Environmental and Urban Economics

As an underachiever from the Scarsdale Class of 1984, this new Stanford research by a professor named Minter-Hoxby caught my eye. Charter Schools appear to have a serious Treatment Effect. But, why do they? In thinking about the development of "human capability", the key unobservable is what goes on in the household. When parents see that their kid is in a better learning environment do they turn off the television and read more more and work more with their kids? Are home investments in the kid's human capital a substitute or complement of what goes in school? So, the "Kahn Conjecture" is that we need to take care that we have identified what actually is the "treatment". Parents will re-optimize once they see their child is making progress.

Will Larry Summers comment on the mutual benefits of this globalization? Here is direct evidence of the pollution haven effect at work. As Europe ratches up its pollution regulation, waste is now being exported to poorer nations. Unlike in the case of international trade in manufacturing, there is no offsetting factor endowment effect. While the New York Times does a good job of documenting the fact, they implicitly are saying that this trade "is bad".

There are no direct flights from Los Angeles to Lexington, Kentucky. Next thursday, I will have the pleasure of flying through Houston as I try to get to Lexington. I will be participating in this conference on friday 10/2.

I am greatly looking forward to this event. Some excellent economists will be there and I'm eager to see some old friends of mine.

To quote the organizers;

"UKCPR will host Appalachia and the Legacy of the War on Poverty: A Research Agenda on Oct. 2, 8-4:15 p.m.

Do we have good estimates of the costs of the flu? This article highlights the costs that Stanford Seniors have suffered. Would a hyperbolic model have predicted a riot against the Administration's rules? Will the Stanford class of 2010 donate less $ to the school because they were denied their kiss under the full moon? A good labor economist should study how this kissing market "clicks".

To reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, we need per-capita emissions to decline faster than population grows. Given continued world per-capita income growth, how can we reduce per-capita carbon emissions?

My strong Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger argues here that children should not take long hot showers. His thoughts are interesting on a number of levels. His push for "minimalist consumption" would stand out in Brentwood. The article highlights that he has 4 children.

This is an interesting article about how land is being re-allocated in major U.S cities. Even I notice the urban heat island effect created by pavement. Can we share public space? In cities with less income inequality and more ethnic homogeneity, there must be a greater demand for sharing public parks (a public good) rather than self segregating into separate spheres of the city (private clubs and country clubs).

The New York Times should consider allowing its readers to do the writing on climate issues. These comments are worth reading.

UCLA's faculty have not been that happy about our unexpected paycut. My wife and I have suffered a combined paycut larger that the Chancellor's (but smaller than the basketball coach). But, the UCLA Deans have informed us that we can use our furlough days to generate some more money for our families. Below, I report on a unique opportunity that LA offers.

I can barely remember my Hamilton College days. Somehow the mid-1980s are a blur. Perhaps graduate school erased my hard disk. But, this letter that I quote from below makes me proud. The President of Hamilton College is not a Ph.D. economist but she sounds "as if" she is one in this hard headed letter. I see a forward looking thinker who anticipates technological advance and a long payback period for the current generation of green products (especially if carbon pricing is not enacted).