Global Prosperity Initiative
The Global Prosperity Initiative of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University invests in and trains scholars whose work addresses the question, "Why do some societies prosper, while others remain stagnant and poor?" Mercatus conducts research and then applies the findings to problems of international economic development as well as economic stagnation and decline in the United States.
Louisiana’s Performance in the New Knowledge Economy
Jody Lipford, Bruce YandleJune 13, 2008
This paper makes the argument that Louisiana has economic potential, but improvement will require the state to embrace fully the knowledge economy of the 21st century, a step the state as a whole has not taken, despite the progress of its metropolitan areas.
Road Home
Eileen Norcross, Anthony SkribaMay 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.
International Property Rights Index 2008
Karol BoudreauxFebruary 26, 2008
Enterprise Africa! lead researcher Karol Boudreaux comments on land titling efforts in Africa as a means of erasing the problems of poverty.
Economics in Many Lessons
Karol Boudreaux, Donald BoudreauxNovember 20, 2007
Mercatus scholars Karol and Donald Boudreaux share some positive lessons from Rwanda in this Pittsburgh Tribune-Review piece. "If you travel through Rwanda today you'll find that something nearly miraculous is happening: People who not long ago were bitter enemies are now working together to build businesses, to improve their lives and the lives of their families and to shape a new and a better future."
Ensuring Disaster
Daniel SutterSeptember 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 Political, Economic, and Social Aspects of Katrina
Peter Boettke, Emily Chamlee-Wright, Peter Gordon, Sanford Ikeda, Peter Leeson, Russell SobelSeptember 11, 2007
This paper examines the resiliency of community recovery following natural disaster. We argue that a resilient recovery requires robust economic/financial institutions, political/legal institutions, and social/cultural institutions. We find that where post-disaster resiliency has been observed, private-sector responses contributing to the health of these institutional arenas are largely responsible. Where post-disaster fragility and slowness has been observed, public-sector responses contributing to the frailty of these institutional arenas are largely the cause.
Myths of Hurricane Katrina
Daniel RothschildAugust 31, 2007
In his final installment, Daniel Rothschild comments on the local leaders in Louisiana who are driving the rebuilding process.
The Myths of Hurricane Katrina
Daniel RothschildAugust 30, 2007
In installment two of three, Dan Rothschild addresses the myth that "New Orleans" and "the Gulf Coast" are synonymous.
The Housing Voucher Choice Program
Emily SchaefferAugust 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.
The Myths of Hurricane Katrina
Daniel RothschildAugust 29, 2007
The first of three installments by Daniel Rothschild shedding light on myths about the rebuilding after Katrina. The first myth he addresses is "The main impediment to rebuilding the Gulf Coast is a lack of federal money."
