BOSTON COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
9 2 15
ECON336301
Fall 2015
T Th 9:00 - 10:15 am
Gasson 201
Joseph F. Quinn
385E Maloney Hall
joseph.quinn@bc.edu, x2-2022
Office hours: usually M W 4:30 - 5:30
and by appointment
MICROECONOMIC PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES
(or, if we’re so smart, why is no one listening to us?)
This is a seminar on the economic analysis of current public policy issues. I have assigned
reading on four topics and you will have the opportunity to prepare, present and revise papers
on a topic of your choice. The course is divided into two parts.
After four introductory sessions (Sept. 1 - Sept. 10), we will spend a week on each of the five
topics I have chosen (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15). These readings will be available on the course
Canvas site. We will have an exam (the only exam) on the material in topics I - V on
Thursday, October 22.
Also during the first half of the course, you will write the first draft (usually 10-15 pages) of a
paper on a microeconomic policy topic of your choice. This draft is due on Tuesday, October 20.
We will then run the second half of the course (Oct. 27 - Dec. 3) like a professional economics
conference. We will all read each classmate’s first draft. Each student will serve as the primary
discussant on one classmate’s draft and prepare a detailed critique (3-5 pages) for the author (and
for me). All the other students will write and hand in their (usually less detailed) comments, also
with a copy for the author and a copy for me.
During each class session, two students will present their papers (10 minutes maximum), their
discussants will present comments, constructive critiques and helpful suggestions (5 minutes
maximum), and the class and I will do the same (20 minutes). With these inputs and my
comments on your first draft, you will have an opportunity to revise and rewrite your paper, and
hand in a final draft (3 copies please; 2 for me and 1 for your discussant) on either Thursday
Dec. 3 or Thursday Dec. 10, depending on the date of your class presentation - see below.
COURSE COMPONENTS:
1. Assigned readings below, available on Canvas.
2. Preparation and presentation of a paper on a public policy topic of your choice.
3. At least one meeting with your Writing Fellow (see below).
4. Formal comments on and discussion of one classmate’s paper.
5. Written comments on all other classmates’ papers.
6. Attendance and active participation in class.
7. Midterm/final exam on Thursday, October 22.
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GRADING POLICY:
The approximate weights on your final grade are:
(15%) Class participation and your discussant's comments
(35%) Exam
(50%) Paper
First draft (15%)
Final draft (35%)
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
The course prerequisite is Microeconomic Theory (ECON2201 or ECON2203). This course
is designed for students with a good grasp of micro theory. If you have doubts about whether
your economics background is appropriate for the course, please consult with me.
This course deals with externalities. In fact, it is a case study of externalities! Because of
the importance of your two class presentations and your class participation, what others
learn depends on your efforts. This course is designed for students willing to contribute
significantly to this joint enterprise.
WRITING FELLOWS:
As noted above, you will have the opportunity to write (and re-write!) a paper on a
microeconomic public policy topic of your choice. We are partnering with the Boston College
Writing Fellows Program, a writing initiative on campus. You will meet at least once one-onone with a Writing Fellow, a graduate student trained to help you improve your writing. You
can meet more often if you would like. Handing in a draft on time (October 20) and meeting
with your assigned Writing Fellow is a required component of this course, and a great way for
you to improve the quality of your work.
EMAILS FROM ME (and from others):
Check your BC email address often for announcements from me, or make sure that
emails are forwarded from your BC email account to whatever account you use.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
The academic enterprise at Boston College assumes academic integrity, which in this course
means that all the work on your exam and on your paper is your own, and that you appropriately
reference the work of others in your paper. Err on the side of citation! When in doubt, cite!
It’s costless. Violations of academic integrity must be reported to your class dean and then
reviewed by the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Integrity Committee. Consequences
can be very serious. Please review university policy and procedures at:
http://www.bc.edu/integrity .
If you have any questions about academic integrity now or as the semester progresses, please
consult with me.
