Have you ever wondered how logistics concepts can unlock new perspectives and advancements in scientific research? Monument Economics Group’s Dr. Paul E. Kent and co-author Dr. Hercules Haralambides, in their paper From Nobel Laureates to the Cellular Supply Chain: Unveiling Logistics Concepts to Foster Wider Understanding of Scientific Research, explore the fascinating parallel between logisticians’ endeavors to optimize systems and drive progress in logistics and how scientists, including Nobel laureates, are dedicated to enhancing the performance and efficiency of the processes and systems they investigate. Nobel laureates applied logistics principles to unravel the intricate mechanisms of cellular transport. The authors mention that specialists in their fields can use their unique logistics lens to interpret breakthroughs in drug delivery systems and apply logistics-inspired thinking to explain scientific findings. Importantly, the authors point out that that the general population due to COVID-related supply chain issues has greater awareness of logistics and hence could better understand scientific processes if they are explained in those terms. Obviously, this increased understanding has implications for the clarity medical patients need to comprehend treatment plans, leading to better treatment adherence, patient satisfaction, and overall well-being.

This paper marks the first of Dr. Kent’s For the Love of Logistics series, a series of short papers that delve into the fascinating intersections between logistics and various scientific and technological disciplines. The series aims to showcase how the principles of logistics enable groundbreaking advancements, optimize processes, and revolutionize our understanding of complex systems, driving progress in diverse fields.

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In their editorial “Perfect storm or imperfect supply chain? The U.S. supply chain crisis”, Monument’s Dr. Paul Kent and co-author Dr. Hercules Haralambides examine the current supply chain problems and their possible remedies. The surge in e-commerce has exposed weaknesses with the just-in-time logistics paradigm where maximizing capacity utilization is viewed as being efficient; as a result, logistics asset owners strive to minimize slack capacity, even going beyond industry maximum utilization standards, thereby creating supply chain bottlenecks. In addition to problems with slack capacity, the authors identify other issues related to dominant market players, including liner shipping alliances and international chassis service providers.

The authors outline recommendations that address a seeming lack of preparedness for disruptions, capacity management issues, and weaknesses in regulation. The open-source editorial can be accessed using the below link via the Maritime Economics and Logistics.

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In an Expert Analysis published in Law360, Mark Kaplan, CFA offers his thoughts on the role economic analysis might play in SEC enforcement of climate-related matters. In the article, he first summarizes the SEC’s ongoing development of climate risk disclosure rules and the SEC’s focus on identifying climate risk disclosure gaps and misstatements. He then provides a brief overview of SEC economic analysis of corporate misstatements. Finally, he discusses several potential economic risks to corporations as climate risk disclosure enforcement likely increases in the future, providing examples of how the SEC might assess economic benefits to a corporation from material gaps or misstatements in climate risk disclosures.

Law360 published a piece co-authored by Jamie Donovan and Kenneth Grant of Berkeley Research Group exploring the rising tensions between states’ climate policies and investment treaty duties.
They note the absolute need for states, investors, and tribunals to comprehend the evolving economics of power generation and the opportunity to allow states more flexibility in climate policy.

Jessica Harris and former colleague David Slovick, partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, share their thoughts on Senator Elizabeth Warren’s idea for the CFTC to oversee digital ad exchanges. They discuss if digital advertising is, or should be, considered a commodity, and they explore the merits of the CFTC adding to their current jurisdiction.

Law360 published a piece by Monument Economics Group Affiliate Dr. Andrew Kleit and his colleague Todd Aagaard. This paper delves into the electricity prices charged during the peak of the power shortage and subsequent 32 hours post-peak during the Texas Power Crisis of February 2021. Numerous lawsuits have been filed alleging that power generators now owe staggering amounts to electricity suppliers. The authors delve into the pricing factors and how the operating reserve demand curve particularly plays a pivotal role in determining what prices should have been absent the Texas Public Utility Commission interference.