Although three missions are scheduled to depart for Mars during the next several weeks, we have not yet established who owns outer space property.…
The Mystery of the Artless Heist
When the ownership rights of a $3.1 million John Constable painting are unclear, no one can buy or sell, display, or conserve it.…
The Pitch That’s An Airline Problem
When you think about shrinking airline seats, you could consider pitch and width, but really the problem is all about property rights.…
The Economy Where Black is Banned
Like Turkmenistan and Zimbabwe, wherever property rights are unpredictable, we can assume that we have a command economy.…
Why Meteorite Ownership Matters
While it can be tough to decide who owns a meteorite, in China and the U.S., those “intergalactic” property rights matter since they determine who profits.…
How a Chicken Could Decide Where Your Drone Will Fly
Thinking of drone regulations for deliveries from firms like Domino’s, we can decide if we have property rights above our homes that limit where they fly.…
Weekly Roundup: From the Diner’s Dilemma to Lost Labor
This week’s economic news summary includes the diner’s dilemma and marginal analysis, property rights in outer space, the Phillip’s Curve and unemployment.…
It’s Time for Outer Space Lawyers
Now that the technology will soon exist to mine asteroids and profit from them, property rights in outer space have become a relevant legal issue.…
Weekly Roundup: From Skyscraper Shadows to Trendy Foods
This week’s everyday economics includes property rights, trade, creative destruction, entitlements, tradeoffs, conservation, externalities, price, and markets.…
How to Deal With Skyscraper Shadows
Whenever a new skyscraper is built, we can ask whether its shadow violates our property rights when it eliminates the sunlight in a city’s parks.…