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SYLLABUS
INTRODUCTION (September 1 - 10)
Overview of the course (September 1)
Review of Microeconomic Theory and Econometrics (September 3 - 10)
1. Richard Tresch, “The Fundamental Theorems of Welfare Economics,” Chapter 3 in
Public Sector Economics. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2008: 39-53.
2. David Sjoquist, Larry Schroder and Paula Stephen, "Interpreting Linear Regression Analysis:
A Heuristic Approach," General Learning Press, 1974: 1-17
or skim the introductory chapters on simple and multiple regression
in any introductory statistics or econometrics text.
YOUR PAPER TOPIC IS DUE on Tuesday, September 15 (or earlier, for earlier feedback!)
-a 1-2 page description of the topic
-what is the public policy issue?
-what are the policy options?
-why is it interesting?
-include several bibliographic references, preferably some recent ones
NOTE: The first draft (10-15 pp.) of this paper is due 5 weeks later, on Tuesday October 20.
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FIVE ASSIGNED TOPICS (9/15 - 10/15)
I. Common Property Resources, with emphasis on fish and water (September 15, 17)
1. John Steele Gordon, Book Review of A Feathered River Across the Sky”
by Joel Greenberg, Wall Street Journal, 1/18/14: C9.
(A very sad tale - bad news from the air. When did the last passenger pigeon die?)
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304617404579304352335260032
2. Elizabeth Kolbert, The Scales Fall: is there any hope for our overfished oceans?”
The New Yorker, 8/2/10: 70-73.
(Another sad tale - bad news from the sea.)
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2010/08/02/100802crbo_books_kolbert?currentPage=all
3. Jon Krakauer, A fishing frenzy strikes on Sitka when herring run"
Smithsonian Magazine, October 1986: 97-108
(Skim this amusing article on how NOT to regulate a common property resource!
How long was the fishing season in Sitka?)
4. Miriam Wasserman, “The Last Hunting Economy” Regional Review,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 2001.
(There IS hope! Here are some policy options.)
http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/nerr/rr2001/q2/lasthunt.htm
5. Mark Schrope, “What’s the Catch?” Nature, 6/3/10, 465(3): 540-542.
(The new catch-share system for fisheries.)
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100602/pdf/465540a.pdf
6. Dennis Dimmick, “If You Think the Water Crisis Can’t Get Worse,
Wait Until the Aquifers are Drained” National Geographic, 8/21/14.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140819-groundwater-california-drought-aquifers-hidden-crisis/
7. National Geographic, “Draining California” 2015 (Scroll down for some neat graphics!)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west-snow-fail/draining-california/index.html
8. Yusuke Kuwayama, “Groundwater Markets: Managing a Critical, Hidden Resource”
Resources, 186, 2014: 18-24.
(The most valuable natural resource of all - water!)
http://www.rff.org/RFF/Documents/RFF-Resources-186_Feature-Kuwayama.pdf
9. Robert Glennon (a BC English major, and now a prominent law professor and water expert),
“The Buffalo’s Lament” Chapter 20 in Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What
To Do About It, Island Press, 2009: 301-314.
And, for fun, see this fascinating and controversial 14 minute video on exotic hunting ranches in
Texas, from 60 Minutes 6/10/12. (Why are rhinos and elephants endangered, but not cows?)
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/can-hunting-endangered-animals-save-the-species/
(Click on the right: 60 Minutes Nature: Can hunting endangered animals save the species?)
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II. Cash vs. In-kind Benefits (September 22, 24)
Which should society prefer in helping those in need: cash or in-kind benefits?
1. Harvey Rosen and Ted Gayer, “Expenditure Incidence” in Public Finance,
New York: McGraw Hill, 9th edition, 2010: 268-273.
(The simple microeconomic theory of the cash vs. in-kind issue.
Why is cash seen as better than in-kind benefits by many economists?)
2. Janet Currie, “Introduction” in The Invisible Safety Net,
Princeton University Press, 2006: 1-10.
(If cash is better, why does Currie argue in favor of all these in-kind benefits?)
