[![ilya-somin-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_mobile/public/2023-04/ilya-somin-cropped.jpg?itok=5Mfm5le8)](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2023-04/somin_ilya.jpg) 

[Policy Scholars](/experts) 

# Ilya Somin 

B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies 

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Ilya Somin is the B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute, and a professor of law at George Mason University. He is the author of *Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration and Political Freedom*, *Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government Is Smarter*, and *The Grasping Hand: Kelo v. City of New London and the Limits of Eminent Domain*, and coauthor of *A Conspiracy against Obamacare: The Volokh Conspiracy and the Health Care Case*.

Somin is widely published in both the scholarly and popular press, including the *Yale Law Journal*, the *Stanford Law Review*, the *Northwestern University Law Review*, the *New York Times*, the *Washington Post*, the *Wall Street Journal*, the *Los Angeles Times*, and *USA Today*.

Somin’s interests include democracy and political knowledge, federalism, property rights and migration. As a member of the *Volokh Conspiracy*, affiliated with *Reason* magazine, he is a prominent blogger.

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[![free-to-move-cover.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/promo_block/public/images/free-to-move-cover.jpg?itok=-NFRuUYP)](https://www.cato.org/books/free-move-foot-voting-migration-political-freedom) 

### *[Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom](https://www.cato.org/books/free-move-foot-voting-migration-political-freedom)*

Ballot box voting is often considered the essence of political freedom. But it has two major shortcomings: individual voters have little chance of making a difference, and they also face strong incentives to remain ignorant about the issues at stake. “Voting with your feet,” however, avoids both of these pitfalls and offers a wider range of choices. In *Free to Move*, Ilya Somin explains how broadening opportunities for foot voting can greatly enhance political liberty for millions of people around the world.

[Purchase Book](https://www.cato.org/books/free-move-foot-voting-migration-political-freedom)