Blog Archives: March 2012

Do Mergers Reduce “Political Competition”?
March 2012

In response to my Monthly Essay in March 2012 , (“Mergers:  Are the Promoters Ahead of the Regulators?”), a colleague responded:

“I would go further myself.  I am willing to forego supposed benefits flowing from increased scale if it would mean smaller entities competing more vigorously (because there are more of them) in the economic or political marketplace.”

Read more
Renewable Energy and Alexander Hamilton
March 2012

The blog dated February 12, 2012, noted that state renewable portfolio statutes discriminate against out-of-state sources.  These state actions are, of course, doubly anti-state:  They aim their arrows at other states; and they invite federal preemption, by federal statutes or by the Commerce Clause, or both.  While their authors defend the provisions as necessary to get laws passed, the blog saw more long-term harm than good, to anyone or anything—labor, renewable energy, the environment and states themselves.

Read more