Alex Tabarrok

Virginia

Prof of economics at George Mason, co-founder of the online education platform https://t.co/yocRRym80n. Advisor to firms, incl MultiversX, TEAL, Bluechip, 0L Network +

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Articles

The lessons of Operation Warp Speed

1 month ago | hypertext.niskanencenter.org | Alex Tabarrok

This post summarizes “Operation Warp Speed: Negative and Positive Lessons for New Industrial Policy,” by Alex Tabarrok, forthcoming in Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization. It was written for the Law of Abundance project at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Economy and Society. Operation Warp Speed (OWS) stands as one of the most successful government initiatives in recent history, delivering Covid-19 vaccines in record time through an unprecedented public-private partnership.
Manufacturing and Trade

1 month ago | fee.org | Alex Tabarrok

It has become popular in some circles to argue that trade—or, in the more “sophisticated” version, that the dollar’s reserve-currency status—undermines US manufacturing. In reality, there is little support for this claim. Let’s begin with some simple but often overlooked points. The US is a manufacturing powerhouse. We produce $2.5 trillion of value-added in manufacturing output, more than ever before in history.
Why Do Domestic Prices Rise with Tariffs?

2 months ago | fee.org | Alex Tabarrok

Many people think they understand why domestic prices rise with tariffs—domestic producers take advantage of reduced competition to jack up prices and increase their profits. The explanation seems cynical and sophisticated, and it’s not entirely wrong, but it misses deeper truths. Moreover, this “explanation” makes people think that an appropriate response to domestic firms raising prices is price controls and threats, which would make things worse.
My Weekly Reading for February 9, 2025

Feb 9, 2025 | econlib.org | David Henderson |Scott Sumner |Alex Tabarrok |Ezra Klein

by Scott Sumner, The Pursuit of Happiness, February 5, 2025. Excerpt:I recently spoke to some Bentley University students (via zoom) about my views on the Great Recession. In this post, I summarize the substance of my talk.
AI Improves Student Learning and Engagement - Marginal REVOLUTION

Jan 25, 2025 | marginalrevolution.com | Alex Tabarrok

In our paper on online education, Tyler and I wrote: One model of a future course is a super-textbook: lectures, exercises, quizzes, and grading all available on a tablet with artificial intelligence routines guiding students to lectures and exercises designed to address that student’s deficits and with human intelligence—tutors—on call on an as-needed basis, possibly […]
Who Loses from Immigration Restrictions?

Jan 24, 2025 | feeds.feedblitz.com | Alex Tabarrok

A good summary from the excellent Jeffrey Miron on the effects of the Indian Chinese Exclusion Act (repeated here, no indent):A long-standing concern about immigration is that it might reduce job opportunities for native workers:In 1882, the US government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned laborers born in China from entering the United States and prevented individuals born in China already residing in the United States from obtaining citizenship or reentering the country.
Prediction markets and beyond

Nov 22, 2024 | a16zcrypto.com | Alex Tabarrok |Scott Kominers |Sonal Chokshi

with @atabarrok @skominers @smc90We’ve heard a lot about the premise and the promise of prediction markets for a long time, but they finally hit the main stage with the most recent election. So what worked (and didn’t) this time? Are they better than pollsters, journalists, domain experts, superforecasters?
China's Libertarian Medical City

Nov 9, 2024 | marginalrevolution.com | Alex Tabarrok

You’ve likely heard of Prospera, the private city in Honduras established under the ZEDE (Zone for Employment and Economic Development) law, which has drawn global investment for medical innovation. The current Honduran government is trying to break its contracts and evict Prospera from Honduras.
Prediction Markets for the Win

Nov 7, 2024 | marginalrevolution.com | Alex Tabarrok

The prediction markets predicted the election outcome more accurately and more quickly than polls or other forecasting methods, just as expected from decades of research. In this election, however, many people discounted the prediction markets because of large trades on Polymarket. Paul Krugman, for example, wrote:Never mind the prediction markets, which are thin and easily manipulated. None of that was true but perhaps that was par for the course.
What is the Best-Case Scenario for a Trump Presidency?

Nov 6, 2024 | marginalrevolution.com | Alex Tabarrok

The economy is strong and Trump has a significant opportunity to simply take credit for that if he avoids major disruptions. While he must fulfill some of his campaign promises, people voted for Trump not for his policies per se. Trump has leeway. No one will accuse him of flip-flopping. While these are not my first-best policies, Trump won against astounding media and elite opposition and an attempted assassination.