Economic
and Game Theory
News
In Memoriam June 24, 2008: Leo Hurwicz:
From Eric Maskin
Leo made seminal contributions to economics. In particular, he created the modern theory of mechanism design, the study of economic and political institutions for achieving society's goals. For this work he received the U.S. National Medal of Science in 1990 and shared the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 2007, among many other honors. He was also an institution designer in the practical sense: he bears major responsibility for turning the Economics Department at the University of Minnesota into one of the great departments of the world. Full ObituaryLeo was my colleague when I taught at the University of Minesota, and his reputation as a kind and gentle man is well deserved. He was a leader in the best sense of the word: he led by example. [Posted at 07/31/2008 07:54 AM by David K. Levine
]Against Intellectual Monopoly:
Michele's and my book about copyrights and patents from Cambridge University Press is out. You can order it on Amazon or the publisher Cambridge University Press It will remain available online. We argue that the only solution to the problem of intellectual monopoly is to get rid of it entirely.
[Posted at 07/11/2008 02:20 PM by David K. Levine ]
Against Intellectual Monopoly:
Against Intellectual Monopoly Michele's and my book about copyrights and patents from Cambridge University Press is available for pre-order from Amazon. It will remain available online. We argue that the only solution to the problem of intellectual monopoly is to get rid of it entirely.
[Posted at 06/09/2008 09:23 AM by David K. Levine ]
PoET:
Ted Bergstrom is at it again: this time he's shining the light of transparency on textbook prices. Take a look.
[Posted at 04/03/2008 01:44 PM by David K. Levine ]
The Open Economics Journal:
A new open access journal from a commercial publisher, The Open Economics Journal. Too soon to say how it will turn out as they haven't published anything yet.
[Posted at 03/30/2008 06:18 AM by David K. Levine ]
Against Intellectual Monopoly:
Hopefully the final version of Michele's and my book Against Intellectual Monopoly is available on line. We argue that the only solution to the problem of intellectual monopoly is to get rid of it entirely. It is in production at Cambridge University Press and should appear in bookstores this summer.
[Posted at 01/07/2008 07:34 AM by David K. Levine ]
Experimental Economics:
Some ramblings here.
[Posted at 12/27/2007 09:59 AM by David K. Levine ]
My Other Life: Via Christian Zimmerman
]
Mechanism Design:
"information about individual preferences and available production technologies is usually dispersed among many actors who may use their private information to further their own interests. Mechanism design theory, initiated by Leonid Hurwicz and further developed by Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson, has greatly enhanced our understanding of the properties of optimal allocation mechanisms in such situations, accounting for individuals' incentives and private information. The theory allows us to distinguish situations in which markets work well from those in which they do not. It has helped economists identify efficient trading mechanisms, regulation schemes and voting procedures. Today, mechanism design theory plays a central role in many areas of economics and parts of political science." announcement here
[Posted at 10/15/2007 06:06 AM by David K. Levine ]
Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice:
New York Times July 15, 2007 Sunday Late Edition - Final, BYLINE: By MICHAEL FITZGERALD.
"A Patent Is Worth Having, Right? Well, Maybe Not"
"Mr. Bessen's critique of the patent system does not go so far as that of economists like Michele Boldrin and David K. Levine, who argue that the patent system should be abolished."
[Posted at 07/15/2007 02:46 AM by David K. Levine ]
