A morning links roundup:
- Easterly on some problems in mosquito net distribution: resale of subsidized net for use as fabric
- More problems with fMRI studies (note Glenn Harrison's prior take-down of neuroeconomics)
- Brad Taylor on the massive costs of regulatory impediments to development of anti-aging treatments.
- Gary Becker on the problems of maintaining central bank independence. New Zealand under the prior government provides a nice case in point (not discussed by Becker): regardless of any signed policy targets agreement, Finance Minister Cullen effectively gave Reserve Bank Governor Bollard the nod to operate well outside the inflation band for extended periods: Sept2005-Sept2006 and Dec2007-Dec2008 inclusive had inflation outcomes above 3%). It took the global financial meltdown to get inflation back to hitting the target band.
