Vol.26, No. 3, Fall 2003

Cover Story

Guys in Lab Coats

Letting Environmentalists’ Preferences Count Why do free-market thinkers turn to scientific risk analysis instead of markets to set environmental policy? by Peter Van Doren (PDF, 4 pp, 243 Kb)

Features

Law

The Case Against Plea Bargaining Government should not retaliate against individuals who exercise their right to trial by jury. by Timothy Lynch (PDF, 4 pp, 289 Kb)

In Defense of Plea Bargaining The practice is flawed, but not unconstitutional. by Timothy Sandefur (PDF, 4 pp, 242 Kb)

Environment

'Green' Firms Bearing Gifts Will “voluntary” initiatives by business and regulators improve the environment? by Thomas P. Lyon (PDF, 5 pp, 383 Kb)

Medicine

Between- vs. Within-Patent Competition Name-brand drug competition may have more effect on innovative returns and prices than generics competition. by Tomas J. Philipson and Carolanne Dai (PDF, 7 pp, 376 Kb)

Accounting

Beyond GAAP Much of today’s business world evolves around values that do not appear on balance sheets. by Robert E. Litan and Peter J. Wallison (PDF, 6 pp, 449 Kb)

Corporate Reporting Enters the Information Age XBRL will produce more effective reporting through market-based standards. by Mike Willis (PDF, 5 pp, 247 Kb)

New Technology Can Help Avoid a Second EnronThe SEC needs reporting processes for the Information Age. by R.T. McNamar (PDF, 6 pp, 289 Kb)

Regulatory Review

A Mid-Term Grade for the Bush Administration The administration has shown a strong commitment to developing more cost-effective regulations, but its commitment to federalism appears mixed. by Brian Mannix (PDF, 4 pp, 275 kb)

Tracking the Value of Regulation Can government reporting help bring rationality to regulation? by Robert W. Hahn and Erin M. Layburn (PDF, 6 pp, 247 Kb)

More Lonely Numbers Regulations should be decided by a political process, not more benefit-cost analyses. by William A. Niskanen (PDF, 15 pp, 151 Kb)

Mercatus Reports

EU Chemicals Policy | 8-Hour Ozone Standard | Dietary Ingredients and Supplements | commentary: A New Watchdog for Freddie and Fannie? (PDF, 4 pp, 312 Kb)

Briefly Noted

Is CEO Certification Credible? by Utpal Bhattacharya, Peter Groznik, and Bruce Haslem | The Benefits of Mandatory Auditor Rotation by Thomas J. Healey and Yu-Jin Kim (PDF, 4 pp, 280 Kb)

In Review

The Real Environmental Crisis, by Steven Stoft | Democracy by Decree, by Ross Sandler and David Schoenbrod | On Borrowed Time?, by John E. Tilton (PDF, 4 pp, 231 kb)

Final Word

Politicians and Magicians by Penn Jillette (PDF, 1 pp, 156 kb)