Complete issue (4.9MB)

Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Bad by Carrie Conaway
Pharmaceutical firms—and society—depend on patent protection to foster the development of new drugs. But patents also raise prices and reduce access by delaying generic competition.
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Taxing Habits by Phineas Baxandall
An American tradition since the Puritans, “sin” taxes on tobacco and alcohol discourage harmful consumption and raise revenue, but they also fall disproportionately on the poor.
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Observations
Using vegetable oil to reduce the environmental problems from diesel fuel; how coupon clippers help the rest of us pay less for our cereal.
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Issues in Economics by E. Matthew Quigley
Budget crises in the six New England states have prompted spending cuts, leaving taxpayers to ask, “Where does the state spend our money?”
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Perspective on Payments by Joanna Stavins
One reason the U.S. has been slow to move from paper checks to electronic payments is that the benefits for individual users are less than for the payments system as a whole.
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Letter from Somerville, Massachusetts by Phineas Baxandall
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