Recent additions to Broadway Economics

Shipyard, from the Last Ship

The Winner Takes it All from Mamma Mia

Thoughts on the economics conference (ASSA) and San Francisco

The ASSA conference in early January is the biggest economics conference each year.  Thousands of economists descended this year to San Francisco for three days of fun and frivolity.  (OK, three days of learning about new models, statistical methods, and results – but that’s the same thing, right?)  I was a discussant for one paper and presented a poster on Broadway Economics.  I also saw several good presentations where I learned some things, worked on projects with my co-authors, and met several interesting people.  It was a fantastic conference.

San Francisco, however?  What a dump.  Coming in on the BART (their train), you see many run-down houses that still cost a fortune, because of the insane property restrictions.  It makes you wonder why anyone would live there.  Of course, it might be because they love being accosted by beggars on their dirty streets.  Between the griminess, the beggars, the high property values, high taxes (even on plastic bags - which costs lives), and the other ways it restricts liberty, San Francisco might be my least favorite US city.  It is even in the running with Mexico City and Naples, Italy as far as places I most want to avoid.   (Although I did like Fisherman’s Wharf ...)

My 2015 in review - publications

I had another productive year with research and writing.  I published four articles for lay audiences and also had four scholarly publications in 2015, with three more scholarly articles that have been accepted but are still forthcoming.  Here are the details:


Here are my published opeds or articles for lay audiences:

“Economic Lessons for Children from The Hunger Games.”  Library of Economics and Liberty. December 6, 2015.  http://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2015/Rousuhungergames.html

“Here’s what PA should do about the minimum wage.” The Harrisburg Patriot News.  February 27, 2015.  http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2015/02/heres_what_pa_should_do_about.html 

“Three keys to prosperity.”  The Philadelphia Inquirer.  January 20, 2015.

“Changing These Two Laws Would Appropriately Commemorate MLK Day.” The Federalist. January 19, 2015.  http://thefederalist.com/2015/01/19/changing-these-two-laws-would-appropriately-commemorate-mlk-day/ 

Here are my scholarly publications:

Rousu, M.C., R. O’Connor, M. Travers, J. Pitcavage, J.F. Thrasher.  (2015).  “The impact of free trial acceptance on demand for smokeless tobacco: Evidence from Experimental Auctions. Harm Reduction Journal 12(18), http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/12/1/18

Rousu, M.C., J. Corrigan, D. Harris, J. Hayter-Kerns, S. Houser, B. LaFrancis, O. Onafowora, A. Hoffer, G. Colson.  (2015).  “The impact of monetary incentives on game performance and classroom learning.”  Journal of Economic Education 46(4) 341-349.

Rousu, M.C., J Corrigan, G. Colson, C. Grebitus, M. Loureiro.  (2015).  “On developing guidelines for use of deception in agricultural and applied economics.”  Applied Economics Policy and Perspectives 37 (3) 524-536.

Rousu, M., D. Ramsaran, and D. Furlano.  (2015).  “Guidelines for conducting economic impact studies on fracking.”  International Review in Economic Research, 21 (2): 213-225.

(And these are forthcoming ...)

Colson, G., J. Corrigan, C. Grebitus, M. Loureiro, M. Rousu. (2015). “Which deceptive practices, if any, should be allowed in experimental economics research? Results from surveys of applied experimental economists and students.” Forthcoming at the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 

Ramsaran D. and M. Rousu.  (2015).  “Experiencing the Impact of Marcellus Shale: A Case Study.”  Forthcoming at International Journal of Social Economics.

Rousu, M.  (2015). “Fifteen Years of Experimental Auctions of GM Foods: What have we Learned About Policy, Preferences, and Auction Design?”  Forthcoming at Agbioforum.