The evaluation of policy-relevant economic research requires an ethical foundation.Classical liberal theory provides the requisite foundation for this dissertation, which usesvarious econometric tools to estimate the effects of shifting some of the property tax frombuildings to land in 15 cities...

We describe a mechanism for government taking under uncertainty that provides incentives for governments to make efficient taking decisions and for property owners to use their properties efficiently. We argue that efficiency in takings requires that governments not only pay the value of...

We describe a simple algorithm that permits the sequential (period-by-period) solution of large-scale dynamic CGE models with agents who have perfect foresight over an infinite number of periods. The algorithm requires neither any assumptions about behavior in a ?final? period nor that the base...

When urban renewal projects require that smaller parcels be assembled into a single large one, owners who hold out for higher prices may either prevent or significantly delay socially efficient redevelopment. Local governments seeking private redevelopment currently have only the choice between...

The efficiency of mechanisms to control CO2 emissions is limited by disagreement about the harm from these emissions. Thus existing emission control mechanisms require negotiated compromise regarding either the efficient price or the level of emissions to be tolerated. As an alternative to...

A decomposition of aggregate labor productivity based on internationally comparable data reveals that a high share of employment and low labor productivity in agriculture are mainly responsible for low aggregate productivity in poor countries. Using a two-sector general-equilibrium model, we...

When urban renewal requires land assembly, owners who hold out may delay or prevent efficient redevelopment. Governments that use eminent domain to take such properties might cause socially inefficient redevelopment if they underestimate the values of these properties. None of the recent...

The efficiency of mechanisms to control CO2 emissions is limited by disagreement about the harm from these emissions. Thus existing emission control mechanisms require negotiated compromise regarding either the efficient price or the level of emissions to be tolerated. As an alternative to...

Among sources of public revenue that make nations richer, the most beneficial are charges for harms, such as pollution and congestion, and charges for the private benefits from public services. Increases in the money supply sufficient to keep price changes in line with expectations are also...

Transportation improvements tend to raise property values. But how do they affect the two components of property value, land and buildings? We develop a simple model to show that transportation improvements that raise the value of land generally lower the value of existing buildings. Our model...