Author Archive | Todd Zywicki

Paul Krugman writes: The truth is that given the state of American politics, the way the Senate works is no longer consistent with a functioning government. Senators themselves should recognize this fact and push through changes in those rules, including eliminating or at least limiting the filibuster. This is something they could and should do, […]

This article sent to me by my Canadian ex-pat colleague Michael Krauss pretty much speaks for itself: ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week in the United States. Deputy premier Kathy Dunderdale confirmed the treatment at a news conference Tuesday, but would not reveal the location of […]

Jonathan’s link to Pete Leeson’s article on the Trial By Ordeal (the full article itself is fascinating and fun) raises a point that I stress when talking to students about crime and deterrence in law and economics–whether criminal punishment serves as an effective deterrent actually depends on whether it is perceived as accurate/truth-revealing and outcomes […]

In the wake of the Obama-Alito showdown, I am reminded of an event that passed a decade ago that was little remarked on at the time.  In fact, I just learned about it recently, having read it in a book.  Few remember that NO Justices attended President Clinton’s State of the Union address in 2000.  […]

Check out this order from Bankruptcy Judge Bohm in the Southern District of Texas: Notice and Order Regarding Motions to Lift Stay ______________________________________________________________________________ The Attorney who signs a Motion to Lift Stay must personally appear in Court at all hearings relating to the motion unless an agreed order has been filed with the Clerk of […]

Russ Roberts explains the financial crisis via rap video.

The guys at the “Only Good Movies Blog” have asked me to participate in their “Movies and the Masses” feature.  I was chosen–in the words of the blog’s proprietor–because they asked “random” people to answer a few questions about movies (how’s that for credentials).  Anyway, my choices are here. In looking back over my choices, […]

Law Professor Charles E. Rounds, Jr., has a sharply-worded call for a return to the basics in law teaching on the Pope Center’s website–more Socratic method and focus on traditional law school subjects.  Here’s a snippet but it is well-worth reading the whole thing: Common law, of which agency and trust are critical components, is […]

I have a column in the Wall Street Journal today on the subject of proposed interventions to regulate credit card interchange fees, “Will Congress Take Another Swipe at Credit Cards?“

Mike Rappaport has a nifty little post (taking off an earlier post by Tom Smith) on Leo Strauss and the Straussians.  I’ve never fully understood the intramural battle among the Straussians, but this seems like a useful roadmap.  I’ll confess that I wasn’t even aware that there was a Midwestern Straussian school. I know little […]

The folks at the “Only Good Movies Blog” have invited me to participate in their “Movies and the Masses” feature, where they ask “random” people to answer some movie questions.  My answers are here. Reviewing my answers, one thing is clear: I don’t think that anyone will ever accuse me of being a film snob.

The DOJ has announced that it is detailing the the South Carolina US Attorneys Office the DOJ Voting Rights Section Chief who filed the lawsuit against the New Black Panthers Party last year, which was later dismissed by Obama Administration political appointees.  A DOJ spokesman said that the reassignment “had nothing to do with the […]

Ted Frank, formerly of AEI,has started up a new consumer protection organization called “The Center for Class Action Fairness.”  This is a worthwhile enterprise.  The purpose of the organization is to protect consumers from collusive and unfair settlements of class action cases, especially cases that generate massive fees for class counsel with trivial benefits to […]

Starting tomorrow (Tuesday Dec 8) and continuing Wednesday, Truth on the Market will be presenting a symposium on the topic of credit card interchange fees.  I’ll be participating along with a group of very distinguished economists and law professors.  This is one of the most interesting issues in consumer payments that I’ve looked at. Here’s […]

My friend Grant Bosse has recently announced his candidacy for New Hampshire’s District 00 congressional seat.  The world first learned of the district’s existence when the White House reported that a large number of jobs were saved in the district as a result of the stimulus legislation.  Bosse’s platform is simple–to bring back the 2800 […]