Why The Eddie Murphy Rule is About More Than Orange Juice

Because of a wonderful orange juice scam in “Trading Places,” the Eddie Murphy Rule wound up in the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulation act.

Our Weekly Economic News Roundup: From Bathroom Breaks to Chicken Shortages

Connecting economics, current events, and history, this week’s economic news roundup ranges from Nigeria’s chicken supply and online returns to outer space.

December e-links: One Doggy, Two Economists, and Tom Hanks

For considerable enjoyment and a good read that you listen to, Tom Hanks’s narration of Ann Patchett’s “The Dutch House” was superb.

What Outer Space Adds to the GDP

When we hear about a red Tesla with a Starman inside orbiting the sun, we can think of a growing space economy that is adding to the GDP.

The Toilet That is Supposed to Boost Productivity

A less mentioned source of worker productivity can take us off the job to the recent attempts to diminish the amount of time spent on bathroom breaks.

The Problem With Finding the Right Size

The massive volume of online clothing returns.takes us to the value of standardized dress sizes and the transactions costs of free shipping.

What Grandma Says About China’s One-Child Policy

Because of China’s one-child policy, an aging population of grandparents will wind up with fewer young people to take care of them.

The Mystery of the Missing Services

Much less visible than the goods that travel in huge container ships, the global trade in services can be seen when we just look at everyday activities.

How a (Resource) Curse Created a Chicken Shortage

Shown by Nigeria’s chicken shortage, a country’s oil wealth can become a resource curse when it prevents an economy from diversifying.

Our Weekly Economic News Roundup: From Stock Markets to Sneakers

Connecting economics, current events, and history, this week’s economic news roundup ranges from inadequate female self-promotion to Baby Boomer houses.