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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Statutory interpretation: is a fish a “tangible object”?
It’s a federal crime to “knowingly alter, destroy, mutilate, conceal, cover up, falsify, or make a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object” with the intent of impeding or obstructing a federal investigation (italics added). But does this … Continue reading
Why are airline boarding procedures so inefficient?
Here is one hypothesis: Because consumers want and value assigned seats. Overhead bin space is scarce as well, and airlines allocate that to their best customers through early boarding. In other words, there are competing business objectives. It turns out that … Continue reading
Sanctions schmanctions …
Article 6 of Chapter II of the United Nations Charter states that “a Member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon … Continue reading
Bayesian billiards
This simple thought-experiment appears in the first draft of our latest paper: Imagine a large square table [like the one pictured above] so level that any billiard ball thrown upon the table has an equal chance of landing on any part of the … Continue reading
Complexity versus simplicity
Explain this: 1. The official rules of America’s pastime consist of 119 singled-spaced pages. 2. The official laws of the beautiful game, by contrast, take up less than 50 pages. Why are the rules of baseball so much more complicated than the rules … Continue reading
Foreign substances
When Yankees’ pitcher Michael Pineda was ejected last night at Fenway Park for openly using a “foreign substance” to get a better grip on the baseball, the Red Sox batter he was facing (Grady Sizemore) was openly wearing a pair … Continue reading
Spontaneous Order
This example of spontaneous order in Ethiopia is amazing. Can you think of any other such examples? Hat tip to Digg.
More evidence that applied economics is not a science …
Economists still can’t agree on whether High Frequency Trading (HFT) is good or bad. Dude, where’s my trade?
Is Google Glass Evil?
On balance, is Google Glass a good thing or bad thing? (Isn’t it both?) Either way, do we really need this product? More importantly, should markets decide these key questions or law/politics?
Fair or foul?
What unwritten rule or social norm did Brewers’ slugger Carlos Gomez violate in this at-bat? Addendum: Major League Baseball decided not to impose any suspension on Pirates’ pitcher Gerrit Cole (not even a token one-game suspension), even though he was the player … Continue reading
