Politics

From Rebound to Backfire: Tierney Column Examines Limits to Use of Energy Efficiency Policy to Pursue Energy Conservation

1 Comment / Economics, Energy markets, Environmental policy, Politics / By

Michael Giberson John Tierney’s column, “When Energy Efficiency Sullies the Environment,” in the New York Times examines the rebound effect and some of the broader consequences of trying to promote conservation through policies inducing energy efficiency. Some of the biggest rebound effects occur when new economic activity results from energy-efficient technologies that reduce the cost …

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Streetwise Professor: Bootleggers and Baptists in Russia

Economics, Politics, Regulation / By

Michael Giberson Craig Pirrong, blogging at Streetwise Professor, posts “Bug or Feature?, or Bootleggers and Baptists Go To Russia.” I have been told by people who were involved in the “gaming industry” in Russia pre-ban that even legal operations had to pay to survive.  But “banning” the activity only enhances the authorities’ opportunities for personal …

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If Truth is What Your Freshmen Students Let You Get Away With, Then…

8 Comments / Economics, Liberty, Politics, Regulation / By

Michael Giberson What do we owe the status quo? Uwe Reinhardt, Economix, asks “How convincing is the case for free trade?” In his column, Reinhardt takes note of a few discussions of free trade without taking a stand himself. But he ends with a provocative quote from Alan Blinder: “If we economists stubbornly insist on chanting ‘free trade …

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The Geography of Ethanol’s Support in Congress

5 Comments / Energy markets, Politics / By

Michael Giberson The House of Representatives budget battle has produced a few shots at the ethanol industry, including “Sullivan of Oklahoma Amendment No. 94,” a proposal to prevent the EPA from taking steps to encourage the sale of gasoline with higher ethanol content for use in newer cars. The amendment succeeded, 285-136 (12 not voting), …

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Haidt on Political Bias Among Social Psychologists

6 Comments / Education, Politics / By

Michael Giberson Several days ago we discussed Jonathan Haidt’s research on libertarianism (see post). In his New York Times column, John Tierney discusses Haidt’s work on political bias among social psychologists: Some of the world’s pre-eminent experts on bias discovered an unexpected form of it at their annual meeting. … It was identified by Jonathan Haidt, …

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What About Electric Bikes? and Regular Bikes? and Can I Get a Pony?

7 Comments / Environmental policy, Politics / By

Michael Giberson President Obama’s budget request will call on Congress to pass legislation offering consumers a rebate of as much as $7,500 for purchasing electric vehicles. The rebate plan is part of a three-part proposal outlined by the Department of Energy Tuesday that will be included in Obama’s budget request, slated to be released Monday. …

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The Natural Gas That Didn’t Come in from the Cold

Energy markets, Networks, Politics, Regulation / By

Michael Giberson Among the complications caused by the cold weather last week, short supply of natural gas throughout much of the southwest United States. Reports indicate some gas wells were freezing up and loss of electric power to gas production systems, but more of the problem was loss of power to natural gas pipelines. And, …

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