When a Small Leak Is a Big Problem

Made worse by leaky pipes, European water shortages could become a bigger problem that requires short showers.

A Feel Good Story From Gander

Streaming on Apple TV, “Come From Away” tells how the residents of Gander, Newfoundland warmly cared for thousands of unexpected guests.

What We Can Learn From Spain’s Ice Shortage

Spain’s ice shortage reminds us that close to 200 years ago, after we learned that drinks could be chilled, it became a necessity.

Everyday Economics and a Tablet, a Commencement, and a Stadium

Slightly different from our usual post, today I have three shorter stories that grabbed my attention. I guess we can call them my mini-posts. Let’s take a look. 1. The reasons we stay home from work appear not to have…

How Covid Caused a Bagels and Cream Cheese Crisis

Covid’s impact on factory labor, truck drivers, and packaging supplies has resulted in a New York City cream cheese shortage.

What Your Time is Really Worth

Lyft can come in handy when economists need to calculate the dollar value of time for us and for government.

All You Could Want To Know About N95 Mask Economics

To understand N95 supply shortages we can look at how N95s are made, at N95 exports, and at economic systems.

All We Need To Know About Where Our Energy Comes From and Where It Goes

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s annual flow chart is the easy way to see all you want to know about U.S. energy use.

The Beer That No One Wants to Buy

The firms that produce craft beer and the farmers that grow Idaho potatoes have somewhat similar pandemic supply problems.

The Problem With Predictable Surprises

Economists can explain and improve our inadequate disaster preparation for predictable wildfires, diseases, hurricanes, and earthquakes.