February 5, 2010 – Knowledge Problem

A Disgusting Display of Bureaucratic Force from the Chicago Department of Public Health

5 Comments / Chicago, Economics, Food and wine, Liberty, Politics / By Lynne Kiesling

Lynne Kiesling This is so vile, so disgusting that I am literally nauseated at my desk as I write. One of the ways that independent chefs, caterers and confectioners economize on their substantial fixed costs is by sharing kitchens. In Chicago, the business license treatment of such kitchens from the Chicago Department of Public Health …

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Matt Welch on Monopoly: Joseph Schumpeter, Call Your Office!

2 Comments / Economics / By Lynne Kiesling

Lynne Kiesling Matt Welch channels his inner Joseph Schumpeter (and his inner Lynne, while we’re at it …) in his post this morning about the evanescence of monopoly. The grit in Matt’s oyster is yesterday’s NYT oped from former Microsoft vice president Dick Brass bemoaning Microsoft’s lack of an innovation-facilitating corporate culture. As someone who …

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A Little Innovation with Great Effect: the New Heinz Ketchup Packet!

9 Comments / Economics, Food and wine / By Lynne Kiesling

Lynne Kiesling Here’s an example of how a small innovation can have a substantial beneficial impact: Heinz redesigns its ketchup packets to hold three times as much ketchup, and to be squeezed or dipped. No more ketchup splurts on clothes, no more having to get three packets to get as much as you’d like, no …

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