Federalism is commonly described in contradictory fashion as involving both competition and decentralization. These descriptions may appear similar on the surface but they emanate from contradictory analytical orientations. Competition entails a polycentric arrangement of competitors where there...

We propose a new approach to the normative analysis of public-good provision in a large economy. Our analysis is based on a mechanism design approach that involves a requirement of coalition-proofness, as well as a requirement of robustness, so that the mechanism must not depend on specific...

The papers in this special issue of the Annals were first presented at the Transportation and Economic Development Conference held in Little Rock, Arkansas in March of 2006. The conference was attended by officials from U.S. Department of Transportation agencies, academic scholars and industry...

The economics literature on mercantilism tends to emphasize gold hoarding and external barriers to trade as defining characteristics. However, medieval institutions included a host of internal barriers to trade as well as external ones. High offices were often for sale as were monopoly...

This paper develops a model of self-interested norm-driven behavior and uses it to analyze public policy formation within a democracy. If voters are concerned with broad normative issues, politicians will take policy positions in part to advance voter interests in "virtue" or "the public...

French Abstract: Le monde traverse une crise sans précédent qui mêle finance, économie, social et culture. Si nous ne voulons pas être rejetés de ce monde, il faut alors questionner l’utopie fondatrice de nos sociétés modernes. Cette utopie a fondé la reconnaissance de la liberté...

This study presents the results of an empirical investigation of attitudes toward bribe taking in Egypt. The authors use the Human Beliefs and Values Survey data to examine several demographic variables to determine whether demographics make a difference. The total sample size was over 3000. The...

The purpose of an open primary is to incorporate more moderate votes into the primary elections. This intention may backfire when nonparty members strategically participate in the primary: The result on an open primary might become even more extreme than when nonparty members are not allowed to...

The purpose of an open primary is to incorporate more moderate votes into the primary elections. This intention may backfire when nonparty members strategically participate in the primary: The result on an open primary might become even more extreme than when nonparty members are not allowed to...

In preparation for the 1998 soccer World Cup, France banned the use of soccer balls made with child labor. As a result of that ban, Baden Sports, the company that supplied the soccer balls, closed down its Pakistani soccer ball operations, which used child labor, and moved production to China,...