Knowledge Problem (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
Michael Giberson One paper presented at the recent Second Annual Conference on Competition and Regulation in Network Industries in Brussels addressed the topic of regulation as an imperfect institution. The abstract seemed a bit of a mess, but I’m interested in views of utility regulation as an economic institution (particularly from a new institutional economics approach, but [...]...
Knowledge Problem (Free subscription) | 11/24/2009
Michael Giberson I am mildly amazed that it is possible to take something as simple as, say, palm oil or soybean oil, and – with a few relatively simple chemical tricks – turn it into motor vehicle fuel. [See it on YouTube.] However, I’m not so amazed that I’m willing to pay you or anyone else [...]
Knowledge Problem (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009
Michael Giberson Al Roth surveys development of the market design course and field of study in economics at Harvard: [M]arket design is an eclectic field, drawing on game theory, experiments, computation, and field observation of all sorts (rules are data!).” … When Paul Milgrom and I began the class (when he spent a year at Harvard in 2001), [...]
Knowledge Problem (Free subscription) | 11/20/2009
Michael Giberson My most recent 15 seconds of fame*: The Environment Report: The ‘Tres Amigas’ Project. (Or, if you prefer, you can listen to today’s full 4:00 minute news segment.) In the segment I make the outrageous claim** that the project is located in an area where many renewable power resources will be built. The Environment Report [...]
Knowledge Problem (Free subscription) | 11/20/2009
Michael Giberson Tom Fowler, at NewsWatch: Energy, takes note of commentary by Tudor Pickering concerning a FERC investigation into whether three natural gas pipeline companies were over-recovering on their regulated rates. (See FERC press release here; a Reuters article.) Tudor Pickering, an energy industry advisory and investment company, notes that since 1992 FERC hasn’t required...
Knowledge Problem (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
Michael Giberson The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a story on shale gas production critic Art Berman: Arthur Berman runs a one-man energy consulting firm out of his home near Houston, producing research that says forecasts for natural gas production in the U.S. are flawed. He’s won the industry’s attention and its anger. Since last month, Chesapeake Energy and [...]
