Economic Thinkers

November 2, 2017

The Surprising Lessons From Economic Crises

For all economic crises, some economists tell us, "This time it's different," while others disagree with their new solutions.

October 22, 2017

The Economics of the Pumpkin Slingshot

For the next bite of a doughnut or the next try at a pumpkin slingshot, economist Alfred Marshall's marginal analysis helps you decide whether to say yes.

October 18, 2017

The iPod, Starbucks, and Richard Thaler’s Behavioral Economics

Discussing the iPod he designed, Tony Fadell expressed his frustration with products that said “charge before use.” He remembered arriving home excited about a newly purchased […]

October 13, 2017

Why the Panama Canal is Bigger and Better

Enabling the newest massive container ships to travel to the East Coast, the Panama Canal expansion changed the world's transportation infrastructure.

October 10, 2017

The Story of a Nudge and the Nobel Economics Prize

For his public policy nudges and his contributions to behavioral economics, Richard Thaler will get the 2017 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics.

October 6, 2017

The Washing Machine Trade War

My LG washing machine was more expensive than it should have been. The reason takes us to washing machine dumping and tariffs. The Washing Machine Wars […]

September 27, 2017

Where Have All of the Husbands (and Wives) Gone?

If you are an Elvis minister in Las Vegas, you have a problem. Nevada’s marriage rate is way down and so too is the wedding business. […]