Deregulation Fueled the Economic Boom | E.J. Antoni on Small Business Growth
Main Street Matters with Elaine Parker and Alfredo Ortiz explores the intersection of small business and government policy. With more than 90 million Americans either owning or depending on small business for their household income, policies like taxes, regulations, and access to credit have a huge effect on the American Dream. Elaine and Alfredo talk with small business owners, government officials and office holders, and experts about everything from education to the labor market on this interesting and entertaining podcast.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
In this episode of Main Street Matters, Jordan Bruneau sits down with E.J. Antoni, Chief Economist at the Heritage Foundation, to break down one of the most overlooked drivers of today’s economic growth: deregulation. While tax cuts and energy policy often dominate economic headlines, Antoni explains why deregulation has quietly powered hiring, profitability, and expansion—especially for small businesses that lack the resources to navigate burdensome federal rules. Drawing on real-world examples from the Trump administration, Antoni details how rolling back environmental and labor regulations reduced costs, increased flexibility, and unlocked economic activity across Main Street America.
The conversation explores why overregulation disproportionately harms entrepreneurs, how regulatory rollbacks helped fuel stronger-than-expected growth, and what future deregulation efforts could mean for jobs, wages, and consumer prices. If you want to understand what’s really driving economic momentum—and why small businesses are at the center of it—this episode is a must-watch.
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