Distinguished Lecture on Economics in Government: Public Policy, Values, and Consciousness

Economists should pay more attention to value formation in economic analysis. First, preferences are not stable in any operationally meaningful sense. Any estimated micro behavior that does not take account of the consequences of the behavior on underlying preferences is incapable of serving as a guide to future action. Second, the economist's model of human psychology is inaccurate and misleading. Third, most analyses of complex social behavior start from models incapable of producing empirical results adequate for useful structural analyses. The paper suggests avenues for making progress on each of these issues, beginning with a different approach to utility maximization.

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Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy

10.1017/cbo9780511754289 ◽

2006 ◽

Cited By ~ 134

Author(s):

Daniel M. Hausman ◽

Michael S. McPherson

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Economic Analysis ◽

Moral Philosophy

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Identification of a major gene regulating complex social behavior.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1003777.56555 ◽

2002 ◽

Author(s):

Trudy Mackay

Keyword(s):

Social Behavior ◽

Major Gene ◽

Complex Social Behavior

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The American Cigarette Industry: A Study in Economic Analysis and Public Policy

Southern Economic Journal ◽

10.2307/1054503 ◽

1951 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 488

Author(s):

Frank J. Kottke ◽

Richard B. Tennant

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Economic Analysis ◽

Cigarette Industry

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Heterarchy Reveals Social Organization of a Smooth Stingray (Bathytoshia brevicaudata) Population in a Provisioned Food Context

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.641761 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Joni Pini-Fitzsimmons ◽

Nathan A. Knott ◽

Culum Brown

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Social Behavior ◽

Social Interactions ◽

New Technologies ◽

Single Individual ◽

Social Lives ◽

Dominant Individual ◽

Complex Social Behavior ◽

Provisioned Food

The advent of new technologies and statistical analyses has provided valuable insights into chondrichthyan social behavior. It has become apparent that sharks and rays lead more complex social lives than previously believed. Heterarchy combines hierarchy and social network theory and although it is not a new concept, it is rarely applied to animal social interactions. Here, we applied heterarchy to a case study involving smooth stingrays foraging for fish scraps at boat ramp in Jervis Bay, NSW Australia. We took advantage of their attraction to this site to examine their social behavior during agonistic interactions over the provisioned resource. We observed a stable, relatively linear but shallow dominance hierarchy that was highly transitive dominated by a single individual. Social network analysis revealed a non-random social network centered on the dominant individual. Contrary to previous research, size did not predict dominance, but it was correlated with network centrality. The factors determining dominance of lower ranks were difficult to discern, which is characteristic of despotic societies. This study provides the first heterarchical assessment of stingray sociality, and suggests this species is capable of complex social behavior. Given higher dominance and centrality relate to greater access to the provisioned resource, the observed social structure likely has fitness implications.

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AN OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS MASTERS PROGRAMS

Facta Universitatis Series Law and Politics ◽

10.22190/fulp2003161r ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 161

Author(s):

Branko Radulović

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Economic Analysis ◽

Policy Analysis ◽

Public Administration ◽

Research Methods ◽

Public Management ◽

Master Program ◽

Policy Theory ◽

European Universities ◽

Public Policy Analysis

The paper presents research on the content of postgraduate programs in the field of public policy at leading European universities. Based on previous research, more than 80 courses are classified in four areas: economic analysis, research methods, public administration, and public policy, in order to obtain a typical master program in public policy analysis. The programs mostly emphasize research methods and public policy theory and application with somewhat lower presence of economic analysis and public management. The results of the research can be used for the purpose of formulating new postgraduate programs at universities in Serbia.

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An Economic Analysis Of The Effectiveness of Thoroughbred Breeder/Owner Incentive Policies

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics ◽

10.1017/s1074070800008853 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 581-592 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. Shannon Neibergs ◽

Richard Thalheimer

Keyword(s):

Economic Analysis ◽

Economic Effect ◽

Tax Revenue ◽

Supply Function ◽

Ongoing Debate ◽

Empirical Results ◽

Incentive Programs ◽

Horse Breeding ◽

Incentive Policies ◽

Race Horse

AbstractThoroughbred incentive programs are subsidy policies funded from state parimutuel tax revenue designed to promote regional race horse breeding and ownership. At issue is an ongoing debate concerning the effectiveness of alternative policies. Empirical results indicate that incentive programs have a positive economic effect, but gains to Thoroughbred breeders can be obtained by reallocating tax revenue to non-restricted purses. A policy allocating tax revenue to non-restricted purses shifts yearling demand and increases prices, while breeder subsidies shift only the supply function and therefore lower prices. Consequently, breeder revenues increase in response to a policy that favors non-restricted purses over subsidies.

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Identification of a Major Gene Regulating Complex Social Behavior

Science ◽

10.1126/science.1065247 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 295 (5553) ◽

pp. 328-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 225

Author(s):

M. J. B. Krieger

Keyword(s):

Social Behavior ◽

Major Gene ◽

Complex Social Behavior

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Economic Analysis and the Shaping of Public Policy: A 1995 Farm Bill Perspective

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics ◽

10.1017/s1074070800009408 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 12-23

Author(s):

Patrick O'Brien

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Rural Development ◽

Economic Analysis ◽

Economic Models ◽

Farm Policy ◽

Farm Bill ◽

Role Of Government ◽

Traditional Process ◽

Government Efficiency

AbstractThe 1995 Farm Bill debate proved different than many economists expected. It was overwhelmingly budget-driven. Few early concerns about the role of government, efficiency, equity, competitiveness, environment, rural development, and food were addressed. Economic analysis played a different role than anticipated. Models of who and how farm policy is made proved misleading; the debate circumvented the traditional process. Economic models were used more to perform budget accounting than substantive analysis. And their substantive analyses often failed to capture the attention of policymakers. Hence, while a reformist economist's dream, the bill leaves as many issues unanswered as it addresses.

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