Ideas and Explorations

Below are articles, papers, books, etc. which have demonstrated out of the box approaches and thought. They are interesting in concept, design and/or content. The ideas and explorations included here are obviously not a complete list and we are always looking for suggestions. Also check out BFT Continuing Thoughts, our Blog.

View Ideas and Explorations on:
Economics - Economic Development - Education and Youth Advocacy - Legal (Alternative Dispute Resolution - Professionalism - Policy

 

Economics

The Long-Bond Decision - Boondoggle or Smart Policy? (PDF) by TJ Costello, M.P.Aff.
In August 2005, the US Treasury announced it would once again sell 30-year bonds. A number of valid reasons were given for the return of the 30-year bond (also known as the long-bond). Interestingly, this paper, written just after Treasury Undersecretary Peter Fisher's October 31, 2001 announcement that the United States Government would suspend the sale of 30-year bonds, clearly illustrates that the long-bond should not have been suspended for the exact reasons it will be reissued. (article on the re-issue of the 30-year bond)

Economic Aspects of Personal Privacy by Hal Varian, UC Berkeley
The advent of low-cost technology for manipulating and communicating information has raised significant concerns about personal privacy. Privacy is a complex issue and can be treated from many perspectives; this whitepaper provides an overview of some of the economic issues surrounding privacy.

The Economic Trade-offs of Privacy: Exploring the Interaction of Economics and Privacy in the Formulation of Privacy Policy (PDF) by TJ Costello, M.P.Aff.
What do a civil suit, buying a book, reserving a hotel room over the internet, the USA PATRIOT Act, and assessed property values have in common? Each of these unrelated concerns has privacy and economic implications. This report shows that privacy discussion often takes place utilizing economic terminology, yet the economic tradeoffs are absent from the formulation of the final privacy policy. (University of Texas Catalog)

"When the Bounty Isn't Shared" by Rep. Barney Frank (BusinessWeek 2/27/06). Taken at face value, this is not only an interesting article but makes one think about globalization and how it is affecting the individual in the US. Now the key is if Mr. Frank's conclusion can actually bear fruit.

Out on a Limb: Look Out! Here Comes Yet Another Unrealistic Budget by Douglas Holtz-Eakin (Washington Post 2/5/06) - Holtz-Eakin's assessment offers pause and a chance to at least review current Washington thinking on the U.S. budget and this country's future.

"Repeating the Past" by William K Black (Newsday, July 7, 2002) - Dr. Black (an expert on the effects of corporate fraud) looks at the underlying causes of the recent rash of corporate frauds and scandals.

"Friedman's Legacy" by Thomas F. Siems (WSJ, July 31, 2007) - Thomas Siems is a senior economist at the FED in Dallas. Recently at a forum in Austin Texas, he gave a very open and interesting assessment on Milton Friedman's inpact on our society. His discussion followed along with his editorial in the Wall Street Journal.

From Midwest to M.T.A., Pain From Global Gamble by Charles Duhigg and Carter Dougherty (NYT 11/2/03) - How did this financial crisis get to a point where it affects all of us?  This article takes a very complicated mess and delivers an explanation the "Average Joe" can follow.

Blue Skies and Green Yards, All Lost to Red Ink by Michael Moss and Andrew Jacobs (NYT 4/11/2004) - This article pre-dates the current housing debacle but after reading it you will ask how we didn't see it coming.

 

Economic Development

Growth Management and Open Space Preservation: Managing urban sprawl and protecting open space have become public policy issues of increasing concern. Abundant open space is a defining characteristic of the United States. It has affected the nation's history and cultural identity. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) approached Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Robert Patterson of the University of Texas to look at the issue. Assisted by a highly motivated group of researchers, they published two Policy Research Projects exploring this topic:

OPEN SPACES - Ways to Conserve Wyoming's Open Lands, a project organized by Governor Jim Geringer

"Today, the primary human impact on Western land has shifted from resource development to urban development and subdivisions that can reduce and fragment agricultural land and open spaces... This guidebook is a working document for landowners and local government officials... [T]he goal of this document is to increase awareness of the options available and to provide information about tools to help deal with these issues."

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Education and Youth Advocacy

School Finance, Spatial Income Segregation, and the Nature of Communities (PDF) by Thomas Nechyba, Duke University
While the issue of school finance has been studied extensively, relatively little effort has been devoted to understanding how school finance policies impact the nature of communities.

Rebuilding the American Dream Machine from The Economist - Higher Education and the Poor

"Until the 1960s, a good case could be made that the best deal in American tertiary education was to be found not in Cambridge or Palo Alto, but in Harlem." CUNY was once an elite institution of higher learning and is quickly becoming so again. The Economist looks at CUNY's approach to educating the economically disadvantaged and the success it has recently encountered.

Appraisal Limits: A Wrong Turn on the Road to Property Tax Relief by Dan Casey and Bob Popinski

"Property taxes in Texas have risen dramatically over the last decade, focusing legislative attention on possible methods of slowing the increases in property taxes and lowering the overall property tax burden. One method receiving significant attention is limiting increases in the appraised value of property." While not a direct education issue, in Texas this policy topic is the cornerstone behind recent education policy debates.

Going to the Head of the Class by Jane Porter (BusinessWeek 1/8/07) - Interesting article on the PhD Project, a "nonprofit that encourages minority business professionals to earn PhDs and go on to become professors."

