Showing archive for: “Energy & Environment”
Replacing the economic absurdity of New Jersey’s Tesla direct sales ban with a callous reward for rent-seeking
Earlier this week the New Jersey Assembly unanimously passed a bill to allow direct sales of Tesla cars in New Jersey. (H/T Marina Lao). The bill Allows a manufacturer (“franchisor,” as defined in P.L.1985, c.361 (C.56:10-26 et seq.)) to directly buy from or sell to consumers a zero emission vehicle (ZEV) at a maximum of ... Replacing the economic absurdity of New Jersey’s Tesla direct sales ban with a callous reward for rent-seeking
The Revelations of GM’s Anti-Tesla Letter
As Geoff posted yesterday, a group of 72 distinguished economists and law professors from across the political spectrum released a letter to Chris Christie pointing out the absurdities of New Jersey’s direct distribution ban. I’m heartened that both Governor Christie and his potential rival for the 2016 Republican nomination, Texas Governor Rick Perry, have made statements, ... The Revelations of GM’s Anti-Tesla Letter
Copyright, Property Rights, and the Free Market
Over at Cato Unbound, there has been a discussion this past month on copyright and copyright reform. In his recent contribution to this discussion, Mark Schultz posted an excellent essay today, Where are the Creators? Consider Creators in Copyright Reform, that calls out the cramped, reductionist view of copyright policy that leads some libertarians and ... Copyright, Property Rights, and the Free Market
Federalist Society and AALS talks this week
I’ll be headed to New Orleans tomorrow to participate in the Federalist Society Faculty Conference and the AALS Annual Meeting. For those attending and interested, I’ll be speaking at the Fed Soc on privacy and antitrust, and at AALS on Google and antitrust. Details below. I hope to see you there! Federalist Society: Seven-Minute Presentations ... Federalist Society and AALS talks this week
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
The Best Way to Save Endangered Antelope: Allow Hunting on Private Preserves
There’s some good news on the endangered species front: Three species of endangered African antelopes — the Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax, and Dama Gazelle — are coming back with a vengeance. At least in Texas, where the population of the three antelope species quadrupled from 2004 to 2010, growing to a combined total of around 17,000. What’s the ... The Best Way to Save Endangered Antelope: Allow Hunting on Private Preserves
Welcome Baby 7B!
According to the United Nations, sometime around Halloween a newborn baby will push the world’s population above seven billion people. Welcome to our spectacular planet, Little One! I should warn you that not everyone will greet your arrival as enthusiastically as I. A great many smart folks on our planet—especially highly educated people in rich ... Welcome Baby 7B!
Where have all the lawyers gone: working for hedge funds every one
Dan Fisher discusses how Ecuadorean villagers financed a pollution lawsuit against Chevron with money from a hedge fund, Burford Group. This is yet another example of how lawyers are capitalizing and packaging their skills rather than just selling it by the hour to clients. Fisher discusses how the plaintiffs’ lawyer had gone through $6 million in financing ... Where have all the lawyers gone: working for hedge funds every one
Does the Voluntary Industry “Agreement” to Ban Phosphates in Dishwasher Detergents Violate Section 1?
Apparently, the detergent industry has entered into what has been described as a “voluntary agreement” to reduce the use of phosphates in detergents (HT: Ted Frank). A press release from Clean Water Action describes the agreement as follows: On July 1, 2010 a voluntary ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents will be implemented by many ... Does the Voluntary Industry “Agreement” to Ban Phosphates in Dishwasher Detergents Violate Section 1?
TOTM Welcomes Eric Helland
TOTM is very pleased to announce the addition of yet another permanent blogger to our roster. Eric Helland is an economist at Claremont-McKenna College and publishes extensively in law and economics. Among other accomplishments, Eric has served as a Senior Staff Economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. Eric’s publication record is extensive, and ... TOTM Welcomes Eric Helland
Some Warnings for Modern Pigovians (from Pigou Himself)
We live in a time of optimism about government’s ability to improve upon the unregulated state of affairs. From health insurance to financial markets to the types of fats we eat, cars we drive, and sources of energy we consume, there is a sense among our political, media, and academic elites that our privately ordered ... Some Warnings for Modern Pigovians (from Pigou Himself)
The Environmental Responsibility of Business? Make Profit!
That’s the punchline of a recent paper by Pierre Desrochers (U Toronto). Pierre has written some interesting papers on a range of topics related to economic development, technological innovation, and the intersection of business and the environment. He argues that it is governmental (regulatory) failures that distort the environmental consequences of corporate behavior, not ... The Environmental Responsibility of Business? Make Profit!
