Economic Ideas

June 18, 2018

How Starbucks Coffee Bean Husks Are Like Perdue Chicken Paws

When previously worthless byproducts like coffee bean husks, chicken paws, and hog snouts became popular, we increased our economic efficiency.

June 17, 2018

Why We Needed to Retake the Marshmallow Test

After doing their own version of the marshmallow test, researchers from NYU and UC Irvine told us to look at the value of delayed gratification somewhat differently.

June 15, 2018

A Trade Story With a Happy Ending

Looking at airplane manufacturing through Bombardier's new billion dollar order from Delta, we can see why a multinational supply chain can lower tariffs.

June 13, 2018

The Mystery of the North Korean Economy

Looking at the North Korean economy, economists have to become detectives because the government refuses to share basic statistics.

June 12, 2018

The Top Ten Worst Reasons For Not Having Women on Corporate Boards

Looking at a list of the ten worst reasons used to explain women's absence from corporate boards, we can see why progress has been slow.

June 10, 2018

Everything You Need To Know About the Avocado

From needing a new name to making California growers happy, boosting avocado consumption has been about overcoming obstacles.

June 8, 2018

Who Will Care About the Starbucks Price Hike?

When coffee drinkers hear that some prices at Starbucks will rise, their response will depend how how elastic their demand is.

June 5, 2018

Why We Should Apologize to the IRS

Including more people saying, "Where's my refund?" the number of IRS problems has been increasing while its budget has been shrinking.