New EI Office to Focus on Labor Economics
EI recently opened a new office in Tallahassee, Florida. The four Ph.D. economists based in that office have expertise in areas of labor economics, such as wage and hour analysis, employment discrimination and disparate impact. They also have significant experience in litigation. To introduce our new economists and expand upon their interests, we will publish a special issue of Economists Ink this winter focusing on labor and employment.
Study of the Computer and Video Games Industry
The Entertainment Software Association released a study of the U.S. computer and video game industry that was prepared by EI Principal Stephen E. Siwek. The study, “Video Games in the 21st Century: The 2014 Report,” quantifies the role the U.S. entertainment software industry plays in the American economy. In 2012, the rapidly-growing industry added more than $6.2 billion to the U.S. economy and directly or indirectly employed over 146,000 people. Total compensation for workers directly employed in the industry was over $4 billion.
Competition in Converged Communications Markets
EI Senior Economist Kevin Caves filed an expert declaration with the Federal Communications Commission. Dr. Caves analyzed competition in today’s converged communications markets. His declaration focused on the price-disciplining effects of intermodal alternatives and on the framework for competitive analysis adopted by the Commission in its 2010 Phoenix Order. His conclusions were informed by extensive evidence of competition, including econometric work that confirmed that the cross-price elasticity between wireless and wireline telephony was positive and statistically and economically significant. The declaration formed part of USTelecom’s petition for regulatory forbearance.