Antitrust, Economics, and Innovation in the Obama Administration Joshua D. Wright
Research Papers
Renewable Electricity Standards, Energy Efficiency, and Cost-Effective Climate-Change Policy
Climate change proposals currently under consideration include both a cap-and-trade program to curb greenhouse gas (GHS) emissions and a nationwide renewable electricity standard (RES). Some proposals permit a portion of the renewable electricity requirement to be satisfied by adopting energy efficiency measures, while others include a separate efficiency requirement. This paper examines how these approaches fit together, the costs associated with substantially expanding the portion of electricity generated by renewable resources, and the potential savings from incorporating energy efficiency into an RES.
In Defense of Data: Information and the Costs of Privacy – Executive Summary
The commercial use of information on the Internet has produced substantial benefits for consumers. But, as the use of information online has increased, so have concerns about privacy. This paper discusses how the use of individuals� information for commercial purposes affects consumers, and the implications of restricting information availability in the interest of privacy.
Net Neutrality, Unbundling, and their Effects on International Investment in Next-Generation Networks
Network neutrality has been a contentious issue in the United States for several years, but is increasingly debated elsewhere, with the EU, several European countries, and the Japanese government all examining the issue.
Measuring the Effectiveness of the Broadband Stimulus Plan
The newly enacted economic stimulus package includes $7.2 billion in grants, loans, and loan guarantees to bring broadband to rural areas lacking high-speed Internet services. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 charges government agencies not only with choosing grant recipients and setting performance benchmarks, but also with measuring results. Only a carefully preplanned evaluation strategy will enable them to accurately assess the effectiveness of the broadband stimulus.
ICANN at a Crossroads: A Proposal for Better Governance and Performance
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has control over extremely important aspects of the Internet, but is largely accountable to no one, according to a new study coauthored by Thomas M. Lenard and Lawrence J. White. ICANN�s governance structure should be dramatically reformed to make it more accountable before the current tie with the U.S. Department of Commerce is allowed to expire. Lenard is President and Senior Fellow at TPI; White is Professor of Economics at the NYU Stern School of Business.
The Budgetary Effects of High-Skilled Immigration Reform
Most economists believe that admitting more highly skilled workers from other countries is beneficial to the U.S. economy. This is particularly true of workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Immigration also has positive effects on the federal budget. Highly skilled workers pay more in taxes than less skilled workers and they are not likely to receive federal benefits, particularly in the near term.