Economic Ideas

Much more than money, economics is about tradeoffs. Thinking economically involves cost and benefit, marginal analysis and seeing that there is no free lunch. Econlife tries to convey these economic ideas, which serve as the foundation of economics and help people make decisions personally, professionally and as voters.

What Would You Pay To Save An Hour?

The value of time becomes very real when we decide how much money we are willing to spend to use less of it.

How to Preserve a Helium Reserve

Seeing the U.S. government create and sell a helium reserve, we can ask if government or the market should allocate crucial commodities.

The Unexpected Ending of a Rent Ceiling Story

Looking more closely at statewide rent ceilings, we will see an economic story that could have an unexpected ending.

Why a Bigger Baggage Bin Is Like a New Highway

Whether looking at airlines’ overhead baggage bins or highway construction, we see supply created incentives boosting demand.

The 5 Economic Facts We Need To Know

When we look at five causes of U.S. economic strength, we can see the seeds of a Goldilocks economy that are continuing to sprout.

Where People Want More Coins

Although the coin supply in the Philippines is more than sufficient, they have a coin shortage that creates problems.

When Fake Money Is Real

Moving away from the dollar or the euro, we can shift our image of money by thinking of a stone slab and other pseudo currencies.

Why the Economy and Democracy Still Need Each Other

From the Economist’s EIU group and Pew Research, we can gain insight about the connection between the economy and democracy.

Where and Why Farmers Are Furious

Separated by 6,582 km (4,090 miles), near Paris and New Delhi, farmer protests hope to achieve similar and yet different goals.