diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java
index f9b5c38..cf01573 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/base/RuleCollections.java
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.FixReplicateOperatorOutputsRule;
 import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.FullTextContainsParameterCheckRule;
 import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.FuzzyEqRule;
-import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.InjectTypeCastForSwitchCaseRule;
+import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.InjectTypeCastForFunctionArgumentsRule;
 import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.InjectTypeCastForUnionRule;
 import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.InlineUnnestFunctionRule;
 import org.apache.asterix.optimizer.rules.IntroduceAutogenerateIDRule;
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@
         planCleanupRules.add(new IntroduceDynamicTypeCastForExternalFunctionRule());
         planCleanupRules.add(new RemoveUnusedAssignAndAggregateRule());
         planCleanupRules.add(new RemoveCartesianProductWithEmptyBranchRule());
-        planCleanupRules.add(new InjectTypeCastForSwitchCaseRule());
+        planCleanupRules.add(new InjectTypeCastForFunctionArgumentsRule());
         planCleanupRules.add(new InjectTypeCastForUnionRule());
 
         // Needs to invoke ByNameToByIndexFieldAccessRule as the last logical optimization rule because
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
index a2c500a..f10ae1a 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
@@ -43,10 +43,14 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.om.constants.AsterixConstantValue;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.functions.BuiltinFunctions;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.typecomputer.base.TypeCastUtils;
+import org.apache.asterix.om.typecomputer.impl.TypeComputeUtils;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.types.AbstractCollectionType;
+import org.apache.asterix.om.types.IAType;
+import org.apache.asterix.om.types.TypeTagUtil;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.utils.ConstantExpressionUtil;
+import org.apache.asterix.runtime.evaluators.functions.PointableHelper;
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.mutable.Mutable;
 import org.apache.hyracks.algebricks.common.exceptions.AlgebricksException;
 import org.apache.hyracks.algebricks.common.utils.Pair;
@@ -237,11 +241,16 @@
 
                 IScalarEvaluator eval = fact.createScalarEvaluator(null);
                 eval.evaluate(null, p);
-                Object t = _emptyTypeEnv.getType(expr);
-
+                IAType returnType = (IAType) _emptyTypeEnv.getType(expr);
+                ATypeTag runtimeType = PointableHelper.getTypeTag(p);
+                if (runtimeType.isDerivedType()) {
+                    returnType = TypeComputeUtils.getActualType(returnType);
+                } else {
+                    returnType = TypeTagUtil.getBuiltinTypeByTag(runtimeType);
+                }
                 @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
                 ISerializerDeserializer serde =
-                        jobGenCtx.getSerializerDeserializerProvider().getSerializerDeserializer(t);
+                        jobGenCtx.getSerializerDeserializerProvider().getSerializerDeserializer(returnType);
                 bbis.setByteBuffer(ByteBuffer.wrap(p.getByteArray(), p.getStartOffset(), p.getLength()), 0);
                 IAObject o = (IAObject) serde.deserialize(dis);
                 return new Pair<>(true, new ConstantExpression(new AsterixConstantValue(o)));
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/InjectTypeCastForSwitchCaseRule.java b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/InjectTypeCastForFunctionArgumentsRule.java
similarity index 84%
rename from asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/InjectTypeCastForSwitchCaseRule.java
rename to asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/InjectTypeCastForFunctionArgumentsRule.java
index 683d29f..d0107c0 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/InjectTypeCastForSwitchCaseRule.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/InjectTypeCastForFunctionArgumentsRule.java
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.function.IntPredicate;
 
 import org.apache.asterix.dataflow.data.common.TypeResolverUtil;
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.util.FunctionUtil;
@@ -42,8 +44,6 @@
 import org.apache.hyracks.algebricks.core.algebra.functions.FunctionIdentifier;
 import org.apache.hyracks.algebricks.core.rewriter.base.IAlgebraicRewriteRule;
 
-import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
-
 /**
  * This rule injects casts for function parameters if they have heterogeneous return types:
  * <ul>
@@ -51,10 +51,20 @@
  *     <li>for parameters of "if missing/null" functions  (if-missing(), if-null(), if-missing-or-null())</li>
  * </ul>
  */
-public class InjectTypeCastForSwitchCaseRule implements IAlgebraicRewriteRule {
+public class InjectTypeCastForFunctionArgumentsRule implements IAlgebraicRewriteRule {
 
