The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is a non-profit libertarian think tank founded on March 9, 1984 in Washington, D.C. by lobbyist Fred L. Smith, Jr to fight big government. CEI's stated belief is that people are best helped not by government regulation of commercial interests, but by a free marketplace. CEI states that it promotes libertarian ideals through analysis, education, coalition-building, advocacy, and regulation. CEI offers or has offered analysis and advocacy on public policy issues such as energy, environment, biotechnology, pharmaceutical regulation, chemical risk, telecommunications, insurance, transportation, tobacco regulation, constitutional issues, economic policy and securities law.
