Purpose – The concept of “price gouging” during times of emergency, such as in the aftermath of Katrina, often evokes quite an emotional and reactive response from people who are outraged that stores and companies would increase their prices during a time of emergency. The problem is that...

States that labour unions are widely respected institutions in modern society. Argues that this reputation in unearned insofar as these organizations are the only ones, besides that Government, which have not only a de facto warrant to initiate violence against innocent people (e.g. scabs) but a...

Discusses Bagwell and Ramey’s theory that advertising can promote sales even if mostly informative. Posits there must be method in what would perhaps seem to be the madness of customers railing against firms’ lack of communication. Highlights the various slogans employed via jingles, etc....

Disputes Bagwell’s (1991) proposition that export subsidies are welfare enhancing under certain conditions, claiming that it can be generalized do domestic and non‐monopolistic situations and, established products, and that it should take into account externalities, economic welfare, the...

In the view of most economists, highways and streets are “public goods,” not amenable to ordinary market competition. The present papers argues, to the contrary, that these thoroughfares are conducive to competitiveness, and then applies these insights to automobile insurance and price...

Purpose – The reason for writing the paper is to cast doubt on the claim that the informational asymmetries uncovered by Bernhardt and Scoones constitute a market failure. Design/methodology/approach – The main method used is to quote these authors, and then critically comment upon their...

Purpose – To analyze the legal, ethical, and economic implications of governmentally criminalized graffiti. Design/methodology/approach – First the paper presents the act of graffiti as a minor form of rebellion against an unjust government according to the criteria of just war theory. Once...

Purpose – The paper aims to combat economic illiteracy concerning poverty, minimum wages, sweatshops and working conditions. Design/methodology/approach – The objectives were achieved by (among others) making a proper economic analysis of the unemployment effects of minimum wage laws. The...

Purpose – The purpose of writing this paper is to defend the doctrine of commodification, or alienability: that there are no exceptions to the principle that all things that are owned may be legally sold. Design/methodology/approach – The approach of this paper is to consider arguments to...

Purpose – It is the contention of this paper that the state of siege on the part of students against academics and administrators of the 1960s has been replaced by one led by university administrators who are now waging a war of “political correctness” against students and faculty. These...