For Parents Seeking a Choice, Charter Schools Prove More Popular than Vouchers by Sam Dillon (NY Times, July 13, 2005) - This article offers a look at charter schools and examines why some believe they are a better option than a voucher program. The article does raise some questions and does have a few argumentative statements which helps to continue the voucher debate.

Chartering A Better Education by Jamie Story
Ms. Story's article offers a different look at Charter Schools and how, as she claims, "Charter Schools Positively Impact Performance in Traditional Schools." While on the surface this article is simplistic, a deeper read is sure to raise many questions.

College athletics: Look beyond the complaints by Edwin Dorn
Dr. Dorn looks inside college athletics and offers some distinct points against "the flood of polemics opining about how big-time college sports are corrupting higher education," and presents some interesting suggestions to improve the collegiate athletic experience.

Teaching Leadership by Dr. Howard T. Prince Dr. Prince takes a hard look at the growing field of leadership training. "If we ignore what we teach about leadership, we risk creating disengaged cynics."

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus written by Francis Pharcellus Church (1897) "Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial."

 

Legal / Alternative Dispute Resolution

Pre-litigation Mediation as a Privacy Policy: Exploring the Interaction of Economics and Privacy by TJ Costello, M.P.Aff.

Pre-litigation mediation is a perfect example of the economic trade-offs that exist in privacy policy. In pre-litigation mediation, costs and confidentiality work independently. However, there is a precarious balance that exists where, if either confidentiality or cost became less effective the entire mediation process might be damaged.

Creating Currency in Mediation by Michael B Shane (as presented to the Alaska Bar Association)

"The premise of this article is that mediation allows for a broader range of solutions and the broader the range, the greater the possibility of a satisfactory resolution." 

 

Politics and Policy

The Long Way Home by Seth Harp (The Alcalde, October 2006) Seth Harp writes about a point of time when he was stationed in Iraq in 2005.  It is a very well written and captivating story.  It offers a fantastic account of what life was/is like for our soldiers stationed in Iraq.  Yes, things have changed sice 2005.  But the stress and the triumphs remain.  Another similar article (Special Report: Recalling a Rescue by Anna Mulrine - U.S. News & World Report 3/24/08)

One Thing We Need to Do by Richard Stengel (Managing Editor - Time Magazine: Editorial September 11, 2006) Mr Stengel offers a strong yet even look at U.S. policy five years after 9/11.

Within-state Income Inequality and the Presidential Vote 1992 - 2004: A First Look at the Evidence by James K Galbraith and Travis Hale
Pre-litigation mediation is a perfect example of the economic trade-offs that exist in privacy policy. In pre-litigation mediation, costs and confidentiality work independently. However, there is a precarious balance that exists where, if either confidentiality or cost became less effective the entire mediation process might be damaged.

The Breaking Point - The Beginning of the End of Oil? by Peter Maass This controversial article was the cover story on the New York Times Magazine August 21, 2005. It came at a time of skyrocketing gas prices and just before destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. This article has been attacked by some and embraced by others. Either way, it is interesting and thought provoking.

"A Fair Trade for Lower Gas Prices" by Joe Klein Is the only answer to the high price of oil and gas to raise taxes and thus make the price higher? This premise is hard to swallow, but it sure does get one thinking (and really ticked-off).

Workforce Development Systems Comparative Case Study: Austin and Seattle. by Tara Carter Smith "This report [examines] the way that two communities recognized for their knowledge-based economies, Austin and Seattle, implemented Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reforms, and how these changes have impacted the overall workforce development network in each city."

From Welfare to Workfare from The Economist An even handed look at the "Workfare" program, this article makes the claim " Ten years on, America's work-based welfare reforms have succeeded." It concludes with a wake-up call and a challenge not to be content but look at the successes and move forward.

Conservatives, Stand Up! by Dr. Frank Musgrave Economics Professor Frank Musgrave writes a tongue in cheek article on the trials of being a conservative in academia.

Keeping Crime on the Run by John J. DiIulio Jr. Dr. DiIulio offers a strong commentary and argument on the current state of crime and the potential for crime. "To keep crime going down... a new set of public-private initiatives will be needed."

Next Stop Baghdad? by Kenneth M. Pollack (Foreign Affairs March/April 2002)
This forward-thinking article on the possibilities of the United States entering Iraq is excellent and thought provoking. It is especially so knowing that this article was written in 2002, a full year BEFORE the United States went into Iraq.

The Moor's Last Sigh: How Memories of 1492 Affect Bush's Crusade for Democracy in the Middle East by Edwin Dorn Can events that occurred provide a "perspective on the challenges that our country is confronting today in the Middle East?" Dr. Dorn illustrates how historical circumstances can provide insight into current issues.

 

Professionalism

"We Had Pierced the Veneer of Outside Things." 2006 Boston College Convocation Address by Senator John McCain, Senator McCain looks into American's souls as only he is uniquely qualified. This speech is reflective and thought provoking. He leaves the reader focused on doing right, doing well, and doing more.

Follow Through In Spite of the Two of You by Stan Tyler A professional coach, Mr. Tyler takes a quick look at "doing what is best" versus defaulting to doing "just enough to get by."

A Look at the "Search for Talent" - The Search for Talent (The Economist, 10/2006). - The Talent Myth (by: Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker, 7/2002). - The Battle for Brainpower (The Economist, 10/2006).

Bosses Who Get It All Wrong - By Jack and Suzy Welch (BusinessWeek 7/23/07) "Blowhards. Jerks. Wimps. How inept leaders can derail a thriving enterprise." The Welches tell it like it is and hold no punches.

 

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