If you are interested in other important in-kind benefits (a paper topic perhaps!),
Currie also has good chapters on wage subsidies (chapter 1), public health
insurance (2), food subsidies (3), housing subsidies (4) and child care subsidies (5).
Although not assigned, these chapters are also on Canvas.
3. Edgar Olsen, "Housing Programs and the Forgotten Taxpayer"
The Public Interest, 66, Winter 1982, especially pp. 97-102.
(What are the preferences of taxpayers? Should they matter?)
http://www.nationalaffairs.com/doclib/20080708_1982666housingprogramsandtheforgottentax
peyeredgaroolsen.pdf
4. Congressional Budget Office, “Growth in Means-Tested Programs and Tax Credits for
Low-Income Households,” February 2013. (Skim this.)
(Why are Social Security and Medicare not included in this study? Why have the programs
that are included increased so dramatically over the past 40 years? Which of these
programs provide in-kind assistance? Which are projected to grow in the future? Why?)
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/43934-Means-TestedPrograms.pdf
5. Kathleen Short, “The Supplementary Poverty Measure: 2013,” U. S. Census Bureau,
Current Population Report P60-251, October 2014. (Skim for the interesting parts.)
(How do traditional poverty statistics treat in-kind benefits and taxes? How does
the new supplementary poverty measure differ from the traditional one? How
much difference does the new measure make in the overall poverty rate? In the
poverty rates of particular groups? Which groups?)
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-251.pdf
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III. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (September 29, October 1)
What is appropriate public policy regarding obesity?
What can we learn from the remarkable successes of the tobacco wars?
How does obesity differ from tobacco and alcohol excesses?
1. The Economist, Special Report on Obesity, December 15, 2012. (Long, but a good overview!)
Read/skim the 10 pieces in “Special Report”: The big picture, the caveman’s curse, etc.
http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21568065-world-getting-wider-sayscharlotte-howard-what-can-be-done-about-it-big
2. Elizabeth Kolbert, “XXXL: Why are we so fat?” The New Yorker, 7/20/09.
(A review of some recent literature.)
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/07/20/xxxl
3. Gallop poll data on smoking through July 2015:
(Something has worked here! What did we do right? Is it applicable to obesity?
Is there anything you find surprising in these poll results? What explains the last 2
entries on: All things considered, would you like to give up smoking, or not?)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/1717/tobacco-smoking.aspx
4. Carolyn Engelhard, Arthur Garson and Stan Dorn, “Reducing Obesity: Policy
Strategies from the Tobacco Wars” Urban Institute, July 2009: iv-v, 1-29, 34-44.
(How do tobacco and food abuse issues differ? What are the policy options
for combating obesity? Should packaged and restaurant foods be labeled?)
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411926_reducing_obesity.pdf
5. Institute of Medicine, Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention:
Solving the Weight of a Nation, May 2012.
(Read ‘Report Brief’ and skim ‘Recommendations’ both in .pdf format at this site.)
http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2012/Accelerating-Progress-in-Obesity-Prevention.aspx
6. David Freedman, “How Junk Food Can End Obesity” The Atlantic Magazine, Jul/Aug 2013.
(Skim this controversial and too-long article. Which is more likely to help solve the problem,
Whole Foods or McDonalds?)
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/how-junk-food-can-end-obesity/309396/
7. Ezekiel Emanuel and Andrew Steinmetz, “Finally, Some Optimism About Obesity”
New York Times, May 4, 2014. (Are there grounds for optimism?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/opinion/finally-some-optimism-about-obesity.html
8. Rachel Fox, “Too Fat to be a Scientist” Chronicle of Higher Education, 6/17/14
(A short, sad article!)
http://chronicle.com/blogs/conversation/2014/06/17/too-fat-to-be-a-scientist/
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IV. Minimum Wage (Oct. 6, 8)
What are the goals of the minimum wage?
How large are the dis-employment effects, and on whom do they fall?
Is the minimum wage an effective anti-poverty tool?
Should we raise the minimum wage to $15/hour, as has been proposed?
