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.

What Economists Say On Valentine’s Day

From graphs to behavioral economics and free trade, our Valentine’s economics again illustrates that economics is everywhere.

The Impact of the Swiftie Friendship Bracelet

On the wrists of millions of girls and impacting millions of people, Swifty friendship bracelets has become much more then jewelry.

Why Measuring a Mountain Is Like Quantifying Climate Change

Seemingly simple as a 1.5°C temperature we do not want to exceed, global warming metrics can be much more complicated.

Our Weekly Economic News Roundup: From a Trade War to the Minimum Wage

Connecting economics, current events, and history, this week’s economic news roundup ranges from global inequality to Girl Scout cookies.

February 2024 Friday’s e-links: A Good Book

Continuing with our February e-links, I suggest a book that combines the past and present through history, economics, and a compelling story..

Girl Scout Cookies’ McRib Strategy

A behavioral economist can explain why it is good marketing to have one of our favorite Girl Scout cookies temporarily disappear.

The Losers of the U.S. China Trade War

As economists would have predicted, looking at the US China trade war, we can see the negative impact on jobs and prices.

Labor Productivity: From the Bottom Up and Top Down

Crucial for economic growth, looking at labor productivity, we can focus on at home work and then the aggregate numbers.

Connecting the Cost of Living to the Minimum Wage

While the minimum wage economic debate tends to look at floors and job loss, instead it also needs a cost-of-living focus.

Inequality: From the Pineapple to Redistribution

While it can be interesting to see the massive incomes of the richest billionaires, global inequality is much more complicated.