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Showing results for:  “coase”

Holdup Problem, Airline Edition

Economists are all quite familiar with the “holdup problem,” i.e. one contracting partner exploiting the other after asset specific investments have been made.  One classic law school textbook example is Alaska Packers v. Domenico in which the Alaska Packers’ Association hired Domenico for the salmon season for $50 plus 2 cents per salmon caught, but ... Holdup Problem, Airline Edition

ACS Blog Debate on Google: Retrograde Antitrust Analysis is No Fit for Google

I am participating in an online “debate” at the American Constitution Society with Professor Ben Edelman.  The debate consists of an opening statement and concluding responses to be posted later in the week.  Professor Edelman’s opening statement is here.  I am cross-posting my opening statement here at TOTM, and will cross-post my closing statement later ... ACS Blog Debate on Google: Retrograde Antitrust Analysis is No Fit for Google

Nobel Speculation: Armen Alchian, Harold Demsetz and Benjamin Klein Should Win the Prize in 2011

Its time to dust off (and slightly update) an old post for its annual republication around this time each year.   With the start of the school year comes another fall tradition here at TOTM: Nobel speculation. More specifically, every fall I yell from the rooftops that some combination of Armen Alchian, Harold Demsetz and Ben ... Nobel Speculation: Armen Alchian, Harold Demsetz and Benjamin Klein Should Win the Prize in 2011

Debiasing: Firms Versus Administrative Agencies

Daniel Kahnemann and co-authors discuss, in the most recent issue of the Harvard Business Review (HT: Brian McCann), various strategies for debiasing individual decisions that impact firm performance.  Much of the advice boils down to more conscious deliberation about decisions, incorporating awareness that individuals can be biased into firm-level decisions, and subjecting decisions to more ... Debiasing: Firms Versus Administrative Agencies

Pioneers of Law and Economics Available in Paperback

Pioneers of Law and Economics (with Lloyd Cohen) is now available in paperback.  You can get it for 20% off the cover price at the link above (discounted price = $36). There are essays focusing on: Ronald Coase, Aaron Director, George Stigler, Armen Alchian, Harold Demsetz, Benjamin Klein, James Buchanan, Gordon Tullock, Henry Manne, Richard ... Pioneers of Law and Economics Available in Paperback

Search Bias and Antitrust

There is an antitrust debate brewing concerning Google and “search bias,” a term used to describe search engine results that preference the content of the search provider.  For example, Google might list Google Maps prominently if one searches “maps” or Microsoft’s Bing might prominently place Microsoft affiliated content or products. Apparently both antitrust investigations and ... Search Bias and Antitrust

Coase on the Role of the Journal of Law & Economics

There is an excellent interview of Ronald Coase conducted in honor of Coase’s 100th birthday and the creation of the Coase China Society.  Its an excellent interview (HT: Knowledge Problem).  Peter Klein offers some observations on the interview as well.  One part that caught my attention was Coase’s discussion of the role of the Journal ... Coase on the Role of the Journal of Law & Economics

Ginsburg and Wright on Behavioral Law and Economics: the Never-Ending Quest for a Third Way

In the brave new world contemplated by the advocates of government policies informed by behavioral law and economics, many more aspects of each individual’s life will be regulated, or more stringently regulated, than at present.  Within the legal academy, the growth of the behavioral law and economics movement has been dramatic.  Surveying all legal publications ... Ginsburg and Wright on Behavioral Law and Economics: the Never-Ending Quest for a Third Way

Claire Hill on The Promise of Behavioral Law and Economics

I want to challenge what seems to be a premise of this symposium: that much of the behavioral “contribution” to economics is about people’s “mistakes” (either cognitive mistakes or “weakness of the will”) and the consequent need for paternalistic intervention.   I think the behavioral perspective has much more to offer; I also think that the ... Claire Hill on The Promise of Behavioral Law and Economics

Business Law and the Austrian Theory of the Firm

My Missouri colleague, Peter Klein, of Organizations and Markets fame (and, like Larry, a proud non-voter), has been asked to contribute a book chapter on the Austrian theory of the firm and the law. Peter, who has written extensively on the Austrian theory of the firm and maintains an online bibliography on the subject, is ... Business Law and the Austrian Theory of the Firm

Congratulations…but let’s not over do it

I was waiting to write something about today’s announcement of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics being awarded to Diamond, Mortensen, and Pissarides. Josh has already provided his thoughts and provided links to comments by Ed Glaeser and Steve Levitt, respectively. As they describe it, the honorees’ research provides a theory of unemployment, explaining why ... Congratulations…but let’s not over do it

Elgar Companion to Transaction Cost Economics

Peter Klein (over at Organizations and Markets) and I recently edited a volume for the Elgar Companion series titled The Elgar Companion to Transaction Cost Economics. At long last, the volume will be available in the US in November, 2010; in plenty of time for spring semester classes that might want to incorporate some or ... Elgar Companion to Transaction Cost Economics