Non-compete agreements

The NYT discovers agreements not to compete, about which the Massachusetts legislature is presently debating.

The article is not too bad as these things go, but is very short on evidence. Also, the notion that, whether good or bad, the effect of non-competes could be determined by comparing state level unemployment rates is ludicrous. They are just not that important relative to the other factors that push around unemployment rates. I was also entertained by the fellow who stayed on UI for a year rather than endure a long commute.

The most glaring omission from the article is of course the fine recent work by Michigan's newly minted Ph.D. Evan Starr, shortly departing for the exotic wilds of Urbana-Champaign. His (very fine) dissertation deals entirely with non-competes.

Hat tip: Charlie Brown, who chaired Evan's committee.