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Riley Risto
Author

Riley Risto


Riley Risto is Director of the Center for Free Enterprise. He holds a masters in business from Brigham Young University and works as a community banker. He is a passionate advocate of Austrian economics, outdoor enthusiast, husband and father of six children. He lives with his family in Midway, Utah.

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Blog
Blog

Get More Bang For Your Political Buck: Join Us!


I was recently speaking with a very politically active friend who has served in key, influential decision-making positions within the Republican Party. We both cynically remarked in the past how difficult it is to move the needle...

  • Riley Risto
  • 10th Jun '14
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Free Market
Free Market

Prohibitionist Policies and Black Markets


President Obama has recently decided to make it illegal to buy, sell, or trade ivory that is less than 100 years old.  International trade of “blood ivory” has been illegal since 1989. According to unnamed conservationists,...

  • Riley Risto
  • 5th Mar '14
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Blog
Blog

What Exactly is “Public Service?”


Service is one of those ubiquitous, loosely defined words used to describe all sorts of exchanges. It can involve delivery of a material good for money, such as in restaurants, or it can represent the value of labor expended on...

  • Riley Risto
  • 25th Nov '13
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Property Rights
Property Rights

Cooperation: A Free Market Model for Environmental Protection


Utah is blessed with some of the most amazing landscapes in the country. From the curious rock waves of Zion’s slot canyons to the Salt Flats in the west desert, tourists from around the world want to visit this state. Utah is...

  • Riley Risto
  • 18th Nov '13
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Property Rights
Property Rights

Using the Government Shutdown to Our Advantage


On October 1, 2013, the supposed “shutdown” (better referenced as a “slimdown”) began. While competing political factions bicker over who’s to blame, and while the public demands resolution, an interesting conversational point...

  • Riley Risto
  • 10th Oct '13
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Free Market
Free Market

Recognizing Indirect Plunder in Utah


The Economist is the latest in a string of national publications to extol the virtues of Utah’s economy.  Their article “Busy bees” focuses on Utah’s low unemployment rate, friendly business climate, and...

  • Riley Risto
  • 1st Oct '13
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Free Market
Free Market

All Liquor Laws Boil Down to This


A recent article in the Deseret News highlights the most recent iteration of the never-ending struggle between restaurants, legislators, and assorted busybodies over Utah’s arcane liquor laws.  This time, the battle is over an...

  • Riley Risto
  • 29th Aug '13
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Blog
Blog

The Truth About Utah Politics Is Hard To Swallow


“I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for...

  • Riley Risto
  • 17th Jun '13
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Free Market
Free Market

Why Economics Should Matter To You, Part Two


For part one in this series, click here. One useful device to understand basic economic concepts is to first consider the actions of a single market participant in a closed system with limited raw materials, and then expand to...

  • Riley Risto
  • 23rd May '13
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Free Market
Free Market

Should Utah Taxpayers be Forced to Fund the Arts?


Utah has a long tradition of enjoying the theatrical arts. From the early days of the Salt Lake Theatre—the crown jewel of Western theaters—to the world famous Utah Shakespearean Festival, Utahns have valued wholesome...

  • Riley Risto
  • 23rd Apr '13
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