Economics of Regulation and Antitrust [Hardcover]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1995 | ISBN-10: 0262220490 | ISBN-13: 978-0262220491 | Edition: 2 Sub

This new edition of "Economics of Regulation and Antitrust" continues to place economic reasoning first and foremost in analyzing regulatory and antitrust issues. It introduces the field by stressing the economic theory and empirical analysis that provides the rationale for government intervention in the market. The focus on economic principles, however, does not exclude treatment of institutional aspects of regulation and antitrust policy, which are explored in extensive case studies on mergers, cable television, and transportation regulation, among other topics. Following two introductory chapters, the text is divided into three parts: antitrust policy, economic regulation and social regulation. Each part can be used separately for a variety of courses. Questions and problems appear at the end of almost every chapter. New topics, such as regulation of environmental tobacco smoke, have been added to the second edition, and other topics, such as pharmaceutical regulation and the new price competition in electric power, have been given entirely new treatments to reflect the changing emphases of government policy. The chapters on the airline, cable television, and telecommunications industries have been updated, and studies assessing the impact of airline deregulation on market concentration, air fares and airline safety have been revised. There are extensive reviews of important regulatory changes regarding cable television rates. And sections have been added to cover such major regulatory issues as telecommunication and the digital convergence of communications, computers and entertainment and their impact on both traditional and wireless local telephone, long distance telephone and cable television.

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"Rather than inundate the reader with institutional details that will soon be out of date, this impressive book provides the tools necessary to analyze current and future regulatory and antitrust issues.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

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

W. Kip Viscusi is George G. Allen Professor of Economics at Duke University. John M. Vernon is Professor of Economics also at Duke University. Joseph E. Harrington is Professor of Economics at Johns Hopkins University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 890 pages
• Publisher: Mit Pr; 2 Sub edition (December 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262220490
• ISBN-13: 978-0262220491
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,085,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 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.