Ever wonder why California gas prices are perpetually higher than in other states? Or why residential real estate in California is overwhelmingly more expensive than elsewhere? Or why wildfires got so out of control in recent years? Or why a visit to a California DMV office has been such an ordeal—but is maybe a bit better in recent years?

Let us introduce you to the Independent Institute’s California Golden Fleece Awards! Our researchers dig deep, to show how California laws and government agencies trigger a lot of these problems—and thus richly deserve the satirical Fleece awards in recognition of how California taxpayers get “fleeced.” More important, our researchers formulate solutions—which are often pretty straightforward. Spoiler alert: occasionally, the bureaucrats take our advice!