Economic Ideas

December 27, 2018

The Gift You Didn’t Want

Although you'll see that the Amazon reviews for How to Avoid Huge Ships are hilarious, it's still one of those unwanted gifts that creates deadweight loss.

December 26, 2018

The (Hidden) Paternity Leave Problem

A nation's generous paternity leave policy does not necessarily diminish the size of the gender pay gap or job discrimination against women.

December 19, 2018

Why We Should Care About the Night Time Economy

Inadequately supported, the food, drink, and entertainment businesses in a city's night time economy can be a valuable source of economic growth.

December 18, 2018

Getting Some Unemployment Insight Through a JOLT

By looking at job openings, hires, and quit rates in the JOLT Summary, we can get some unemployment insight about tighter labor markets.

December 17, 2018

Almost Everything We Need To Know About Gift Giving

Looking at what we buy and what we return, we can ask an economist and a psychologist for some gift-giving advice about our holiday spending.

December 16, 2018

Why Superstars Dominate the Billboard Hot 100 Chart

For 60 years, Billboard, every week, has ranked the best music. Using sales, radio play, and now streaming, they tell us what we like the most. […]

December 12, 2018

What a Government Shutdown Does to Each of Us

A government shutdown is again in the news. The key date is December 21. If federal agencies without funding do not get their money by then, […]