Economic History

August 4, 2014
The spread of refrigeration in China will create positive and negative externalities that relate to productivity, diet, health and the environment.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at August 4, 2014
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The Spillover from Refrigerators in China

The spread of refrigeration in China has positive and negative externalities that relate to household diets, greenhouse gases and transport and home waste.

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July 31, 2014
Violating the sanctity of contracts, Argentina has again defaulted on her sovereign debt and diminished her ability to borrow.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 31, 2014
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Argentina's (Long) Default History

With Argentina again defaulting on her sovereign debt, she is violating the sanctity of contracts and lessened her borrowing ability at home and globally.

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July 28, 2014
Calculating the GDP involves many decisions and using it can be controversial as in Greece.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 28, 2014
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Why the GDP is Much More Than a Number

Seemingly just a statistic, how we calculate the GDP and how it is used can be controversial and affect the lives of millions of people.

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July 27, 2014
Everyday Economics — Oil stories
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 27, 2014
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Three "Tear-Water" Graphs

The U.S. has had an economic recovery from the Great Recession with sluggish GDP growth, a worrisome output gap and slowly diminishing unemployment.

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July 16, 2014
Weekly Economic News Roundup and federal spending
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 16, 2014
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John Maynard Keynes and the Generational Impact of Entitlements

Before seeing how we are benefiting unequally from entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, let’s start with some history. During 1934, with unemployment high and production low, […]

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July 7, 2014
Indian development and tradeoffs from roads and cars
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 7, 2014
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The Difference Between India's Stories and Statistics

There is a village in Southern India called Kadapakkam. It had been a home to farmers and fishermen whose thatched huts had no running water and no electrical appliances. At traditional tea shops […]

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July 6, 2014
Federal Budget spending categories
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 6, 2014
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A Speedy Summary of Spending in the US Federal Budget

Right now, the Congress is supposedly debating the 2015 federal budget. Because the new fiscal year begins October 1, their deadline is September 30. But not […]

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July 4, 2014
Weekly Economic News Roundup and economic independence from Alexander Hamilton
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 4, 2014
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Celebrating Economic Independence

Yes, the United States declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776 and won the American Revolutionary War. But still, we were not truly independent. George Washington’s Secretary of […]

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June 16, 2014
Published by Elaine Schwartz at June 16, 2014
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How Big is the Leisure Gap Between Men and Women?

Our Monday gender issue focus Married or single, weekends and weekdays, men have more leisure time than women. Imagine a typical weekend. Yes, mom might spend a […]

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June 13, 2014
CEO performance and golf
Published by Elaine Schwartz at June 13, 2014
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What Golf in China Shows About Economic Development

On a ladder of spending in developing economies, growing affluence first means wheat and meat. Then, climbing somewhat higher, people can afford consumer durables like a washing machine and […]

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June 12, 2014
stock market activity and World Cup
Published by Elaine Schwartz at June 12, 2014
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The Impact of World Cup Soccer On Stock Markets

“Amongst all unimportant subjects, football is by far the most  important.” Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) European Central Bank researchers have hypothesized that World Cup Soccer […]

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