1. Noam Scheiber, “Raising Floor for Minimum Wage Pushes Economy Into the Unknown”
The New York Times, 7/26/15
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/business/economy/scale-of-minimum-wage-rise-hasexperts-guessing-at-effect.html
2. David Card and Alan Kreuger (1995), “Introduction and Overview”
in Myth and Measurement, Princeton University Press: 1-13.
3. Congressional Budget Office, “The Effects of a Minimum-Wage Increase
on Employment and Family Income” February 2014: 1-17.
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/44995-MinimumWage.pdf
4. Joseph Sabia (2014), “Minimum Wages: An Antiquate and Ineffective Policy Tool”
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 33(4): 1028-1036.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pam.21796/epdf
5. Jared Bernstein and Heidi Shierholz (2014), “The Minimum Wage: A Crucial
Labor Standard That Is Well Targeted to Low- and Moderate-Income Households”
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 33(4): 1036-1043.
Log into your BC AGORA library account to access:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pam.21791/epdf
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V. Human Spare Parts (October 13, 15)
How can we increase the supply of kidneys for those who will die without a new one?
1. Tina Rosenberg, “Need a Kidney? Not Iranian? You’ll Wait” The New York Times, 7/31/15
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/need-a-kidney-not-iranian-youll-wait/
(We’ve got a problem!)
2. David Howard, “Producing Organ Donors” Journal of Economic Perspectives,
Summer 2007, 21(3): 25-36.
http://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jep.21.3.25
(How the current system works and some thoughts about reform.)
3. Benjamin Hippen, “In Defense of a Regulated Market in Kidneys from Living Vendors”
Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 2005, 30(6): 593-626.
Log into your BC AGORA library account to access:
http://jmp.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/6/593.full.pdf+html
(A plea for a regulated market for kidneys.)
4. Kevin Sack, “Transplant Brokers in Israel Lure Desperate Kidney Patients to Costa Rica”
New York Times, 8/17/14. (Welcome to the dark side!)
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/17/world/middleeast/transplant-brokers-in-israel-luredesperate-kidney-patients-to-costa-rica.html
5. Various authors, “How Much for a Kidney?” New York Times 8/21/14.
Read all 7 short comments. (Most oppose payments for kidneys. Why?)
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/08/21/how-much-for-a-kidney
6. Tina Rosenberg, “It’s Time to Compensate Kidney Donors,” The New York Times, 8/7/15
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/its-time-to-compensate-kidney-donors/
(What do you think about compensation for kidney suppliers?)
7. Michael Sandell, “Markets, Morals and Civic Life,” Bulletin of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences, Summer 2005: 6-10. (What should not be for sale?)
http://www.amacad.org/publications/bulletin/Summer2005/MarketsMoralsCivitLife.pdf
8. Alvin Roth, “Repugnance as a Constraint on Markets,” Journal of Economic Perspectives,
21(3), Summer 2007: 37-58. (We ignore repugnance at our peril!)
http://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jep.21.3.37
And, for fun, read:
Boston College Magazine, “Matchmakers” Spring 2014, about two of our own Boston
College economics professors, Tayfun Somnez and Utku Unver, whose work has been very
influential in improving kidney exchanges.
http://bcm.bc.edu/issues/spring_2014/features/matchmakers.html
And for even more fun, see: http://www.repo-opera.com/flash_home.html
and click Repo Trailer on the upper right. A rock opera about organ transplants
starring Paris Hilton! (How did this not win an Oscar?)
