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  3. 3."WVU Foundation | WVU alumna's gifts totaling $2.15M expand support for student research". www.wvuf.org. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  4. 4.Hope, Jamie A. (October 14, 2023). "Nearly 1 million Michiganders are subject to occupational licensing laws". Michigan Capitol Confidential. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  5. 5."Underserved Regions Benefit When NPs Have Full Scope: Study". Medscape. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  6. 6.DeFeo, T. A. (2023-05-02). "House unanimous in repeal of health care certificate of need mandate". The Center Square. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  7. 7.Tuccille, J. D. (2023-03-27). "How bad are your state's occupational licensing requirements?". Reason.com. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  8. 8.Revello, Katherine (2023-11-29). "Study finds CT occupational licensing 30th worst in nation". Connecticut Inside Investigator. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  9. 9.Pesto, Mark (2018-03-13). "St. Francis center gets new name after couple donates $1M". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  10. 10.Benedek, Zach. "CSOR Moving to West Virginia University". Troubadour. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  11. 11."Appraiser Will Help Expose Occupational Licensing Abuses". Appraisers Blogs. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  12. 12.Revello, Katherine (2023-11-29). "Study finds CT occupational licensing 30th worst in nation". Connecticut Inside Investigator. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  13. 13.Siguad, Liam (2026-03-19). "certificate of need for health care facilities needs to be abolished". MarylandReporter.com. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  14. 14."West Virginia University welcomes Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Licensing". business.wvu.edu. 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  15. 15.Post, David Beard, The Dominion (2024-03-23). "One job: 50 hoops; WVU researchers unveil database showing how trade licensing laws vary across nation". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  16. 16.Post, David Beard, The Dominion (2024-03-23). "One job: 50 hoops; WVU researchers unveil database showing how trade licensing laws vary across nation". Dominion Post. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  17. 17.Hennigan, Mary (2025-05-12). "Minnesota families are sinking under the weight of nation-leading child care costs • Minnesota Reformer". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  18. 18."New Tool Measures Child Care Regulation and Cost in the U.S." Institute for Family Studies. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  19. 19.Moseley, Renee (2024-10-23). "Child Care Regulation Rankings by State". GL Solutions. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  20. 20.Pesto, Mark (2018-03-13). "St. Francis center gets new name after couple donates $1M". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  21. 21."Health Committee Meeting - June 11, 2025". Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  22. 22."profile". business.wvu.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  23. 23."Permissionless innovation or permission to work?". www.nzinitiative.org.nz. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  24. 24."The Right to Earn a Living: Reforming Occupational Licensing in North Carolina". John Locke Foundation. 2025-03-12. Archived from the original on 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  25. 25.DeFeo, T. A. (2023-11-21). "Expert: Georgia should alleviate burdensome licensing requirements". The Center Square. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  26. 26.Moseley, Renee (2024-01-11). "Universal Recognition Gaining Popularity in US". GL Solutions. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  27. 27."'Economics Bites on the Go' features Dr. Edward Timmons – WSU News". news.wichita.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  28. 28.University, West Virginia. "Research shows government regulation of jobs hinders workers and consumers". phys.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.