Insurance and Societal Vulnerability to Hurricanes

In this paper, Professor Sutter analyzes the sources of growing hurricane vulnerability in U.S. Atlantic and Gulf counties since 1950. The analysis specifically focuses on policy interventions in insurance markets, or states with 'hurricane pool' residual market mechanisms. He concludes that there is a significant role for insurance subsidies as driving coastal population growth in hurricane-prone areas.

The Market for Hurricane Mitigation

In this paper, Professor Sutter explores how regulations designed to improve mitigation taken against catastrophes interact with decision making behavior among residents, and may actually reduce the overall amount of protection taken against disasters.He further argues that a different regulatory regime that would better allow market incentives to work may actually improve the quality of disaster mitigation throughout dangerous areas.

Quality Assurance by the Public Sector

Economic View: It's Hard to Thaw a Frozen Market

In this New York Times article, Tyler Cowen discusses the liquidity problem that is plaguing the financial system. "The American economy is suffering from an old conundrum: that liquidity is there when you don't need it, but missing when you do. The results have been a form of financial gridlock."

Making Hurricane Response More Effective

In this policy comment Professor Horwitz compares the relative effectiveness of Wal-Mart, the US Coast Guard, and FEMA in the hours and days after Katrina made landfall and pulls out policy implications about how to better engage the public and private sectors after future disasters.

Delivering the Goods: Lessons Learned in Disaster Response

As the 1000-day anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, many wonder exactly when the Gulf Coast will be back to normal, and why the recovery process has moved so slowly. With hurricane season 2008 quickly approaching, it's a good time to look at the lessons learned from the most expensive natural disaster in history. The Mercatus Center at George Mason University will host a discussion on the effective disaster response from the public and private sectors.

Economic Turbulence: A Look at Change in the American Economy

Dr. Julia Lane, from the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center, will share some of her research and experience using large scale datasets in analyzing our volatile economy. By focusing on specific industry sectors, the number of jobs in the economy, and the effects of market turbulence on worker's wages and career paths, Dr. Lane analyzes the complex nature of the economy and labor markets.  

Enter the Dragon

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University will host Dr. Christopher Lingle, visiting professor at the Institute for International Studies at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok to explore the economic and institutional successes and shortcomings of Chinese development, and to address future challenges they face.

Past, Present and Future: Monetary Policy

Monetary policy is developing and changing right before our eyes. These past few weeks the Federal Reserve Board has acted in ways it never before had and this has left some questions about the future of monetary policy. To address some of these concerns, the Mercatus Center is hosting a three day course on the past present and future of monetary policy.

Sovereign Wealth Funds: A Primer

Over the past few months sovereign wealth funds have been getting a lot of attention. This course will help to clarify what a sovereign wealth fund is and what political and economic implications they pose.

The New Knowledge Economy: Increasing Competitiveness in the Golden State

Bruce Yandle of Clemson University will discuss the challenge California faces during this transformation and how it compares to other states in the Union. He will also share strategies California policy makers might pursue to preserve and enhance economic growth while ensuring opportunities for greater prosperity for all Californians.

The Games Economists Play: Interactive Public Policy

Dr. Antony Davies of Duquesne University will conduct an interactive “economic experiment” to engage participants in understanding the interconnectedness of citizens, public policy, and the economy.   This particular experiment will allow participants to observe how public services such as health care and education affect the decisions that constituents make about their lives and community.