Research that Informs Business and Public Policy
Economists can’t predict the future, but economics can help improve policy today. Oil markets aren’t the first thing that hardly anyone thinks about when reading updates on the novel coronavirus. … Continue Reading Oil Market Impacts of COVID-19
A new paper estimates the massive damages from leaded gasoline (which is still around). In my free time I really like reading about the history of pollutants. While PM2.5 and … Continue Reading The Crazy History of Lead in Gasoline
2019 was a record year for the Mystery Surcharge, which is bad news for drivers and the state’s economy. If the price of gasoline stays inexplicably high and the media … Continue Reading California’s Mystery Gasoline Surcharge Strikes Back
Millennials, carbon pricing, falling solar prices and Greta Thunberg topped our most-read list. I’m often asked, “Who actually writes the Energy Institute’s blog posts?” These questioners expect to hear that … Continue Reading Top 10 Blog Posts for 2019
The best customer response depends on how much utilities can reduce their frequency. The rains have arrived in California and wildfire season has ended, temporarily. But fire risks will be … Continue Reading Preparing for Next Year’s Power Shutoffs
A new paper shows that people drive less and slow down when gasoline prices rise. I drive an electric vehicle. So I am, of course, better than you and now … Continue Reading Taking The Pedal Off The Metal
Recent sales of U.S. nuclear plants raise questions about safety, liability, and economic incentives. (Today’s post is co-authored with Catherine Hausman, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.) Last … Continue Reading Nuclear Moral Hazard
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