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FIRST DRAFT OF PAPER DUE (on Canvas, and a hard copy for me) - Tuesday, October 20
MIDTERM EXAM - Thursday, October 22
DISCUSSANTS' COMMENTS DUE (hard copies to your author and to me) - Tuesday, October 27
PAPER PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS – October 27 - December 3
-2 papers presented each class
NOTE: no class on Thursday November 12
FINAL DRAFT OF PAPER DUE (2 copies for me; 1 for your discussant)
-for those presenting on or before November 19: paper due on Thursday December 3
-for those presenting on or after November 24: paper due Thursday, December 10
V. EPILOGUE (December 8)
1. Thomas Schelling, "Economic Reasoning and the Ethics of Policy,"
in Choice and Consequence: Perspectives of an Errant Economist,
Harvard University Press, 1984, pp. 1-26.
http://www.nationalaffairs.com/doclib/20080708_1981633economicreasoningandethicsofpolicythomascschelling.pdf
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PAPER TOPIC
Your paper topic is up to you, although I may discourage some topics. It should address a specific microeconomic policy issue, and include a summary of the controversy, its importance, as well
as the economic and other arguments that have been presented on both (or more!) sides of the
issue. In this paper, you should present, analyze and critique these arguments, and explain why
these researchers differ in their conclusions.
For example, are the opponents debating over theories (e.g., what is the appropriate role of
government?), facts (e.g., what are the results of the current policies? who is affected, and how?),
predictions (e.g., what would happen if we do X?) or value judgments (e.g., two researchers might
agree that Y (something good) and Z (something bad) would happen if we do X, but disagree on
whether on net we would be better or worse off). Most papers conclude with the author’s (your!)
suggestions for policy reform - given what you now know, what would you propose and why?
It is good to have a topic on which you can find a literature in economic and policy journals authors who have studied your topic and who disagree. Some potential topics and references are
below. In addition, dozens of additional topics can be found in any daily newspaper or in
economics or public policy journals such as those listed below. Browse through some recent
issues of these; most are available on line through our library. Some of these also contain book
reviews or lists of new books in the policy field.
JEL
Journal of Economic Literature (a very useful quarterly index of articles in
Economics periodicals, arranged by topic) (HB1.J6)
JEP
Journal of Economic Perspectives (HB1.J63)
JPE
Journal of Public Economics (HJ101.J68)
JLE
Journal of Law and Economics (HB73.J68X and BC Law School Library)
JDI
Journal of Drug Issues (HV5800.J68)
JLS
Journal of Legal Studies (BC Law School library)
JPAM Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (H97.J68)
JPHP
Journal of Public Health Policy (RA421.J92)
JTEP
Journal of Transportation Economics and Policy (HE1.J597)
PI
Public Interest (H1.P86 and Social Work Library)
PSR
Policy Studies Review (H1.P729)
PSJ
Policy Studies Journal (H1.P72)
EPR
Economic Policy Review (HC101.F426)
PS
Policy Sciences (H1.P7)
R
Regulation (BC Law School Library)
JCS
Journal of Contemporary Studies (HJ2381.F67)
JLEO Journal of Law, Economics and Organization (K10.O8734)
YJR
Yale Journal on Regulation (K29.A37)
RLE
Research in Law and Economics (K18.E835)
LCP
Law and Contemporary Problems (K12.A9)
LE
Land Economics (HB1.J65)
JHPPL Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law (RA395.A3J68)
CEP
Contemporary Economic Policy (HD72.C66)
IRLE
International Review of Law and Economics (BC Law School Library)
ILRR Industrial and Labor Relations Review (HD4802.I53)
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EE
IJSF
JSE
TR
WSJ
CATO
AE
AEJAE
AEJEP
Ecological Economics (BC Libraries website)
International Journal of Sport Finance
Journal of Sports Economics (GV561.J68)
Transportation Research (HE192.T68)
Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)
Cato Journal (H1.C34)
Applied Economics (first issue, January 2009)
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
SOME POSSIBLE TOPICS
Copyrights and Trademarks (RLE '86 (vol. 8); JLE 10/87; JLE 10/89 (pt. 1))
Market Forces and Airline Safety (JLE 10/89; R Summer '91; JEP Spring '92)
In Defense of Organized Crime (JLS 6/82; PI Spring '67, Fall '78 )
Baseball (JLS 1/78; books by Zimbalist; Scully)
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) (JPAM Spring '86; YJR2/1; PI Fall '77;
R 9/77, 11/77; PSR 2/82)
Are We Losing Our Farmland? (PI Spring '82; PSJ '78; PS Summer '78).
