Back in January, I posted about an article that was getting some attention in my world. Megan T. Stevenson is an active researcher in the criminal-justice-and-economics literature. She argues that when you look at the published studies that use randomized control trial methods to evaluate ways of reducing crime, most of the studies don’t show a…
Pushback on Pessimism About Randomized Controlled Trials
Pushback on Pessimism About Randomized Controlled Trials
03 Jun 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, econometerics, economics of crime, law and economics Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
U.S.A. v. Karl Brandt et al.: The Doctors’ Trial
02 Jun 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, laws of war, war and peace Tags: Nazi Germany, The Holocaust, World War II

The Doctors’ Trial, officially known as United States of America v. Karl Brandt, et al., was the first of 12 subsequent Nuremberg Trials held after World War II. These trials were conducted to bring Nazi war criminals to justice for their roles in the Holocaust and other war crimes. The Doctors’ Trial specifically focused on […]
U.S.A. v. Karl Brandt et al.: The Doctors’ Trial
Trump is Convicted: What Comes Next?
01 Jun 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - USA Tags: 2016 presidential elections, 2024 presidential election
This morning, many of us are emerging from the late coverage last night after the conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felonies. I was in the courtroom for the verdict, which hit like a thunderclap (particularly after a strange snafu with the judge). The question that everyone is asking: what happens next?
Trump is Convicted: What Comes Next?
Karen Chhour Skewers The Maori Party
31 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of crime, economics of education, income redistribution, labour economics, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, poverty and inequality, property rights, Public Choice, public economics Tags: child abuse, child poverty, crime and punishment, family poverty, law and order

Article is by Chris Lynch and I have pinched this one from The BFD Blog. `ĀCT MP Karen Chhour has responded to the Maori Party’s “divisive outbursts.” Co-leader Rawiri Waititi said yesterday, ‘It’s now time for us to step comfortably into our rangatiratanga and to not give too much to this Pakeha Government with their […]
Karen Chhour Skewers The Maori Party
How Nazi war criminals fled to South America – WW2 Documentary Special
31 May 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, law and economics, laws of war, war and peace Tags: Nazi Germany, The Holocaust, World War II
‘Arguments Libertarians shouldn’t make’ with David Friedman
30 May 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, David Friedman, defence economics, economic history, economics of crime, environmental economics, history of economic thought, law and economics, liberalism, libertarianism
Professor Accuses UCLA of “Torturing” Pro-Palestinian Protesters
29 May 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, economics of education, law and economics, laws of war, Marxist economics, politics - USA, property rights, war and peace Tags: free speech, Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, political correctness, regressive left, war against terror

UCLA Professor Hannah Appel has accused the school of human rights violations amounting to “torture” in the treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters. The reason is the denial of water and food from being brought into a building being unlawfully occupied by protesters, even though the students were free to leave at any time.
Professor Accuses UCLA of “Torturing” Pro-Palestinian Protesters
Most media again ignoring incitement to violence by Te Pati Maori
29 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand
Here we have Te Pati Maori saying the revolution is here, with crossed guns as imagery. Sarah Palin got crucified by many media for merely posting an imagine of a politician in cross-hairs. Imagine an ACT MP posted something showing pistols and calling for revolution? It would lead every news story. View this post on…
Most media again ignoring incitement to violence by Te Pati Maori
Putting children first
26 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: child protection, economics of fertility
Ele Ludemann writes – Minister for Children Karen Chhour is putting children first: Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I move, That the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Social Services and Community Committee to consider the bill.
Putting children first
How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?
23 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result of his non-disclosure could even see him […]
How serious is an MP’s failure to declare $178k in donations?
Biden’s Voldemortian Theory of Privilege: The President Whose Voice Must Not Be Heard
21 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - USA Tags: 2024 presidential election

Below is my column in The Hill on the curious claim of executive privilege over the audiotape from President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur. It is the first time that I know of where the content of a presidential conversation was treated as unprivileged but not audio of the conversation claimed as […]
Biden’s Voldemortian Theory of Privilege: The President Whose Voice Must Not Be Heard
Getting Played: The Demolition of Cohen on Cross Examination Reveals “The Grift” to a New York Jury
18 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - USA Tags: 2016 presidential election, 2024 presidential election

Below is my column in Fox.com on the approaching end of the Trump trial in Manhattan. With the dramatic implosion of Michael Cohen on the stand on Thursday with the exposure of another alleged lie told under oath, even hosts and commentators on CNN are now criticizing the prosecution and doubting the basis for any […]
Getting Played: The Demolition of Cohen on Cross Examination Reveals “The Grift” to a New York Jury
HENRY ERGAS: Universities offer course in self-serving cowardice
17 May 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, economics of education, law and economics, laws of war, politics - Australia, war and peace Tags: free speech, Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, political correctness, regressive left, useful idiots, war against terror
When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge could possibly arise: to be a hypocrite one has to know…
HENRY ERGAS: Universities offer course in self-serving cowardice
Netherlands government about to be formed, per reports
16 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, labour economics, labour supply, law and economics, politics Tags: economics of immigration, The Netherlands
It is being reported (e.g., Politico, FT) that a coalition government is soon to be announced for the Netherlands, which a general election in late November. The government would consist of the following parties, with their seats noted: The far-right Freedom Party (PVV, 37), led by Geert Wilders, the center-right VVD (24), the Christian democratic/anti-establishment […]
Netherlands government about to be formed, per reports
Did Michael Cohen Commit Perjury in the Trump Trial?
16 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - USA Tags: 2016 presidential election, 2024 presidential election

Below is a slightly expanded version of my column in the New York Post on the first day of cross examination for Michael Cohen. He still has one day of cross examination ahead of him on Thursday. With the government resting after Cohen’s cross examination, I believe that an honest judge would have no alternative […]
Did Michael Cohen Commit Perjury in the Trump Trial?
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