-    private static final Set<FunctionIdentifier> IF_FUNCTIONS =
-            ImmutableSet.of(BuiltinFunctions.IF_MISSING, BuiltinFunctions.IF_NULL, BuiltinFunctions.IF_MISSING_OR_NULL);
+    private static final Map<FunctionIdentifier, IntPredicate> FUN_TO_ARG_CHECKER = new HashMap<>();
+
+    static {
+        addFunctionAndArgChecker(BuiltinFunctions.IF_MISSING, null);
+        addFunctionAndArgChecker(BuiltinFunctions.IF_NULL, null);
+        addFunctionAndArgChecker(BuiltinFunctions.IF_MISSING_OR_NULL, null);
+    }
+
+    // allows the rule to check other functions in addition to the ones specified here
+    public static void addFunctionAndArgChecker(FunctionIdentifier function, IntPredicate argChecker) {
+        FUN_TO_ARG_CHECKER.put(function, argChecker);
+    }
 
     @Override
     public boolean rewritePost(Mutable<ILogicalOperator> opRef, IOptimizationContext context)
@@ -92,13 +102,9 @@
         }
         FunctionIdentifier funcId = func.getFunctionIdentifier();
         if (funcId.equals(BuiltinFunctions.SWITCH_CASE)) {
-            if (rewriteSwitchCase(op, func, context)) {
-                rewritten = true;
-            }
-        } else if (IF_FUNCTIONS.contains(funcId)) {
-            if (rewriteFunction(op, func, context)) {
-                rewritten = true;
-            }
+            rewritten |= rewriteSwitchCase(op, func, context);
+        } else if (FUN_TO_ARG_CHECKER.containsKey(funcId)) {
+            rewritten |= rewriteFunction(op, func, FUN_TO_ARG_CHECKER.get(funcId), context);
         }
         return rewritten;
     }
@@ -121,7 +127,7 @@
     }
 
     // Injects casts that cast types for all function parameters
-    private boolean rewriteFunction(ILogicalOperator op, AbstractFunctionCallExpression func,
+    private boolean rewriteFunction(ILogicalOperator op, AbstractFunctionCallExpression func, IntPredicate argChecker,
             IOptimizationContext context) throws AlgebricksException {
         IVariableTypeEnvironment env = op.computeInputTypeEnvironment(context);
         IAType producedType = (IAType) env.getType(func);
@@ -129,9 +135,8 @@
         int argSize = argRefs.size();
         boolean rewritten = false;
         for (int argIndex = 0; argIndex < argSize; argIndex++) {
-            Mutable<ILogicalExpression> argRef = argRefs.get(argIndex);
-            if (rewriteFunctionArgument(argRef, producedType, env)) {
-                rewritten = true;
+            if (argChecker == null || argChecker.test(argIndex)) {
+                rewritten |= rewriteFunctionArgument(argRefs.get(argIndex), producedType, env);
             }
         }
         return rewritten;
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/typecast/StaticTypeCastUtil.java b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/typecast/StaticTypeCastUtil.java
index 4b2ff76..55b174b 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/typecast/StaticTypeCastUtil.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/typecast/StaticTypeCastUtil.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.asterix.common.exceptions.CompilationException;
 import org.apache.asterix.common.exceptions.ErrorCode;
+import org.apache.asterix.dataflow.data.common.TypeResolverUtil;
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.util.FunctionUtil;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.base.AString;
@@ -73,9 +74,9 @@
      *
      * @param funcExpr
      *            record constructor function expression
-     * @param requiredListType
+     * @param reqType
      *            required record type
-     * @param inputRecordType
+     * @param inputType
      * @param env
      *            type environment
      * @throws AlgebricksException
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@
      *
      * @param funcExpr
      *            record constructor function expression
-     * @param requiredListType
+     * @param requiredRecordType
      *            required record type
      * @param inputRecordType
      * @param env
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@
         TypeCastUtils.setRequiredAndInputTypes(funcExpr, requiredListType, inputListType);
         List<Mutable<ILogicalExpression>> args = funcExpr.getArguments();
 
-        IAType itemType = requiredListType.getItemType();
+        IAType requiredItemType = requiredListType.getItemType();
         IAType inputItemType = inputListType.getItemType();
         boolean changed = false;
         for (int j = 0; j < args.size(); j++) {
@@ -233,7 +234,8 @@
             switch (arg.getExpressionTag()) {
                 case FUNCTION_CALL:
                     ScalarFunctionCallExpression argFunc = (ScalarFunctionCallExpression) arg;
-                    changed = rewriteFuncExpr(argFunc, itemType, currentItemType, env) || changed;
+                    changed = rewriteFuncExpr(argFunc, requiredItemType, currentItemType, env) || changed;
+                    changed |= castItem(requiredItemType, currentItemType, argFunc, args.get(j));
                     break;
                 case VARIABLE:
                     changed = injectCastToRelaxType(args.get(j), currentItemType, env) || changed;
@@ -243,6 +245,20 @@
         return changed;
     }
 
