In this episode of Believe in Arkansas, host Ryan Norris sits down with Dr. Liya Palagashvili, Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Labor Policy Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, for a conversation on one of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—facing Arkansas’s modern workforce: how to support independent contractors and gig workers in a rapidly changing economy.

Dr. Palagashvili’s research dives deep into the intersection of labor policy, entrepreneurship, and the gig economy. Her work has been featured in leading outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hill, and she brings an economist’s precision to a policy conversation that impacts everyone from rideshare drivers to freelance professionals and small business owners. A former professor of economics at SUNY–Purchase and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Law & Policy, Liya has testified before Congress and state legislatures on how to modernize labor policy for a more flexible, fair, and innovative economy.

Together, Ryan and Liya explore how portable benefits—benefits that follow workers from job to job—could bridge the gap between flexibility and security for Arkansas’s growing independent workforce. They unpack how states like Utah are leading the way, why Arkansas is uniquely positioned to innovate, and what policymakers, entrepreneurs, and everyday Arkansans can do to build a system that empowers work—not bureaucracy.

It’s a thoughtful, forward-looking discussion on the future of work, economic freedom, and how Arkansas can lead the nation in making work work for everyone.

To learn more and see how AFP-Arkansas can help you or your organization increase your impact in our state, email us at infoar@afphq.org or visit us at believeinar.com.

In this episode, host Ryan Norris talks with Dr. Emily Hamilton of the Mercatus Center and Duke McLarty, Executive Director of Groundwork in Northwest Arkansas. Together, they explore why affordable housing is so hard to build—and what Arkansas can do about it.

Dr. Hamilton brings a national perspective on how zoning and land-use rules drive housing costs, while McLarty shares how Groundwork is advancing smart, local solutions to expand housing options for working families.

If you’ve ever wondered why home prices keep climbing or how policy can make housing more attainable, this episode connects the dots between regulation, reform, and real opportunity for Arkansans.

To learn more and see how AFP-Arkansas can help you or your organization increase your impact in our state, email us at infoar@afphq.org or visit us at believeinar.com.

In this timely Believe In Arkansas episode, Ryan Norris, State Director for Americans for Prosperity–Arkansas, welcomes Congressman French Hill for a conversation on the looming expiration of the tax cuts passed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) and what it means for hardworking Arkansans. If Congress fails to act, the average Arkansas family could face a $2,220 cost of living increase— an average of $1,271 of which would come directly from increased income tax rates. Arkansas businesses aren't immune either, with an average tax increase of $1,218 expected and over 6,200 local jobs potentially impacted. Congressman Hill discusses the path forward in Washington, how to protect these vital tax reforms, and what everyday Arkansans can do to ensure their voices are heard. Don’t miss this critical discussion on safeguarding our state’s prosperity and freedom.

To learn more and see how AFP-Arkansas can help you or your organization increase your impact in our state, email us at infoar@afphq.org or visit us at believeinar.com.