Economist Sergei Guriev and political scientist Daniel Treisman utilize informational theory to articulate the way in which modern dictators survive in an age of mass information and globalization. More »
Although earlier hukou reforms benefited rural residents by allowing them to seek employment and business opportunities in the city, recent hukou reforms have served as a wheel of agrarian capitalism, the purpose of which is to lure or force rural residents to... More »
Society is accruing a large economic benefit from the shale gas boom. While more evidence is needed to calculate the costs of the externalities associated with techniques such as fracking, those costs would need to be very large to justify preventing this new ... More »
Active defense against cyber crimes falls into a grey area between what is legal and what is not. Without a sound regulatory framework for cyber security practices, back hacking actions are both challenging and risky. More »
Research shows that minor, individual energy savings can lead to a significant aggregate decrease in energy consumption. The challenge is informing consumers in a way that changes their behavior. More »
A new NBER working paper shows how many Career Technical Education programs in California’s community college system increase earnings by larger amounts. More »
Using incentives to influence children’s food choices may have an impact that extends beyond a one-time choice. Leveraging behavioral economic techniques, like incentives, could help encourage children to choose and consume healthier foods. More »
Government-led, cost share programs enabling US farmers to adopt water-saving irrigation systems may actually be increasing water use. Changing the way water rights are defined might help. More »
A new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates the impact of mandatory childcare on the wages of women in Chile. More »
New York State has a substantial and diverse population with diverse reasons for objecting to compulsory vaccination. A recent article discusses the options available to the state in dealing with philosophical objectors when public health and safety are on the... More »
Based on a new dataset of policy changes, Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page bring new evidence to cross-examine American politics: how democratic is American democracy? More »
A new study finds occupational licenses increase wages, employment, and benefits of those with licenses. While good for entrenched workers, these licenses could be problematic for consumers and non-licensed workers. More »