Max Gulker, Ph.D., is managing director of technology policy at Reason Foundation.
Gulker’s research and writing bring a fresh perspective to social policy issues and debates. Gulker's recent research topics include welfare and work requirements, the impact of recent government policy on urban poverty, childcare, and cash assistance. Rather than traditional top-down approaches, Gulker looks for social policy alternatives where the private, public, and non-profit sectors empower, rather than dictate to, people, families, and communities in need.
Prior to joining Reason Foundation, Gulker spent five years with the American Institute for Economic Research, where he wrote on social policy, including employment, education, healthcare, and emerging technology, including cryptocurrency, tech antitrust, and the sharing economy. Gulker has appeared on television news outlets, including the Fox Business Channel, print media, including the Wall Street Journal, and podcasts, including Kibbe On Liberty. He has presented research, given speeches, and participated in panels at conferences on economics, technology, and politics.
Gulker received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2000 and his Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University in 2008. Prior to entering the policy research field, he spent several years in the private sector, consulting on litigation, including antitrust, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and shareholder class actions.
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Federal Trade Commission fails to convince judge that Meta monopolizes social media
In its zeal to punish Big Tech, the Federal Trade Commission stuck to a market definition that became more obsolete with every year.
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DOJ v. Visa could prove an important battleground for tech antitrust
In its lawsuit, the Department of Justice alleges that Visa has monopolized the market for debit payment.
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Nobel Prize winners make powerful case for optimism amid technological change
The Nobel laureates’ work puts free minds and free markets squarely at the center of how societies prosper through innovation.
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Consumer welfare was pivotal in the Google antitrust remedies decision
Judge Amit Mehta’s decision in the remedies phase of the Google search antitrust trial should be viewed with cautious optimism.
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Google avoids court-ordered breakup as AI revitalizes competition
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected a Department of Justice proposal that would have forced Google to sell Chrome and Android.
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A moratorium on state laws targeting AI would safeguard innovation and interstate commerce
A federal moratorium on bills singling out artificial intelligence would help ensure that the U.S. remains fertile ground for technological growth.
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Deepfakes, AI, and existing laws
A nuanced policy response can address the challenges of deepfakes while preserving the benefits of creative and expressive digital technologies.
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Existing laws already fight AI housing discrimination—new state AI bills increase confusion
Misguided artificial intelligence regulatory efforts risk limiting innovation and sowing misunderstanding in many markets.
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Consent requirements in comprehensive data privacy laws: Current practices and the path forward
Privacy laws worldwide increasingly rely on user consent as the primary mechanism for governing data collection, processing, and sharing.
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Proposed antitrust remedies for Google ignore the impact of AI on internet search
The antitrust remedies proposed by the Department of Justice will not open competition as intended—they will simply harm Google and its ability to compete.
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Google found guilty of monopolizing online advertising as fight against Big Tech goes bipartisan
A federal court issued a partial verdict against Google on Thursday in an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice.
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Best practices for development of a federal artificial intelligence action plan
President Trump’s Executive Order 14179 properly focuses on innovation and global competitiveness in artificial intelligence development.
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Virginia House Bill 1624 would heavily regulate social media
Virginia H.B. 1624 attempts to define which features and services offered by social media platforms are potentially risky for minors.
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Florida attorney general looks for, but doesn’t find, price gouging
There is scant evidence of anything like price gouging, even in Florida after this year's severe hurricanes.
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Missouri Amendment 3 would constitutionally protect reproductive freedom
Abortion in Missouri is currently banned with exceptions such as procedures necessary for the health or life of the mother.
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Economists receive 2024 Nobel for work on institutions and economic prosperity
Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson received the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
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Florida Amendment 4 would amend state constitution to protect abortion rights
Abortion in Florida is currently banned after six weeks of pregnancy, a law which took effect on May 1, 2024.
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Colorado Amendment 79 would create constitutional right to abortion
Colorado currently has no legal restrictions on abortion at any time during pregnancy.
