Issue 126: Fortune in the New Year

This message is penned at the turn of a new year, and barely five weeks after the death of a friend and highly valued colleague, Walter 0. Spofford Jr. Both events provide reason for reflection.

We at RFF are very fortunate, indeed. We work on issues at once intellectually challenging and of great importance, both in the United States and around the world. In this issue of Resources, Heather Ross's article on the new congressional powers to review regulations provides a most interesting "domestic" example. David Simpson's provocative but carefully reasoned piece on biodiversity prospecting pertains mainly (though not exclusively) to decisions concerning habitat preservation in the developing world. And our feature on electricity deregulation is relevant just about everywhere, since even those countries that have yet to begin down the path toward a competitive electricity industry will probably do so soon.

At the same time that they are hard at work on these issues, my colleagues are also thinking about climate change, the cleanup of nuclear and hazardous waste, air quality standards, forestry policy; remote sensing from satellites in space, and the use of sound science in regulation, to name but a few. Knotty problems, each and every one, but fun to work on for exactly that reason.

At RFF we are also fortunate to work in a collegial setting. It is the norm to read carefully and offer comments on each other's work, and to help nurture the careers of young researchers. Perhaps more than anyone else, Walter Spofford exemplified this collegial spirit, making his loss all the more difficult to bear.

Another respect in which RFF is fortunate is the quality of its "volunteer leadership," a euphemism for the members of our board of directors and of the advisory groups to research divisions and programs. The labor of these busy people is entirely one of love—we do not pay our directors or advisory group members. (In fact, we solicit them for contributions each year and they virtually all contribute!) No organization could be better served by its governing bodies.

Last, but by no means least, we are fortunate to work at a place with a reputation for independence and objectivity. RFF's endowment income and mix of other support from diverse sources mean we are not overly dependent upon any one sector and are, therefore, free to call 'em as we see 'em. In that respect, then, we are beholden to all of you readers of Resources who support RFF, and hopeful that others will soon join you.

May 1997 be a rich and rewarding year for you all, both personally and professionally.

— Paul R. Portney