Government Support of the Arts (PSJ '76; PR Fall '79, Fall '80; book: Pricing the Priceless)
Natural Gas Deregulation (YJR, Summer '89; JPAM Spring '86; R 11/86)
Gas Prices and Motor Vehicle Fatalities (JPAM, Summer ’04)
Public Policies Related to Drunk Driving (JLS 1/84, 1/86; R 3/87; 87/2; JLE 4/88;
JHPPL Winter '88, Winter '89; JPAM, Winter 2001, Spring ’03, Winter ’06,
Winter ‘08)
Seatbelt Use and Traffic Fatalities (PS 5/91; JPAM, Summer ’06)
Automobile Safety Regulation (JPAM Fall '89 (book review); AER '84;
YJR Fall '85, Spring '86, Spring '87; R 9/86; RLE '83; PS '91)
Highway Speed Limit and Auto Safety (JPAM Winter '88; CEP, 10/91)
Motorcycle Helmet Regulation (JPAM Winter '84 (fn. 34); PS 10/86)
Bicycle Helmet Legislation (JPAM Summer ’04)
Cigarette Regulation (JPAM, Fall ’04; R Winter ’06, Spring ‘07)
Cigarette Advertising (JHPPL Fall '86)
Government Regulation and Teenage Smoking (JLE 12/81)
Drinking and the Price of Alcohol (CEP 7/93, 10/93, 10/96; CATO Fall ‘95)
Drunk Driving after the Passage of Smoking Bans in Bars (JPE June 2008)
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Alcohol consumptions and Mortality (AE 1/09)
Alcohol Advertising (R Summer ’05)
Blood Banks (JLE '74, '78, 4/80; R 9/86)
License Restrictions and the Cost of Eyeglasses (JLE 4/86)
Airline Deregulation (JLE 4/86, 4/87; JPAM '83; YJR '84; AER 11/84
JLE 4/87 & 4/88; R 9/86, Fall '90 & Summer '91; QJE 11/91)
Airline Deregulation and Safety (JEP, Spring '92)
Public Regulation of Paraprofessionals (JPAM Winter '82)
Who Owns the Seas? (R 9/81; 11/81; JCS Spring '83; LCP Spring '83;
PSR 11/86; Book: Law of the Sea: U.S. Policy Dilemma)
The Davis Bacon Act (JLE 10/83)
The Evolution of Property Rights (JLE 4/75, 4/79)
Maine Lobster Market (JLEO Fall '85)
Bankruptcy (JLE 10/84, 4/86; LCP Spring '87; R Winter ’05, Fall ’06))
Effects of FTC Regulation of Advertising (JLE 12/81)
Economics of Prescription Drug Advertising (JLE 4/81; R 9/86)
Water Laws and Economic Efficiency (JPAM Summer '89; JLE 4/80)
Allocation of Broadcast Frequencies (JLE 4/90; R 1/88; RLE '86; CBO;
book by Lawrence Gasman; R, Fall ’05, Summer ’06, Winter ’06 (book review))
Public Policies for the Disabled (R 9/82, 11/82)
Regulating the Drug Industry (PI Summer '89; YJR Winter '88)
Alcohol Use and Youth Suicide (JPAM, Fall ’04)
Alcohol, Drugs and Violent Crime (IRLE ‘05)
Clean Air (CBO Study; JEP, Fall '90; R Winter '90)
Electric Power Deregulation (R Winter '92)
Endangered Species Act (R Winter '92, Winter ‘07-08)
Unemployment and Highway Fatalities (JHPPL Spring '91)
Hazardous Wastes (PSR 9/85; JPAM Sum '89 (review), Sum '92; CBO; AER '86)
Federal Lands and Public Policy (PSR 12/85)
Taxicab Industry (R '83; RLE '86; JLEO '87; JTEP '87; lots on Uber)
Public Support of Private Education (JPAM Winter '88; JLE 4/76, 4/90)
Automobile Pollution Control (JPAM Fall '88 and Summer '91)
Occupation Licensure of Nurses (PS 4/87)
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Prisoners of War and Property Rights (JLE 4/87)
