Elaine Schwartz
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Elaine Schwartz has spent her career sharing the interesting side of economics. At the Kent Place School in Summit New Jersey, she was honored with an Endowed Chair in Economics. Just published, her newest book, Degree in a Book: Economics (Arcturus 2023), gives readers a lighthearted look at what definitely is not “the dismal science.” She has also written and updated Econ 101 ½ (Avon Books/Harper Collins 1995) and Economics: Our American Economy (Addison Wesley 1994). In addition, Elaine has articles in the Encyclopedia of New Jersey (Rutgers University Press) and was a featured teacher in the Annenberg/CPB video project “The Economics Classroom.” Beyond the classroom, she has presented Econ 101 ½ talks and led workshops for the Foundation for Teaching Economics, the National Council on Economic Education and for the Concord Coalition. Online for more than a decade. econlife has had one million+ visits.

A Wake Up Call for High School Principals

At 8 am or earlier, the average high school start time could diminish adolescent math and reading cognition because of sleep deprivation.

How Japan’s Shrinking Population Creates Growing Problems

The fiscal challenges that Japan’s shrinking population has created come from a shrinking birth rate and an aging population.

Weekly Economic News Roundup: From Bad Statistics to Good Movies

Weekly News Roundup Sunday 05.28.17 How Venezuela chose bonds rather than food… Monday 05.29.17 Why American made is really Japanese…   Tuesday 05.30.17 What Star Wars says about success…   Wednesday 05.31.17 The pension problems from an aging population…   Thursday 06.01.17 #TBT Today’s beer and…

Questions About Popeye and Misleading Statistics

Precise numbers can become misleading statistics when politicians, journalists and scholars use them for jobs projections and GDP totals.

Throwback Thursday: Sending Tanks (and Thanks) to a Canal

As our first Throwback Thursday, we look at the present and the past with the 2,000 barrel beer tanks that traveled on the Erie Canal.

A Reality Check For Pension Recipients

Shown through grades that are mostly Cs and Ds, state pension problems display unrealistic fiscal policy decisions for an aging population.

What Star Wars Can Teach Us About Success

Even as it celebrates its 40th birthday after a quiet 1977 debut, we cannot be sure of the reasons for Star Wars’s success.

Why Toyota is an American Car

A source of jobs and economic growth, the leading manufacturer of American made cars is not a U.S. firm because of globalization.

Weekly Economic News Roundup: From Sand Shortages to Milk Gluts

Weekly News Roundup Sunday 05.21.17 What soccer shoot-out kickers think about… Monday 05.22.17 How marriage penalizes women who work outside the home… Tuesday 05.23.17 Why a Chinese private school cares about a parent’s IQ… Wednesday 05.24.17 How healthcare payments influence our incentives…   Thursday 05.25.17…

Why Happy Cows Make Farmers Sad

Combine thriving world markets and more productive cows and you get farmers who unintentionally create a milk glut when they increase supply.