The American economy in the 1980's

Conclusion There are many things that could distort or completely change the picture that has been sketched of the U.S. economy in the 1980's. War and major technological innovations are two that come immediately to mind. A quick and unexpected reversal of the trends that form the basis of the picture could also, although this seems very unlikely. Or new and unanticipated socio-psychological trends could be generated which would result in a different picture than the one presented. Perhaps it appears that I have stuck my neck out in this discussion. If you think that, you are wrong; I am in a can't-lose situation. If I am right, I can always point to my statements of 1978. Since the anticipations of this paper cannot be fully judged for at least a decade, I am safe even if I am wrong. In ten years nobody except me will remember what I said today, and even I may not. Presidential Address to the Sixth Annual Atlantic Economic Conference, October 11–14, 1978, Washington, D.C.     

On vertical control in monopolistic competition

This paper demonstrates that vertical restraints are profitably imposed by a manufacturer or wholesaler who has some market power and whose product is sold in a monopolistically competitive downstream market. Simple conditions are developed under which a price floor (resale price maintenance) or a price ceiling is profitable, and under which private incentive for a restraint is sufficient for its social desirability. Where demand elasticities are constant, observed vertical price floors are always welfare-improving but profitable price ceilings may decrease welfare. In the special case of the CES-aggregate-surplus specification with competitive conjectures, price ceilings are profitable and welfare-decreasing.     

The effects of government housing policies in a vintage filtering model

Long-run (and short-run) effects of low-income government housing policies are examined, in a model that treats housing as a durable good which declines in quality over time. Short-run and long-run market equilibria are characterized, rent subsidies are analyzed in detail, and results for other policies are presented.     

Energy conservation in the retail sector

A survey of 638 randomly selected retail establishments was undertaken in Florida during the Summer of 1977. Data were collected about temperature and lighting levels and also executive attitudes about energy conservation. Analysis of survey data indicates the proportion of establishments outside Federal temperature and lighting guidelines. Analysis also provides a basis for suggested energy conservation programs in the retail sector. Potential energy savings in the sector are estimated.     

Car-sharing organizations: The size of the market segment and revealed change in mobility behavior

Car-sharing organizations (CSO) have recently spread throughout central European cities and currently have 20000 members. They lower individual fixed costs of car availability change the incentive structure of private vehicle use by transforming nearly all costs into variable costs. A survey of all current Austrian CSO members is used to identify the characteristics significant of members. A procedure is proposed to quantify urban local market segment potentials and is applied to two residential areas. The net impact of CSOs depends on how the new incentive structure changes mobility behavior. A controlled experiment of voluntary new members was carried out to compare pre-membership and membership trip structure and modal split. Results indicate a substantial reduction of aggregate private vehicle mileage. While the share of trips by car is constant, changes in trip length are observed, with there being different changes for households which previously owned a car and those which did not. Combining behavior impact with market segment size results in the quantification of emission reduction and car ownership reduction (land use demand) due to car-sharing, which is a decentralized demand-side transport policy.     

Union militancy and left‐wing leadership on London Underground

The article provides evidence from case study research into trade union organisation and activity on the London Under‐ground during the 1990s. It explores the extent to which left‐wing political leadership influenced the collectivisation and mobilisation of workers in an adversarial direction, and whether or not this militant trade unionism was self‐defeating compared with a more moderate approach.