Product Safety Regulation (JLE 10/85; R 88/1)
Marketable Pollution Rights (YJR Winter '89, Fall '86; JLE 4/88; JEP Spring '89;
R Winter ’04, Fall ‘07)
Minimum Wages and Youth Crimes (JLE 10/87)
Minimum Wages and Poverty (JPAM Spring '89)
Economic Effects of a Citywide Minimum Wage (ILRR ’07)
Fuel Economy Standards (QLE 11/83; JLE 4/89; JEP Spring '92)
The Value of Human Life (JPAM Spring '88, Winter '89; R Winter ‘04)
Illegal Drug Regulation (JPAM Fall '90 (book review); PI Summer '88 & Fall '90;
JPHP Winter '89; JDI Fall '90; R Winter ‘06)
The Economics and Law of Liability (JEP Summer '91)
Patents and Intellectual Property (JEP Winter '91)
Affirmative Action (JHR '84; ReStat '84; JEP Winter '89, Fall '90)
The Economics of Lotteries (JEP Fall '90)
Federal Deposit Insurance (JEP Fall '89)
Maritime Policy Reform (R, Summer '91)
Airlines and Airports (R, Fall '90)
Regulation of Asbestos (PSR Fall '90)
AIDS and Blood Supply (JHPPL Spring '88)
Recycling (PI Fall '91; JPAM Fall ’06)
Medical Malpractice (JHPPL Winter '89 & Fall '91; R Spring ’05. Fall ’05, Winter ’06,
Summer ’07)
Homesteading (JLE 4/90 & 4/91)
Vouchers and Public School Choice (PI Spring '91; JPAM Summer ’98, Spring ’02,
Spring ‘01 & Fall ’04 (book reviews); Spring ’05, Summer ’07, Winter ‘07)
Competitive Effects of Means-Tested School Vouchers (Jan ’14)
Federal Rental Housing Assistance (JPAM Winter '92)
Ethanol as a Gas Substitute (JPAM Summer '92; WJS 11 28 07; R Fall ‘07)
Economics of Species Preservation (CEP 4/92)
Economics of Corruption (CEP 10/96)
Environmental Policy in Oil and Gas Production (EE ’07)
No Child Left Behind (JPE ’06, EJ ’06, CEP ’06, JPAM ’05)
Financing Intercollegiate Athletics and Enforcing Regulations (IJSF ’06)
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Common Land-Use Policies on Air Quality (TR’05)
Credibility of Anti-Doping Policy (JSE ’02)
Needle Exchange Programs and Drug Behavior (JPAM Spring ’05)
Gun Control (JPAM Summer ’06)
Road Pricing (R Winter ’06 (book review); JTEP ’07)
Ticket Scalping (CATO Spring ‘05; Winter ‘02)
Markets for Adoption (CATO Winter ‘03)
FDA and Drug Regulation (PR October ’07; R Winter ‘06)
The Economics of Dowry (JEP Fall ’07)
Direct Wine Sales to consumers (R Winter ’04)
Federal Farm Policy (R Winter ’04, Winter ’06)
Global Warning and Climate Change (R Winter ’06, JEP Spring ‘09)
Web Gambling (R Winter ’06)
Licensing of Occupations (R Fall ’06)
Steroids (R Summer ’05)
Water in the West (R Summer ’05; Unquenchable TD223.G578 2009))
PAYT (pay as you throw – for household trash)
Obesity (JEL, 12/08; NBER Reporter, 2008 Nos. 3 and 4; New Yorker 7/20/09)
http://www.urban.org/publications/411926.html )
Who Pays for Obesity (JEP Winter ’11)
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Obesity (JPAM Summer ’11)
Child Health and Future Outcomes (JEL 3/09)
Automobiles, Externalities and Policies (JEL June ‘07)
Market-based Policies re Greenhouse Gases (JEP Spring ‘09)
Impact of Smoking Bans on Hospitalization and Mortality (JPAM Winter ’10)
