My research interests are varied and cover many aspects of applied economics including industrial organisation, the economics of innovation, regulatory economics and, recently, economic demography.
Bargaining
Bilateral Bargaining with Externalities (with Catherine C. de Fontenay) (2007)
This paper provides an analysis of a non-cooperative pairwise bargaining game between agents in a...
Economic demography
Born (Again) on the First of July: Another Experiment in Birth Timing (with Andrew Leigh) (2007)
In an earlier paper (Gans and Leigh, 2006a), we analysed the effect of the introduction...
Toying with Death and Taxes: Some Lessons from Down Under (with Andrew Leigh), The Economists' Voice (2006)
Economists think many (most?) things are subject to incentives. The evidence from ''Down Under'' suggests...
Born on the First of July: An (Un)natural Experiment in Birth Timing (with Andrew Leigh) (2006)
It is well understood that government policies can distort behavior. But what is less often...
Economics of innovation
Negotiating for the Market (2009)
In a dynamic environment where underlying competition is ‘for the market,’ this paper examines what...
Innovation and Climate Change Policy (2009)
This paper examines then notion that more stringent climate change policy will induce innovation in...
Is there a market for ideas? (with Scott Stern) (2009)
This paper draws on recent work in market design to evaluate the conditions under which...
Assessing Australia's Innovative Capacity: 2007 Update (with Richard Hayes) (2008)
This report updates the Innovation Index created by Michael Porter and Scott Stern with data...
Start-Up Commercialisation Strategy and Innovative Dynamics (2007)
This paper endogenises a start-up’s choice between competitive and cooperative commercialisation in a dynamic environment....
Environmental economics
Carbon Offset Provision with Guilt-Ridden Consumers (with Vivienne Groves) (2009)
Carbon offsets can be purchased by consumers who wish to mitigate their emissions. In a...
Innovation and Climate Change Policy (2009)
This paper examines then notion that more stringent climate change policy will induce innovation in...
Financial Economics
AussieMac: Postscript (with Christopher Joye), IdeaPITCH (Postscript) (2008)
The purpose of this postscript is to review the many responses to our AussieMac proposal...
Aussie Mac: A Policy Proposal for Australia (with Christopher R. Joye) (2008)
There is a new global financial crisis emerging caused by the collapse of sub-prime lending...
H26
Did the Death of Australian Inheritance Taxes Affect Deaths? (with Andrew Leigh), Topics in Economic Analysis & Policy (2007)
In 1979, Australia abolished federal inheritance taxes. Using daily deaths data, we show that approximately...
I12
Did the Death of Australian Inheritance Taxes Affect Deaths? (with Andrew Leigh), Topics in Economic Analysis & Policy (2007)
In 1979, Australia abolished federal inheritance taxes. Using daily deaths data, we show that approximately...
Industrial organisation
Platform Siphoning (with Simon P. Anderson) (2009)
The business model of commercial-financing relies on advertisers to pay for content. Advertisers will not...
Exit Deterrence (with Martin Byford) (2009)
This paper is the first to provide a general context whereby potential entry can lead...
Can the Threat of Entry Reduce Competition? (with Martin C. Byford) (2008)
This paper is the first to provide a general context whereby potential entry can permanently...
TiVoed: The Effects of Ad-Avoidance Technologies on Broadcaster Behaviour (with Simon P. Anderson) (2008)
The business model of commercial (free-to-air) television relies on advertisers to pay for programming. Viewers...
A Comparison of Ex Ante versus Ex Post Vertical Market Supply: Evidence from the Electricity Supply Industry (with Frank A. Wolak) (2008)
This paper provides a prospective and retrospective quantitative assessment of the impact of a passive...
L94
Do Voluntary Carbon Offsets Work?, The Economists' Voice (2007)
Voluntary purchases of offsets for carbon emissions have been criticized as potentially increasing emissions. However,...
Public economics
Return to Work Credits, IdeaPITCH (2008)
This report examines policy options for parental leave and evaluates them from an economics perspective....
Q42
Do Voluntary Carbon Offsets Work?, The Economists' Voice (2007)
Voluntary purchases of offsets for carbon emissions have been criticized as potentially increasing emissions. However,...
Q58
Do Voluntary Carbon Offsets Work?, The Economists' Voice (2007)
Voluntary purchases of offsets for carbon emissions have been criticized as potentially increasing emissions. However,...
Theory of the firm
Markets for Ownership, RAND Journal of Economics (2005)
The prevailing theory of the firm demonstrates that ownership by dispensable, outside parties is inefficient...