The Economics Could Favor Us

The Economics of US Civil War Conscription

US conscription in the Civil War is analyzed. Conscription was designed to gain federal control of enlistments, leaving state and local governments much of the fiscal and administrative responsibility for raising troops. Due to the hiring of substitutes, the payment of a fee to avoid service (commutation), and community-provided funds, only 2% of those who served were conscripted. Theory sugges...

How economics could extend the scope of ethical discourse.

Ethical discourse is typically inconclusive, and with good reason. But this inconclusiveness is a distinct disadvantage when it comes to helping publicly accountable policy-makers in the health care system provide an ethical justification for their decisions. It is suggested that instead of ending with platitudinous statements such as that a balance has to be struck between the rival ethical co...

Could technology help us tackle the obesity crisis?

Technological changes in the last century have brought about profound change in the types and amounts of foods that people consume and the amount of physical activity in which they engage. One result has been a dramatic (and continuing) increase in bodyweight; at present, 2.1 billion people are overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m) worldwide, and 700 million are clinically obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m). Overweight ...

Are health economics making us sick?

Can behavioural economics make us healthier?

Behavioural economics is becoming increasingly popular as a way to improve public health. George Loewenstein and colleagues point out some of the pitfalls and warn that it cannot be used as a substitute for conventional policies to tackle fundamental problems.