regulation

University funding through industry contracts
Lately, I've found myself in conversations with various people here at the University regarding providing university funding via contracts/agreements with industry partners wherein some of the projects are directed by industry interests and questions.

Today, there is an interview with Jennifer Washburn on Democracy Now on just this topic. From the interview:
-By rob on 2011-06-20

Health Codes Violations, Single Motherhood, and the Breakfast I had Last Week
I'm currently teaching Economics 349: the Economics of Social Problems. I thought I'd use our department blog to help raise some examples of the types of issues that arise in the Calgary area which relate (even tangentially) to the course. (To those students in the course, some of this stuff may serve as fodder for term papers.)
-By rob on 2010-01-19

Ticket Pricing in the Age of the Internet
Peter Tracey recently directed me to a column by Terrance Corcoran. Apparently, Industry Minister Tony Clement is looking into ways to address ticket retailers who are engaged in uncompetitive practices.

-By rob on 2009-12-15

Cellphones and Driving
Alberta is considering following several other provinces (NS, ON, QC) in banning the use of cellphones while driving. I personally think its a good idea, but my experience involves seeing several friends have accidents while on their phones.
-By rob on 2009-06-13

Stiglitz on the financial crisis and the Obama administration's plan
Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz appeared on Democracy Now to discuss his views on the Obama administration's financial bailout in the U.S. and U.S. foreign policy. It is a very interesting interview in which Stiglitz expresses some of his ideas on competitive markets (and their role in the financial crisis), the importance of (stimulating) aggregate demand, and the importancei n addressing regulatory and structural flaws in the U.S. economy.-By rob on 2009-03-16

Winter Tires
Anyone who has been driving in Calgary over the last week has had their nerves tested. After a storm and high temperatures hovering around -20 C, the roads are covered with ice and packed snow. Perfect conditions for slipping and sliding. If it were a game of bumper cars, it would be perfect.

One problem is that it seems not many people in Calgary have snow tires. Well, maybe its time for a law similar to that passed in Quebec:
-By rob on 2009-03-16

New research from the Economic Journal (June 2008)
The recent issue of the Economic Journal has some interesting articles on the effects of regulation on individual behaviors.

First, Sandra Black, Paul Devereux and Kjell Salvanes find that compulsory schooling laws reduce the rate of teenage childbearing. From their abstract:
-By rob on 2008-10-07