Publications

The publication compares data from the US Decennial Census with that of the Current Population Survey to underscore errors in research methods used to calculate labor market trends. The authors argue ...chevron_right

This paper projects the savings from a drug benefit program that is centrally administered as an add-on to the traditional Medicare program. The author proposes it as an alternative to the Medicare Mo...chevron_right

This report examines the unionization rates of African-American workers over the period 1979-2004. It finds that the relative representation of African-Americans has been steadily declining in unions,...chevron_right

This report examines the rising costs facing minimum wage US families in the ninth year since an increase in the minimum wage. It notes that low-wage Americans and their families enter the 2005 holida...chevron_right

This paper explores how prime-age workers in the US get trapped in minimum wage jobs. It shows that more than one third of prime-age minimum wage workers remain in low-wage jobs for at least three yea...chevron_right

A mythology has developed around the economics of the Clinton era. The first section of this paper details the main trends in the economy in the Clinton years. The second section describes how the bub...chevron_right

This report refutes the widespread notion that US women are increasingly likely to stop working when they have children. It responds to articles in the press arguing that some mothers - especially old...chevron_right

This paper examines the evidence for the existence of a housing bubble. The authors point out that it is very difficult to explain this unprecedented run-up in housing prices as it is inconsistent wit...chevron_right

This report examines inefficiencies and waste associated with patents and copyrights for software development. It explores alternatives for the industry. The report notes that copyright and patent pro...chevron_right

This paper asks how good the US economy is at creating good jobs. It defines a good job as one that offers decent pay (at least US$16 per hour or about US$32,000 per year), employer-paid health insura...chevron_right

This report examines alternative mechanisms for financing the development of pharmaceutical products. The author argues that government-granted patent monopolies have limited the ability to produce an...chevron_right

This paper explores textbook costs in the US. It notes that textbook prices are a rapidly increasing cost for US college students. The paper examines whether it is possible to design policies that wou...chevron_right

This paper explores student debt in the US. It first examines the amount of debt an average student incurs to attend a four-year college. Next, it surveys historical precedents of debt and outlines th...chevron_right

This publication looks at the available data on economic growth and various social indicators, including health outcomes and education, and compares the last 25 years (1980-2005) with the prior two de...chevron_right

This briefing paper outlines four economic issues which impact and would be significantly impacted upon by environmental policies and should therefore be of concern to environmentalists. The first iss...chevron_right