NPR’s List of Policies Economists Love
The NPR put together a panel of economists with various political and ideological views to see what economists agree on. (HT: Mankiw) Here is the list: One: Eliminate the mortgage tax deduction, which lets homeowners deduct the interest they pay on their mortgages. Gone. After all, big houses get bigger tax breaks, driving up prices for ... NPR’s List of Policies Economists Love
Diveley on Phoebe Putney and Clarifying State Action Doctrine
My former student and recent George Mason Law graduate (and co-author, here) Angela Diveley has posted Clarifying State Action Immunity Under the Antitrust Laws: FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc. It is a look at the state action doctrine and the Supreme Court’s next chance to grapple with it in Phoebe Putney. here is ... Diveley on Phoebe Putney and Clarifying State Action Doctrine
It’s Settled Then!
You pronounce the petitioners name in Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc.: lee-j?n. That and other SCOTUS pronunciation debates resolved here (courtesy of the Green Bag and the Yale Law Library).
Top 10 Papers for Journal of Antitrust: Antitrust Law & Policy eJournal (June 4, 2012 to August 3, 2012)
HT: Danny Sokol. TOP 10 Papers for Journal of Antitrust: Antitrust Law & Policy eJournal June 4, 2012 to August 3, 2012. Rank Downloads Paper Title 1 244 The Antitrust/Consumer Protection Paradox: Two Policies at War with Each Other Joshua D. Wright, George Mason University – School of Law, Faculty, Date posted to database: May 31, ... Top 10 Papers for Journal of Antitrust: Antitrust Law & Policy eJournal (June 4, 2012 to August 3, 2012)
Cass Sunstein Returns to Harvard
From the WSJ: White House regulatory chief Cass Sunstein is leaving his post this month to return to Harvard Law School, officials said Friday. Mr. Sunstein has long been an advocate of behavorial economics in setting policy, the notion that people will respond to incentives, and has argued for restraint in government regulations. As such, he was ... Cass Sunstein Returns to Harvard
Epstein on Posner’s “Patent Adventurism” in Apple v. Motorola
Richard Epstein replies to Judge Posner’s Apple v. Motorola opinion and follow-up article in The Atlantic. The anti-patent sentiment has just been fueled by a remarkable opinion by Judge Richard Posner, my long-time colleague at the University of Chicago, sitting as a trial judge in the major case, Apple v. Motorola. The high-profile case concerns five ... Epstein on Posner’s “Patent Adventurism” in Apple v. Motorola
Bryan Caplan and the National Review on 100 Years of Milton Friedman
Here. The most interesting part is Caplan’s take on why it is Friedman stands apart from other free-market thinkers: Why does Friedman stand apart from my other idols? In the end, it’s the absence of obscurantism. Friedman makes his points as simply, clearly, and bluntly as possible. He never rambles on. He never hides behind ... Bryan Caplan and the National Review on 100 Years of Milton Friedman
Chicago Continues to Thwart Food Trucks
Food trucks must remain at least 200 feet away from restaurants under the new Chicago regulation (HT: Reason). It also appears food trucks must carry a GPS that will allow detection of violations (parking within 200 feet of a restaurant — apparently, any restaurant) which carry a fine of up to $2,000. Protection of restaurants ... Chicago Continues to Thwart Food Trucks
GMU Law & Economics Center Presents “Unlocking the Law: Building on the Work of Professor Larry Ribstein”
I’m very pleased to announce the George Mason Law & Economics Center is hosting a program focusing on our friend and colleague Larry Ribstein’s scholarship on the market for law. Henry Butler and Bruce Kobayashi have put together a really wonderful program of folks coming together not to celebrate Larry’s work — but to ... GMU Law & Economics Center Presents “Unlocking the Law: Building on the Work of Professor Larry Ribstein”
Antitrust Sanctions in The Economist
In light of Barclays and other recent events, The Economist focuses on increasing corporate fines in response to price-fixing violations. That some firms behave badly is nothing new, but the response of the authorities has changed recently. Take cartels. Internationally, fines rose by a factor of one thousand between the 1990s and 2000s. Data from ... Antitrust Sanctions in The Economist
Macey Throws Some Cold Water on the CFPB’s New Mortgage Disclosures
In the WSJ, Professor Macey takes measure of the CFPB’s new mortgage disclosures and finds them lacking: The CFPB is proposing to revise the old forms into a new Loan Estimate Form and Closing Disclosure Form. The old loan form had been five pages; according to the agency website, the new one is three. The ... Macey Throws Some Cold Water on the CFPB’s New Mortgage Disclosures
Off to the Mason LEC Economic Institute for Law Professors
Off to Estes Park for the return of the Mason Law and Economics Center Economic Institute for Law Professors (agenda here) and Law Institute for Economic Professors (agenda here). I will be team-teaching microeconomics in the Economics Institute with friend and co-author Mike Baye (Indiana) for the first few days — and then some vacation. ... Off to the Mason LEC Economic Institute for Law Professors