Psycho-Pharmaceuticals and Crime Trends (JPAM Winter ’10)
Calorie Posting in Chain Restaurants (AEJEP Feb ‘11)
The Effect of Fast Food Restaurants on Obesity and Weight Gain (AEJEP Aug ’10)
Minimum Legal Drinking Age and Public Health (JEP Spring ‘11)
Tax Treatment of Charitable Giving: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/42730
The Market for Charitable Giving (JEP Spring ‘11)
Medical Malpractice (JEL Spring ’11)
15
Gasoline Content Regulations in California (AER, October ’11)
Smoking Bans (Regulation, Winter ‘06-07)
Public Place Smoking Laws (AEJEP Aug ’11)
The Impact of Access to Groundwater on Rural Poverty and Conflict (AEJAE July ’14)
Traffic Congestion and Infant Health: Evidence from EZ-Pass (AEJAE Jan ’11)
Clunkers or Junkers: Adverse Selection in a Vehicle Retirement Program (AEJEP Nov. ’12)
Alcohol and Mortality in Russia (AEJAE Apr ’13)
Texting Bans and Auto Fatalities (AEJAE Apr ’13)
Life and Death in the Fast Lane: Police Enforcement and Traffic Fatalities (AEJEP May ’14)
The Market for Blood (JEP Spring ’14)
The Effect of EITC Payments on Maternal and Infant Health (AEJEP May ’14; Feb ‘15)
Gasoline Taxes and Consumer Behavior (AEJEP Nov ‘14 and Feb ’15)
Summer Jobs and Academic Achievement (JPAM Fall ’14)
The Economics of Spam (JEP Summer ’12)
Soap Operas and Fertility (AEJAE Oct ’12)
Household Income and Young Adult Obesity (AEJAE Apr ’13)
Are Big-Time Sports a Threat to Student Achievement? (AEJAE Oct ’12)
The Environmental Consequences of NAFTA (via trade in used cars) AEJEP Nov ’10)
Contraception and the Gender Gap in Wages (July 2012)
Sunday Alcohol Sales Bans and Auto Fatalities (JPAM Fall ’11)
The Effect of Health Insurance Coverage on Use of Medical Services (AEJEP Feb ’12)
Incentives and Blood Donations (AEJEP Feb ’12)
Do Nursing Strikes Kill? (AEJEP (Feb ‘12)
Why is the Teen Birth Rate in America So High, and Does It Matter? (JEP Spring 12)
Is Immigration Good for America? (Cato Winter ’12)
Taxes and Youth Smoking (JPE Feb ’02)
Should Soft Drinks be Taxed More Heavily? (Choice magazine, Oct ’11; JPAM Summer ’11)
The Curse: Are Natural Resources Always a Good Thing? (Milliken Institute Review 2011:4)
The Effect of Mandatory Seat Belt Laws on Seat Belt Use (JPAM Winter ’14)
Liberalization of Marijuana Laws (JPAM Winter ’14)
Competitive Effects of School Vouchers (AEJAE Jan ’14)
Charter School Effectiveness in Massachusetts and NYC (AEJAE Oct ’13)
16
Fuel Economy Standards and Auto Safety (AEJAE July ’13)
Who Benefits from KIPP (charter schools)? (JPAM Fall ’12)
Gender Pay Gaps (2 articles in JLE Oct ’12)
Merit Scholarship Aid to College and Completion Rates (AEJAE Oct ’14)
Charter Schools (book reviews in JPAM Spring ’12)
Junk Food and Childhood Obesity (JPAM Spring ’12)
Banning Bottled Water (Am. J. of Public Health, July ‘15)
Fast Food Restaurants and Obesity (AEJAE Jan ’11)
The Effects of Bans and Taxes on Secondary Smoke (AEJAE Jan ’10)
The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Mortality (AEJAE Jan ’09)