Fiona Scott Morton image

Fiona Scott Morton

4 Votes

Yale

  • New Haven, CT

About

  • Theodore Nierenberg Professor of Economics
  • Founder and Director of the Thurman Arnold Project Yale
  • Member, American Economic Review Board of Editors

Voting History

US

Supermarket Merger

Question A: The FTC is opposed to Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons. Critics argue that with sufficient divestitures, the deal would be consistent with past FTC policies.

Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons would lead to substantially higher grocery prices and/or lower product quality/services for customers of the two companies in locations where both are present.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Strongly Agree
9
Uncertain
4
Comment: If both stores are in the same geography then they compete head to head.
Question B: Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons would have a substantially negative effect on workers at the two companies in locations where both are present.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Uncertain
8
Uncertain
5
Comment: If the workers have enough specialized skills and face moving costs, this could be the case. The answer depends on the evidence.
US

Prescription Drugs

Question A: Allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies will lead to a substantial reduction in the costs of prescription drugs for US retirees.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree
5
Agree
5
Comment: It isn’t clear how much expenditure will be represented in the drugs being negotiated.
Question B: Allowing imports of medicines from Canada will lead to a substantial reduction in the costs of prescription drugs for US consumers without compromising safety.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Strongly Disagree
10
Agree
5
Comment: The Canadians will ban such imports to stop their own prices from rising.
Question A: A tolling program for New York City is out for public consultation with proposed charges on vehicles entering the central business district of Manhattan summarized here: https://new.mta.info/document/129191

The proposed tolls on vehicles entering the central business district of Manhattan are likely to lead to a substantial reduction in traffic congestion in the targeted area.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Strongly Agree
10
Agree
5
Comment: we have seen this experiment in other cities and it has worked well.
Question B: The proposed tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan are likely to lead to a substantial increase in traffic congestion just outside the central business district, above 60th Street, in the outer boroughs and New Jersey.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Uncertain
7
Uncertain
4
Comment: There is no obvious means of transferring freight or passengers at this border.
US

Economic Sanctions and Aid

Question A: The economic and financial sanctions against Russia are substantially limiting its ability to wage war on Ukraine.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree
5
Uncertain
4
Comment: Some critical goods are blocked, other sanctions do not stop flows, but raise the cost of trade and commerce , lowering net gains to Russia.
Question B: In the absence of continuing flows of Western economic aid, Ukraine's wartime economy will be substantially compromised.
Vote Confidence Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Strongly Agree
9
Strongly Agree
7
Comment: Ukraine is small compared to Russia and therefore needs external aid.