UP Links 07 January 2013

+ Brandon Fuller

Brain Drain or Brain Gain?

Is the brain drain reversing? This column argues that increasing numbers of foreign-educated and economic emigrants are returning home. Evidence suggests that the best of the bunch bring with them strong corporate governance practises and an appetite for internationalisation. Through this ‘brain gain’, the return of skilled professionals boosts emerging markets’ economies.

Mark Kleiman on Reducing Drunken Violence

We could easily make substantial reductions in alcohol-related violence – and accidents, and health damage to drinkers – with a few straightforward and administratively feasible policy changes without major unwanted side-effects.

Peter Tatian on Rent Control

The conclusion seems to be that rent stabilization doesn’t do a good job of protecting its intended beneficiaries—poor or vulnerable renters—because the targeting of the benefits is very haphazard. A study of rent stabilization in Cambridge, for example, concluded that “the poor, the elderly, and families—the three major groups targeted for benefits of rent control—were no more likely to be found in controlled than uncontrolled units.” And, as noted earlier, those in uncontrolled units tend to pay higher rents, so they are actually hurt by rent control.

Mark Lynas on GM Crops

Before Borlaug died in 2009 he spent many years campaigning against those who for political and ideological reasons oppose modern innovation in agriculture. To quote: “If the naysayers do manage to stop agricultural biotechnology, they might actually precipitate the famines and the crisis of global biodiversity they have been predicting for nearly 40 years.”

Matt Yglesias on Accessory Dwellings

Compared to 50 or 100 years ago, a much larger share of Americans are either childless or empty nesters. Families that do have kids have fewer kids on average. There are more single people. Under the circumstances, it’s extremely sensible to re-purpose certain kinds of older structures as multiple dwellings. But the prevailing legal climate in most places is fairly hostile to this.

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