About
- Theodore Nierenberg Professor of Economics
- Founder and Director of the Thurman Arnold Project Yale
- Member, American Economic Review Board of Editors
Voting History
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 |
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Comment: If both stores are in the same geography then they compete head to head.
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
Comment: If the workers have enough specialized skills and face moving costs, this could be the case. The answer depends on the evidence.
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
Comment: It isn’t clear how much expenditure will be represented in the drugs being negotiated.
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
Comment: The Canadians will ban such imports to stop their own prices from rising.
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
Comment: we have seen this experiment in other cities and it has worked well.
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
Comment: There is no obvious means of transferring freight or passengers at this border.
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
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.
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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 |
---|---|---|---|
Comment: Ukraine is small compared to Russia and therefore needs external aid.
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