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Dear members of the JRE community, readers, referees, editorial board members, scholars and practitioners of regulatory economics, members of the Center for Research in Regulated Industries community, friends, and students.

Dr. Michael Crew, the founding editor of the Journal of Regulatory Economics (JRE), passed away on September 16, 2016, at the age of 74. A proud and dedicated family man, Michael is survived by his wife Hillary, his two children, Nicholas and Sarah, and five grandchildren.

Michael was born in England and received his Ph.D. from the University of Bradford in 1972. He founded the JRE in 1988 and worked tirelessly to improve the journal ever since. His efforts turned the JRE into a major discussion forum that attracts high quality research papers in the field of regulatory economics from all corners of the globe.

Michael was an accomplished member of the Rutgers Business School faculty since 1977, rising to the highest rank of a Distinguished Professor in 1987. During his tenure at Rutgers, Michael served twice as the Chair of the Department of Finance and Economics. In 2008, he became the first CRRI Chaired Professor of Regulatory Economics. As a prolific researcher, Michael (co)authored more than 110 scholarly articles published in peer-reviewed journals. He also (co)authored 5 books and (co)edited more than 30 volumes.

Michael became the founding director of the Center for Research in Regulated Industries (CRRI) in 1978. As CRRI’s Director, Michael organized more than 300 professional meetings, conferences, and workshops. The scholars and industry participants that attended these gatherings initially deliberated issues related to the regulation of monopolies in the telecommunications, electricity, and postal industries. More recent deliberations have focused on issues like fostering competition in the communications sector, restructuring the electricity industry, and regulating the internet and elements of the financial sector. Leading research papers presented at these conferences and workshops have been published in the Journal of Regulatory Economics, either in special issues or as regular submissions.

We all miss Michael, his guidance, and his boundless energy. In his legacy and spirit, and with the invaluable assistance of all members of the JRE community, we will continue Michael’s efforts to continually elevate this journal to the highest forum of scholarly exchange in regulatory economics. This special issue of the JRE, which includes analyses that Michael helped to inspire directly or indirectly, is dedicated to his memory.

Sincerely,

David Sappington and Menahem Spiegel