Frederic Sautet | Published Reseach

Published Research by Frederic Sautet

Institutions Matter: Can New Jersey Reverse Course? image

Institutions Matter: Can New Jersey Reverse Course?

Eileen Norcross, Frederic Sautet | Sep 2009
New Jersey entered the current recession in a weakened fiscal and economic condition. The current recession is severe, but this fiscal dilemma is not new. The state has experienced structural deficits regularly over the past 20 years. This paper presents a series of reforms based on the successful experience of other governments. It begins with a background discussion of the challenges New Jersey will face in implementing these reforms by reviewing the state of the state and the loss of the “Old-Time Fiscal Religion,” the foundation of public finance until the Keynesian revolution of the 1940s. The paper explains the limits of public policy and government intervention and explores the importance of inter-jurisdictional competition and direct democracy, concluding with recommendations for institutional and policy reforms.

Entrepreneurship, Institutions, and Economic Growth

Frederic Sautet | Sep 08, 2008
This paper provides a brief view of growth and social change taken from the perspective of the entrepreneurial process and Austrian economics.

Entrepreneurial Policy: The Case of Regional Specialization Vs. Spontaneous Industrial Diversity

Frederic Sautet, Pierre Desrochers | Aug 29, 2008
Regional economic development policy is recognized as a key tool governments use to foster economic prosperity. Whether specialization (or diversity) of economic activities should be a regional development policy goal is often debated. This paper addresses this question in a local-diversity context, by reviewing traditional arguments in its favor, supplemented with evidence for more entrepreneurial concepts like industrial symbiosis and Jacobs externalities.

The Next Silicon Valley? On the Relationship Between Geographical Clustering and Public Policy

Frederic Sautet, Pierre Desrochers, Gert-Jan Hospers | Aug 29, 2008
This paper critically assesses the relationship between geographical clustering and public policy. With the help of a range of theoretical insights and case study examples we show that cluster policy in fact is a risky\ venture, especially when it is tried to copy the success of regional ‘best practices’.
Local Knowledge image

Local Knowledge

Bruce Yandle, Curtis Melvin, Daniel M. Rothschild, Daniel Sutter, Frederic Sautet, Peter J. Boettke, Steven Horwitz, Tim Roemer, Veronique de Rugy | Jul 29, 2008
This issue of Local Knowledge focuses on the role of entrepreneurs in rebuilding the Gulf Coast. In this issue you can read research articles that explain what entrepreneurship is; that discuss how entrepreneurs and their businesses play a critical role in the response to and recovery after disasters; and that detail where and when entrepreneurs have played key parts in rebuilding.

The Shaky Foundations of Competition Law

Frederic Sautet | Jun 01, 2007
This paper examines the theoretical basis of competition law with specific references to the New Zealand Commerce Act.
Montenegro: The Challenges of A Newborn State image

Montenegro: The Challenges of A Newborn State

Maja Drakic, Frederic Sautet, Kyle McKenzie | Feb 16, 2007
This Country Brief discusses the future of Montenegro and its economic reforms.
The Nature and Role of Entrepreneurship in Markets: Implications for Policy image

The Nature and Role of Entrepreneurship in Markets: Implications for Policy

Frederic Sautet, Israel Kirzner | Jun 12, 2006
Policy makers and others often associate entrepreneurship with the creation of new businesses. While this is an accurate description of one of the many outcomes of entrepreneurial activity, entrepreneurship encompasses far more than business start-ups. 
Local Tax Incentives in Action: The Payment-in-Lieu of Tax Program in Memphis, Tennessee image

Local Tax Incentives in Action: The Payment-in-Lieu of Tax Program in Memphis, Tennessee

Frederic Sautet, John Shoaf | May 31, 2006
Frederic Sautet and John Shoaf analyze the effectiveness of Memphis, Tennessee's Payment-in-Lieu-of-Tax (PILOT) program. With a heightened focus on job creation, cities are relying on targeted tax incentives to attract businesses. This study considers the characteristics of property tax incentives and examines their effect on growth. Because of the city’s high unemployment, Memphis’s PILOT program allows us to evaluate various tax incentive designs. The PILOT reduces the property taxes of select businesses in order to create new jobs and investment. As our analysis causes us to question the effectiveness of the PILOT, after discussing its specifics, analyzing available data, and surveying relevant literature, we suggest alternative policies for improving Memphis’s growth prospects.

Why Have Kiwis Not Become Tigers? Reforms, Entrepreneurship and Economic Performance in New Zealand

Frederic Sautet | Mar 01, 2006
This paper first describes briefly the context in which New Zealand's reforms took place and then, second, considers the five main reforms that changed the New Zealand economy positively. In the third section, it examines the reasons why the New Zealand economy is failing to perform like that of an Asian tiger. Before concluding, some policy implications are offered.