Economic History

US economic history starts with the 13 colonies and the transition from communal to individual land ownership, continues with 19th century economic growth and takes us to the role of services during the 20th century. Involving government, consumers and businesses, at econlife, economic history provides more understanding of today’s economy.

When China Started Drinking More Beer

Reflecting more affluence, China’s beer consumption and its economic development have marched upward together.

The Many Sides of the Ford Pickup Truck

Ranging from changes in society to the owner’s messaging, the history of the Ford pickup truck is about more than transportation.

The Difference Between the Best and Worst Airlines

Looking at the Wall Street Journal’s annual scorecard for the best and worst airlines, we see examples of competitive strategies.

Why We Won’t Want a Wider Highway

Intuitively logical for reducing congestion, sometimes adding highway lanes and road building have unintended consequences.

Why the 747 Was More Than an Airplane

Looking at the end of Boeing 747 history, we see that we are saying good-bye to much more than an airplane.

Black Swans and Gray Rhinos

We can use a zoo that includes black swans, gray rhinos, elephants, and camels to describe financial events and human behavior.

Santa’s Delivery Schedule

Looking at Santa’s delivery schedule, we see a slew of gargantuan numbers that show what he amazingly accomplishes in just one night.

Why Argentina Will Get a (World Cup) GDP Boost

Reminding us that economics is everywhere, we can look at World Cup winners and predict that Argentina’s GDP will get a much needed boost.

What We Need to Know About Driverless Vehicles

Experimenting with autonomous vehicles, we should be sure to recognize that there could be a massive downside.

When Parking Is Like Cheetos Lip Balm

Making decisions about the future, sometimes our sunk costs–the irrecoverable time and money we invested in the past–distorts our logic.