MethodLogical is now at methodlogical.wordpress.com

MethodLogical is now at methodlogical.wordpress.com

Due to some persistent technical issues we've been having with Blogger, we're now posting at methodlogical.wordpress.com. Please update your RSS feeds, etc. For the time being, our new posts will automatically be mirrored here, but you'll have to visit the new site to comment.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

MethodLogical

MethodLogical


Shout outs

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 04:16 PM PDT

In the process of looking through the research paper that underlies the Michael Clemens post I linked to, I realized that the RA for the paper was Paolo Abarcar, who is actually one of my classmates here at Michigan economics. Even better, he has a blog with a development focus, which I have added to the blogroll over on the right-hand side of the ML homepage.

Also on the brand-new blogroll list is Naman Shah, who provided an expert counterpoint to my arguments against the use of mefloquine as a malaria prophylaxis for travelers. He runs the Malaria blog, which has great links and commentary about the disease I increasingly believe may be the most important challenge in development.

If you have your own development or global health-related blog, shoot us an email and we’ll add it to the list unless you’ve already achieved major internet fame: methodlogical at gmail dot com.

 


Legalizing Bribery to Reduce Corruption?

Posted: 07 Apr 2011 09:30 PM PDT

Interesting article on Marginal Revolution suggesting that by making it legal to give a bribe (but illegal to accept one), countries could reduce corruption. Basically, by decriminalizing bribe-giving, people who were forced to bribe officials can report it without legal discourse. This asymmetry would significantly discourage officials from demanding bribes, as their risk of penalty would increase. Full text here.