Leaving Romania
by Marina Tanase (December, 2008) During the communist times Romanians who could, who dared, looked for ways to escape. There are as many stories as escape attempts. Each can impress upon readers the dangers those...
Economic Thinking Posts on Debate Topics
Viewing the Future of Space Exploration from the Past (the 1980s)
Introduction to The Economics of Space Exploration Gregory F. Rehmke Good public policy analysis requires perspective. Research on space exploration should include more than today’s facts, policies, and proposals. Further readings in the political and technological...
Paying for Transportation Infrastructure
Very interesting WSJ article on U.S. transportation infrastructure. Billions are being invested upgrading U.S. railroads, including various new technologies. The federal government has little involvement in this upgrade. Railroad, apart from Amtrak, are privately...
Free Enterprise Space Exploration
Free Enterprise Space Exploration from the 1990s and before… Martian Chronicle Mars may well be the next great frontier. But what kind of world should we make there? And John Tierney’s 1996 NYT article: How...
Do Incentive Matter?
Paul Krugman asks: “But can anyone deny that more drivers means more traffic congestion?” Okay, let’s think about that. Do more bicyclers mean more bicycle congestion, or more bike lanes and trails? Do more...
John Stossel and Drew Carey on Transportation
Stossel in the Classroom has three streaming segments on transportation policy reform. Go to StosselintheClassroom.org, then click Streaming Video, then enter transportation in the Keyword box. Direct link to the videos here: • Government Car...
Space Exploration Goes to the Movies
There is a universe to explore with the space debate topic. Good public policy analysis requires perspective. Research on space exploration should include more than today’s facts, policies, and proposals. Further readings in the political and technological history...
Energy Economics and Offshore Energy
The debate resolution on marine natural resources would include, in addition to fisheries, offshore oil and gas exploration and development. This presentation provides a general background on the energy industry, and the ongoing progress...
Building Your Home at Sea, and Enriching Ecosystems
Marine natural resources range from ecosystems to fisheries to oil and gas to watery real estate. Here is a short presentation on building your home at sea, with notes from the Dubai Palm Island...
Economics of Transportation Infrastructure
For students considering a debate topic on federal transportation infrastructure, we have an 8-page study guide (online pdf here) and webpage here: www.EconomicThinking.org/transportation. Below are three presentation on the transportation infrastructure topic adapted from...