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studies</title></head><body>
<div>Jeff,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>NoSuperWalMart has asked for a copy of Peterson's full report so
your questions could be looked at by someone other than the author. To
date, the full report (not just the exec summary which does not
include the data necessary for meaningful analysis) has not been made
available. Do you have one and would you make it available so this
"debate" over methodology/conclusions can be brought to a
close?</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>On another topic, what is your opinion of Prop 2?</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Mark Solomon</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>At 9:08 AM -0700 9/7/06, Jeff Harkins wrote:</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Ms. Swanson,<br>
<br>
Since the work by Mr. Peterson was completed as a consulting project,
I fail to see why you would denigrate his services because he accepted
a fee for his work. Do you use similar references for all professional
folks who earn fees for providing services - e.g., lawyers,
accountants, dentists, doctors?<br>
<br>
Asserting that his presentation was "totally biased" is a
rather serious indictment. Fortunately, because the work was
completed under the protocols of academic research, it will be
relatively easy to determine whether there was a significant and/or
persistent bias introduced in his model.<br>
<br>
Since you posted on a public forum, please enlighten us as to your
assessment of his model. There are a number of issues that you
might have concerns about, including<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>
<ul>
<li>Are his assumptions inappropriate?
<li>Is his econometric model predisposed to an outcome?
<li>Does he exclude relevant variables?
<li>Does he include irrelevant variables?
<li>Does the model suffer from multi-collinearity?
<li>Does the model suffer from auto-correlation?
<li>Does he fail to properly interpret the research findings
<li>Did he fail to note potential shortcomings or limitations of his
work?</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Again, please provide some rationale for
your assertion of bias - my instincts suggest that unless you can
point to specific elements of bias that you are invoking the "I
don't like the message, so let's kill the messenger"
strategy.<br>
<br>
Your charge that Mr Peterson behaved as a "smart alec" is
interesting. I don't know exactly what you mean by that.
But I was not at the Moscow Chamber session and have no first-hand
knowledge of that presentation.<br>
<br>
However, I have heard Steve present on numerous occasions and I have
always known him to be polite, knowledgeable, forthright and willing
to answer questions related to his research. Perhaps you could
expand on your assertion of "smart alec"?<br>
<br>
Finally, since you did not offer any additional comments on my
contributions to understanding Barry Lynn's writings, am I to assume
that you agree with me that Mr. Lynn is advancing an agenda of
returning the US economy to a more highly-regulated by government
state (e.g., pre-Reagan era)? And as you ponder that, are you
willing to have the US banking industry return to the level and type
of regulation that existed before the Reagan era?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
At 10:23 PM 9/6/2006, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="-1" color="#000080">Mr.
Harkins,<br>
<br>
A deeper meaning of Hack: Economist for Hire.<br>
<br>
After Steve Peterson’s totally biased and smart alec presentation to
the Chamber of Commerce on August 23, I think he earned the title and
lost credibility. I hope he can manage to be a bit more
objective when he presents “Why is Moscow Growing” to the City
Council later this month. <br>
<br>
B. J. Swanson<br>
</font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>
<hr></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="-1"
color="#000080"><b>From:</b> Jeff Harkins [
mailto:jeffh@moscow.com]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:07 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> bjswan@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies<br>
<font face="Times New Roman"> <br>
Ms. Swanson,<br>
One final point - please explain the reference to "The Hack"
inserted between Steve and Peterson. What exactly are you
attempting to say with that moniker? Is it just simple name calling or
do you have a deeper meaning in mind?<br>
<br>
<br>
At 06:27 AM 9/6/2006, you wrote:<br>
<br>
Steve,<br>
<br>
Thanks for posting. I hope Jeff Harkins and Steve "The
Hack" Peterson read<br>
it, too. Here's the link:<br>
<br>
http://www.harpers.org/BreakingTheChain.html<br>
<br>
B. J. Swanson<br>
<br>
------------------<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----</font></font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Times New Roman" size="-1"
color="#000080">From: vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [
mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]<br>
On Behalf Of Stephen Cooke<br>
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 2:17 PM<br>
To: vision2020@moscow.com<br>
Subject: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies<br>
<br>
fyi,<br>
SCC<br>
<br>
Barry C. Lynn<br>
"Breaking the Chain: The Anti-Trust Case Against Wal Mart:"
Harper's Mag.<br>
(July '06).<br>
<br>
<br>
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