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Mercatus Policy Series

Lessons from Business Improvement Districts: Building on Past Successes Robert Nelson, Kyle McKenzie, Eileen Norcross July 2, 2008 This paper provides basic background information on the history, legal framework, and past successes of Business Improvement Districts.

From BIDs to RIDs Robert Nelson, Kyle McKenzie, Eileen Norcross May 27, 2008 This Policy Comment describes the general problem faced by both business and residential neighborhoods in urban areas - the collective action problem. It then provides examples of failed development attempts of the past and how Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have overcome similar problems and succeeded. It then proposes a specific legal mechanism to establish Residential Improvement Districts (RIDs) and discusses the precedents for RIDs, as well as similar proposals. It concludes by highlighting how the flexibility of RIDs would fit many locations and could remedy varying problems.

Road Home Eileen Norcross, Anthony Skriba May 16, 2008 Louisiana's Road Home Program attempted to micromanage the decisions of potential returnees after Hurricane Katrina. In doing so program designers hoped to better decide where and how returnees would resettle, but these policies have actually resulted in much less control. The study finds that in post-disaster situations it is often better to reduce overt controls since there are strong benefits from speed and clear eligibility criteria as residents try to determine how to rebuild their lives amid uncertainty.

The Never-Ending Emergency: Trends in Supplemental Spending Veronique de Rugy April 14, 2008 In this Mercatus Policy Series paper, Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Veronique de Rugy takes a look at the use of supplemental spending over the last 25 years. The paper addresses the budget rules that lawmakers are subject to, it looks at trends in supplemental spending, demonstrates how the White House and Congress have abused their powers to request and pass supplemental bills, and also offers four different and complementary ways to fix the supplemental spending process.

Using Neuroeconomics Experiments to Study Tort Reform Kevin McCabe, Laura Inglis November 30, 2007 Mercatus Scholar Kevin McCabe and Laura Inglis provide an overview of the tort process and introduce a scientific approach for evaluating tort reform proposals. In this Mercatus Policy Series, they describe an experiment that models the tort process and attempt to identify factors that promote pre-trial settlements.

The Community Development Block Grant: Does It Work? Eileen Norcross November 28, 2007 Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Eileen Norcross examines the effectiveness and necessity of the Community Development Block Grant program in bringing economic revitailization to blighted communities.

State Power, Entrepreneurship, and Coffee: The Rwandan Experience Karol Boudreaux October 31, 2007 In the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the new government lifted tight controls on the coffee market.  As a result of increasing income and new opportunities for entrepreneurship, Rwandans are better able to care for themselves and their families.

Ensuring Disaster Daniel Sutter September 12, 2007 Natural disasters are called "Acts of God," but the severity of their impact depends upon many factors, including state insurance regulations. Insurance provides voluntary, contractual disaster relief - insurers agree to pay disaster losses in exchange for payment of premiums. In the United States, state commissions regulate entry, exit, and premiums, and contractual forms in the insurance industry.

The Housing Voucher Choice Program Emily Schaeffer August 29, 2007 This paper addresses the provision of public housing in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After addressing the situation prior to Hurricane Katrina, it evaluates the policy options available to public housing authorities. This paper finds the Housing Voucher Choice Program is the mechanism most capable of serving the short-term goal of relief assistance and long-term goal of creating a housing program that best serves the needs of the community.

Power to the Neighborhoods Sanford Ikeda, Peter Gordon August 28, 2007 Power to the Neighborhoods by Sanford Ikeda and Peter Gordon explores an innovative idea for recovery: allow communities to decentralize in order to stimulate economic growth. This Policy Comment explores how such a plan could be uniquely suited to post-Katrina New Orleans.

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