Monthly Archives: November 2015

If sugar pills are outlawed, only outlaws will have sugar pills

The UK’s National Health service is considering banning Homeopathy (though it’s not clear whether “ban” in this context means “forbid entirely” or just “refuse to pay for”. For those who don’t know this, here’s the deal: there’s absolutely no good

If sugar pills are outlawed, only outlaws will have sugar pills

The UK’s National Health service is considering banning Homeopathy (though it’s not clear whether “ban” in this context means “forbid entirely” or just “refuse to pay for”. For those who don’t know this, here’s the deal: there’s absolutely no good

Review of Morality, Competition, and the Firm

Here’s a useful review of Joseph Heath’s terrific book, Morality, Competition, and the Firm. The review is spot-on, and — importantly — provides a wonderfully lucid explanation of the basics of Heath’s “market failures” view, a view that constitutes an

Review of Morality, Competition, and the Firm

Here’s a useful review of Joseph Heath’s terrific book, Morality, Competition, and the Firm. The review is spot-on, and — importantly — provides a wonderfully lucid explanation of the basics of Heath’s “market failures” view, a view that constitutes an

Workers Rights and Interests in the Sharing Economy

What does the future of work hold for the rights and interests of workers? The piece below looks at the benefits of the “on-demand” or “sharing” economy for those who work in it. The key question: of the various rights

Workers Rights and Interests in the Sharing Economy

What does the future of work hold for the rights and interests of workers? The piece below looks at the benefits of the “on-demand” or “sharing” economy for those who work in it. The key question: of the various rights

Detroit Businesses: Stepping Up to Fix Rape Kit Backlog

This is a story about a business community stepping up to help fix a shortcoming at a public agency. Plenty of fodder for discussion, here. Is this action an example of “CSR” (corporate social responsibility)? If so, in which sense?

Detroit Businesses: Stepping Up to Fix Rape Kit Backlog

This is a story about a business community stepping up to help fix a shortcoming at a public agency. Plenty of fodder for discussion, here. Is this action an example of “CSR” (corporate social responsibility)? If so, in which sense?

Ethics of Hotels Blocking Personal Wi-Fi Devices

A number of merchant–customer relationships are conditioned on the customer not bringing competing products to the merchant’s premises. Movie theaters, for example, have signs prohibiting customers bringing “outside” (non-theater-provided) food and drink into the movie theater. Here, first Marriott and

Ethics of Hotels Blocking Personal Wi-Fi Devices

A number of merchant–customer relationships are conditioned on the customer not bringing competing products to the merchant’s premises. Movie theaters, for example, have signs prohibiting customers bringing “outside” (non-theater-provided) food and drink into the movie theater. Here, first Marriott and

The Value of Trust

What’s the dollar value of trust? We all realize that having people we trust around us makes life better — in fact, it makes life bearable! But trust is also crucial for business. The piece linked below contemplates the “dollar

The Value of Trust

What’s the dollar value of trust? We all realize that having people we trust around us makes life better — in fact, it makes life bearable! But trust is also crucial for business. The piece linked below contemplates the “dollar

Conflict of Interest at a Teacher’s Union

The piece linked below is, in a sense, really about corporate personhood. Unions are corporations (in the relevant sense). What the author is essentially pointing out is that the interests of the organization aren’t identical to those of its “members.”

Conflict of Interest at a Teacher’s Union

The piece linked below is, in a sense, really about corporate personhood. Unions are corporations (in the relevant sense). What the author is essentially pointing out is that the interests of the organization aren’t identical to those of its “members.”

Markets in Endangered Animal Parts

Washington state wants to do more to crack down on trafficking in parts of endangered animals, and on trinkets made out of those parts. The controversy arises with regard to possession of, and trading in, antiques that were made from,

Markets in Endangered Animal Parts

Washington state wants to do more to crack down on trafficking in parts of endangered animals, and on trinkets made out of those parts. The controversy arises with regard to possession of, and trading in, antiques that were made from,

Car Manufacturers Dealt DMCA Setback by U.S. Copyright Office

As we noted earlier (see link below), U.S. automakers have been invoking the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to claim that modifying the code that controls, e.g., your car’s fuel injection system is a violation of copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office,

Car Manufacturers Dealt DMCA Setback by U.S. Copyright Office

As we noted earlier (see link below), U.S. automakers have been invoking the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to claim that modifying the code that controls, e.g., your car’s fuel injection system is a violation of copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office,

DoL vs Consignment Shop: Are Consignor-Volunteers Employees?

This Wall Street Journal op-ed is an interesting illustration of the changing nature of employment and the disagreements emerging from the change. The writer is an entrepreneur who organizes consignment sales events for used baby clothes. Her business, Rhea Lana’s,

DoL vs Consignment Shop: Are Consignor-Volunteers Employees?

This Wall Street Journal op-ed is an interesting illustration of the changing nature of employment and the disagreements emerging from the change. The writer is an entrepreneur who organizes consignment sales events for used baby clothes. Her business, Rhea Lana’s,