Economics of Regulation and Antitrust [Hardcover]

Joseph E. Harrington Jr. (Author), John M. Vernon (Author), W.Kip Viscusi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 2005 | ISBN-10: 026222075X | ISBN-13: 978-0262220750 | Edition: fourth edition

This new edition of the leading text on business and government focuses on the insights economic reasoning can provide in analyzing regulatory and antitrust issues. Departing from the traditional emphasis on institutions, Economics of Regulation and Antitrust asks how economic theory and empirical analyses can illuminate the character of market operation and the role for government action and brings new developments in theory and empirical methodology to bear on these questions.The fourth edition has been substantially revised and updated throughout, with new material added and extended discussion of many topics. Part I, on antitrust, has been given a major revision to reflect advances in economic theory and recent antitrust cases, including the case against Microsoft and the Supreme Court's Kodak decision. Part II, on economic regulation, updates its treatment of the restructuring and deregulation of the telecommunications and electric power industries, and includes an analysis of what went wrong in the California energy market in 2000 and 2001. Part III, on social regulation, now includes increased discussion of risk-risk analysis and extensive changes to its discussion of environmental regulation. The many case studies included provide students not only pertinent insights for today but also the economic tools to analyze the implications of regulations and antitrust policies in the future.The book is suitable for use in a wide range of courses in business, law, and public policy, for undergraduates as well at the graduate level. The structure of the book allows instructors to combine the chapters in various ways according to their needs. Presentation of more advanced material is self-contained. Each chapter concludes with questions and problems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rather than inundate the reader with institutional details that will soon be out of date, this impressive book provides the tools necessary to analyze current and future regulatory and antitrust issues. Its compelling set of contemporary applications should make it appealing to advanced undergraduates and a useful reference for graduate students."--Michael Greenstone, 3M Associate Professor of Economics, MIT

"How do Viscusi, Harrington, and Vernon do it? Their book keeps getting better and better. It is only 'natural' that they have a monopoly on teaching students, faculty, and policymakers the economics of regulation and antitrust." Thomas J. Kniesner , Chair and Krisher Professor, Department of Economics, Syracuse University

"How do Viscusi, Harrington and Vernon do it? Their book keeps getting better and better. It is only 'natural' that they have a monopoly on teaching students, faculty, and policymakers the economics of regulation and antitrust."--Thomas J. Kniesner, Chair and Krisher Professor, Department of Economics, Syracuse University

About the Author

Joseph E. Harrington is Professor of Economics at Johns Hopkins University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 928 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; fourth edition edition (August 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 026222075X
• ISBN-13: 978-0262220750
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Law > Business > Regulation

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Economics of regulation and antitrust, May 15, 2000

By 

Steve Erfle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Economics of Regulation and Antitrust (Hardcover)

This work provides an excellent overview of the field of regulation from an economic point of view. The primary focus is economic rather than institutional -- as a result it is more appropriate for economists than for legal scholars. Although the book does not require extensive training in economics, it does assume some formal knowledge of basic economic concepts. Since its focus is economic, little time is spent discussing legal cases surrounding many of the regulations compared with, for example, Law, Business, and Society, by McAdams, et. al.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavy life saver!, February 12, 2005

By 

A. Michshenko "AMichshenko" (Tashkent, UZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Economics of Regulation and Antitrust - 3rd Edition (Hardcover)

Seldom books on economic theory, particularly on regulation and antitrust are as clearly and professionally written as this one. A student of economics and Ph.D. hopeful, I keep this book within my hand reach at all times.

Economics of Regulation and Antitrust cites numerous antitrust and regulatory cases from American and European history and is thought provoking rather than doctrinal. The graphs are exceptionally easy to read and understand. Particularly well written are chapters on regulation of American transportation.

I continue to use this book for my research and highly recommend it to anybody who is seriously interested in understanding the logic behind regulation acts, game theory, and franchise bidding.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Regulators should read it, June 25, 2007

By 

Senn Mario - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Economics of Regulation and Antitrust (Hardcover)

Economics of Regulation and Antitrust offers a broad conclusion on Regulation and Antitrust policies. The issues are well described and easily to understand. Best suited for graduate students in Economics.