Homines libenter quod volunt credunt
Posted in Environment on Jul 31st, 2012
I’m sympathetic to Wintercow’s concerns about banning fracking: among other things, a hardline approach to natural gas will forego the benefits of substituting for coal (which burns far dirtier). At the same time, some of the cautions introduced in NY’s legislation seem reasonable–particularly the minimum aquifer proximity requirements. Innovative fracking is a great technology, but […]
Posted in Corporatism, Market Failures, Regulation on Jan 5th, 2011
Regulation and anti-trust is rarely about consumer protection. I was thinking about the old anti-trust suit brought against Microsoft over a decade ago. The claim went something like this: Microsoft developed its own web browser (Internet Explorer) that it packaged for “free” with its windows operating system software. Most hardware devices contracted with Microsoft to […]
Posted in Competition on Jul 17th, 2008
In California, apparently our enlightened bureaucrats, no doubt with the aid of established corporate farming interests, protect all Americans from evil, illegal fruit. What makes fruit evil and illegal? Well the size of course! This will enable handlers to continue to ship fresh nectarines and peaches in a manner that meets consumer needs, increases returns […]
Posted in Regulation on Apr 21st, 2008
I noticed recently that Progressive is offering customers free insurance for their dogs if they sign up for auto insurance with the company. The insurance I imagine pertains only to injuries that dogs might sustain while in the car of their owners. Why might Progressive offer this benefit to their customers? Insurance markets are characterized […]
Posted in Behavior on Apr 14th, 2008
The mean center of population for the United States has moved steadily southward and westward since our Nation’s founding. For example, in 1790, the center of U.S. population was in Kent County along Maryland’s Eastern Shore. By the start of the Civil War it had moved to Pike County in South Central Ohio. The center […]
Posted in Regulation on Apr 2nd, 2008
It is a well-known fact that union membership and coverage has declined substanially over the 20th century. For exampe, in 1973 nearly a quarter of all wage and salary workers were unioin members (it was far higher in earlier years – for example it seems to have hit 37 percent in 1960, but the data […]
Posted in Regulation on Feb 25th, 2008
I was in Chicago on a cold and snowy day when I saw the de-icing trucks coming down Michigan Avenue. They looked strange, like fuel tankers, and not the salt-trucks I am used to seeing here in New England. As it passed by, I noticed a sign on the side that read, “Beet Juice.”
