Tag Archives: efficiency
Health System Efficiency: Saving Money Can Save Lives Too
It turns out that having a more efficient health care system is not just about sustainability or bean counting – it also can save lives.
The case for taxing basic groceries
Economists frequently argue that taxing basic groceries is a good idea – for example, see these papers/posts making the case for taxing food in the US, Canada, and New Zealand.
The concrete impacts of taxes
Between 1695 and 1851, the English government levied a tax on windows. The window tax was relatively easy to administer. A person's tax liability could be calculated by counting their windows. It had progressive elements. People with higher incomes had larger houses, and more windows, thus paid more in taxes. Houses with fewer than 10 (later […]
Does Christmas Really Create Deadweight Loss?
"I want a baby doll and a waterproof [coat] with a hood and a pair of gloves and a toffee apple and a gold penny and a silver sixpence and a long toffee." Annie Howard, Christmas 1911. In 1993, Joe Waldfogel asked his undergraduates to estimate the total amount paid by the gift-givers for all […]
Does vote swapping increase efficiency?
Liberal voters in rural Alberta, Conservative voters in central Ottawa, and Green Party supporters across the country have one thing in common: their votes are almost certain to have no impact on the outcome of the Canadian election. Vote swapping websites offer these voters some hope of political power. A voter can register at votepair.ca or other […]
Worthwhile Canadian Initiative 
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