New opportunities for green economist

Environmental economists have used economic analysis to provide new solutions to environmental problems, and to get jobs. Here is a report. (Hat tip to Nickie Esinduy)

Incentives, foreign aid, and food shortages

Here is a link from William Easterly's homepage on unexpected (to some) consequences of foreign aid. Easterly is a leading expert on economic growth.

News from Africa

Here is some good news from Africa. Here is an older story that suggests why getting things done in Africa is often difficult

How do you substitute coal for gasoline?

Montana's Governor says by using an 80 year old technology. (Hat tip to David Hineline)

Long lines at the pump soon to appear in Hawaii

The price of gasoline in Hawaii is about $.15/gallon higher than it is on the mainland. It turns out that gasoline taxes in Hawaii are about $.12/gallon higher than on the mainland. The public utility commission in Hawaii is trying an experiment with very predictable outcomes. (Hat tip to Mike Curme)

Did Sarbanes-Oxley turn the lights out?

In response to the Enron scandal, new regulations and reporting requirements were promulgated for publicly held companies by Sarbanes-Oxley bill. Have these additional costs caused some firms to revert to private concerns? Doug Campbell at the Richmond Fed reviews the issues.

Tax or Spend? CAFE standards v. gasoline taxes

This report, "The Economics Cost of Fuel Economy Standards Vesus a Gasoline Tax" out of the CBO has some interesting insights into tradeoffs, externalities, and other things microeconomic. (Hat tip to Mike Curme)

George Will to media "Get real!"

Columnist George Will grades the media on the principles of economics. The media is not doing well. (Hat tip to Mike Curme)

What is inflation?

James Hamilton describes the difficulties in measuring inflation and some alternatives. Steve Cecchetti thinks that, all things considered, the inflation rate is nearer 2.5% than the scary 6.4%figure reported for July.

Fed bumps funds rate up to 3.5%

The Fed raised its target federal funds rate a 1/4 a percentage point to 3.5%. Here is the rationale.

Krugman and Hubbard debate

Paul Krugman and Glenn Hubbard debate topics from savings to health care.

Revolution to conventional wisdom

Ben Bernanke reminds us of the revolutionary nature of Milton Friedman's ideas and how they have come to be the accepted wisdom.

Pollution, asthma, costs, and benefits

Here is a discussion of whether or not it is worth $4 billion to reduce pollution. Tim Haab thinks that it probably is.