Texas has the most heavily regulated title insurance market in the country. Unlike all but one other state, the government sets a fixed rate for title insurance, preventing competition for consumer’s business. This rate functions as a monopoly price that consumers are forced to pay. By requiring the purchase of comprehensive, one-size-fits-all title insurance policies at a fixed rate, Texas increases costs for both consumers and businesses by millions of dollars every year. This paper shows the source of these excess costs that consumers pay and the excess profits that flow to the Texas title insurance industry: heavy regulation championed by the industry that has resulted in Texas having some of the highest prices for title insurance in the country.
The Explosion of Transmission Costs in ERCOT: Causes, Forecasts, and Policy Solutions
KEY POINTS • Transmission costs in ERCOT rose from $1.5 billion in 2010 to over $5 billion in 2024 and could increase to over $12 billion per year by 2033. • After adjusting for inflation and overall rising electricity demand, the average ratepayer in the ERCOT region paid 57% more in transmission charges in 2024...