Philip CookProfessor of public policy, economics and sociology, Duke Universityhttp://fds.duke.edu/db/Sanford/faculty/cook
Cook is co-author of "Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America," (Harvard University Press, 1989). His research focuses on topics that have social policy implications, including state lotteries; crime and criminal justice; regulation of alchohol, guns, gambling; and violence prevention.
Quote:"The lottery payouts have gotten higher over the years, which means that the implicit tax per unit has gone down. The lottery is still usually a rotten bet, but better than it used to be -- and with the current jackpot, it's actually a pretty good bet!"