+    private static boolean castItem(IAType requiredItemType, IAType currentItemType,
+            ScalarFunctionCallExpression itemExpr, Mutable<ILogicalExpression> itemExprRef) throws AlgebricksException {
+        if (TypeResolverUtil.needsCast(requiredItemType, currentItemType) && shouldCast(itemExpr)) {
+            injectCastFunction(FunctionUtil.getFunctionInfo(BuiltinFunctions.CAST_TYPE), requiredItemType,
+                    currentItemType, itemExprRef, itemExpr);
+            return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean shouldCast(ScalarFunctionCallExpression itemExpr) {
+        return TypeCastUtils.getRequiredType(itemExpr) == null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * This method statically cast the type of records from their current type to the required type.
      *
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.0.query.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.0.query.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..522a352
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.0.query.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Description: testing that each item conforms to the list type including function items.
+ */
+
+select value {"id": t[0], "v": t[1]}
+from [
+[ 29, CASE(2 < 1) WHEN true THEN null ELSE {"f1": "a", "f2": 3} END]
+] t;
+
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.1.query.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.1.query.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0abb216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.1.query.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Description: testing that each item conforms to the list type including function items.
+ */
+
+explain select value {"id": t[0], "v": t[1]}
+from [
+[ 29, CASE(2 < 1) WHEN true THEN null ELSE {"f1": "a", "f2": 3} END]
+] t;
+
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.0.query.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.0.query.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..671ff7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.0.query.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Description: testing constant folding of functions that return missable/nullable closed-type object
+ */
+
+select value CASE(2 < 1) WHEN true THEN null ELSE { "f1": 5, "f2": 6, "f3": 7 } END;
+
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.1.query.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.1.query.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad5f59b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.1.query.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Description: testing constant folding of functions that return missable/nullable closed-type object
+ */
+
+explain select value CASE(2 < 1) WHEN true THEN null ELSE { "f1": 5, "f2": 6, "f3": 7 } END;
+
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.0.adm b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.0.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..325fe87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.0.adm
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "id": 29, "v": { "f1": "a", "f2": 3 } }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.1.adm b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.1.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbe0345
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/list/enforcing_item_type/enforcing_item_type.1.adm
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+distribute result [$$18]
+-- DISTRIBUTE_RESULT  |UNPARTITIONED|
+  exchange
+  -- ONE_TO_ONE_EXCHANGE  |UNPARTITIONED|
+    project ([$$18])
+    -- STREAM_PROJECT  |UNPARTITIONED|
+      assign [$$18] <- [{"id": get-item($$t, 0), "v": get-item($$t, 1)}]
+      -- ASSIGN  |UNPARTITIONED|
+        unnest $$t <- scan-collection(ordered-list-constructor(ordered-list-constructor(29, cast({ f1: "a", f2: 3 }))))
+        -- UNNEST  |UNPARTITIONED|
+          empty-tuple-source
+          -- EMPTY_TUPLE_SOURCE  |UNPARTITIONED|
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.0.adm b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.0.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61265f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.0.adm
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "f1": 5, "f2": 6, "f3": 7 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.1.adm b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.1.adm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..379603f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/misc/constant_folding/constant_folding.1.adm
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+distribute result [$$5]
+-- DISTRIBUTE_RESULT  |UNPARTITIONED|
+  exchange
+  -- ONE_TO_ONE_EXCHANGE  |UNPARTITIONED|
+    assign [$$5] <- [{ f1: 5, f2: 6, f3: 7 }]
+    -- ASSIGN  |UNPARTITIONED|
+      empty-tuple-source
+      -- EMPTY_TUPLE_SOURCE  |UNPARTITIONED|
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
index 398b58b..52cb6e5 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
@@ -3673,6 +3673,11 @@
       </compilation-unit>
     </test-case>
     <test-case FilePath="list">
+      <compilation-unit name="enforcing_item_type">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">enforcing_item_type</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="list">
       <compilation-unit name="exists">
         <output-dir compare="Text">exists</output-dir>
       </compilation-unit>
@@ -3791,6 +3796,11 @@
       </compilation-unit>
     </test-case>
     <test-case FilePath="misc">
+      <compilation-unit name="constant_folding">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">constant_folding</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="misc">
       <compilation-unit name="poll-dynamic">
         <output-dir compare="Text">poll-dynamic</output-dir>
       </compilation-unit>