Anthony Gill
Earning his PhD in political science at UCLA in 1994, Prof. Gill specializes in the economic study of religion and civil society.
He received the UW’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999 and is also a member of the Mont Pelerin Society.
Articles
Are Humans Inherently Selfish?
“A thicker view of rationality accepts the view that people live in a world with social norms that both condition and constrain our actions.” ~ Anthony Gill
Blame, Trade-Offs, and the Maui Wildfires
“Making big and simple promises is the easy part of politics. Telling constituencies that there may be difficult and painful trade-offs is difficult.” ~ Anthony Gill
In Defense of Tipping, Part III: Market-Enhancing Norms
“Individuals who voluntarily leave a gratuity at the end of a meal indicate that they appreciated the service and are happy to contribute more to the server than is legally required.” ~ Anthony Gill
In Defense of Tipping, Part II: Price Discrimination
“Whereas most price discrimination is instigated from the side of the seller, tipping represents a cultural mechanism that obligates consumers to reveal their own preferences and share their consumer surplus with the supplier.” ~ Anthony Gill
In Defense of Tipping, Part I: Principal-Agent Problems
“Tipping turns out to be an ingenious mechanism for solving principal-agent problems in a number of service-oriented industries.” ~ Anthony Gill
Cash, Crime, Minimum Wage, and Unintended Consequences
“When a government policy is enacted, it often seeks to change individual behavior. But human beings are clever and will often respond to policy initiatives in ways that either counteract the initial policy’s goals or create new problems in other spheres.” ~ Anthony Gill
Why Do We Rescue When All Hope Is Lost?
“The desire to dare remains strong in society. And that desire to dare is fostered by a knowledge that others will be there to help when things go wrong.” ~ Anthony Gill
A Sick (Pay) Policy that Redefines Work
“To the extent that these app-based companies are about matching unused resources, no matter how small, to those who want to employ those resources, this policy undermines the most beneficial aspect of the sharing economy.” ~ Anthony Gill
Taylor Swift, Turn Your Wrath to Government!
“The entity that Taylor Swift and her legion of fans are turning to save themselves from a predatory monopoly that engages in shifty pricing is itself a predatory monopoly that engages in shifty pricing.” ~ Anthony Gill
Why Did The Redcoats Wear Red Coats?
“Students are often amazed and delighted by what the economic way of thinking can help us understand, and it is why instructors must look for every opportunity to instill the wonder of economics in their students.” ~ Anthony Gill
