Households

October 14, 2014
Everyday economics of LED bulbs
Published by Elaine Schwartz at October 14, 2014
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The Unexpected Consequences of More Efficient Lighting

Like 19th century English coal, more efficient and cheap LED lights can mean people and businesses use it more because of the lower opportunity cost.

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September 30, 2014
Everyday economics and Increased demand, less physician supply and a price ceiling for Medicaid explain why we have network inadequacy.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at September 30, 2014
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A Solution for Too Few Doctors: More Patience

Decreases in supply, increases in demand and legislative price ceilings are resulting in "network adequacy" problems for U.S. healthcare systems.

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September 14, 2014
It would be beneficial for households and national economic growth if the U.S. saving rate were raised.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at September 14, 2014
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The Nudge Toward a Goldilocks Savings Rate

We need to raise the low U.S. savings rate with new incentives like a lottery on savings deposits because households and business investment need savings.

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August 12, 2014
Everyday Economics: The Contents of Refrigerators, Supply and Demand, and Global Markets
Published by Elaine Schwartz at August 12, 2014
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What Refrigerators Can Tell Us About Global Markets

In refrigerators in developing nations, we can see the impact of affluence on their diet and on supply and demand that will change worldwide food prices.

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August 4, 2014
The spread of refrigeration in China will create positive and negative externalities that relate to productivity, diet, health and the environment.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at August 4, 2014
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The Spillover from Refrigerators in China

The spread of refrigeration in China has positive and negative externalities that relate to household diets, greenhouse gases and transport and home waste.

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July 20, 2014
Everyday Economics — Oil stories
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 20, 2014
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Chart of the Week: The Rare Disease Spending Dilemma

Our Sunday Chart of the Week Since our chart looks at Medicaid spending on rare diseases, we better start with Medicaid. It is complicated. Yes, Medicaid […]

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July 17, 2014
JS Mill's support of redistribution from taxation in the AFA
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 17, 2014
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John Stuart Mill on Affordable Health Care

A child prodigy, 19th century economist John Stuart Mill said in his Autobiography that, “I have no remembrance of the time when I began Greek; I […]

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July 16, 2014
Weekly Economic News Roundup and federal spending
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 16, 2014
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John Maynard Keynes and the Generational Impact of Entitlements

Before seeing how we are benefiting unequally from entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, let’s start with some history. During 1934, with unemployment high and production low, […]

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July 14, 2014
traffic lights and Adam Smith's Laissez-faire
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 14, 2014
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Adam Smith and Traffic Lights

Located 30 miles from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the island of Nantucket has no traffic lights. Instead, drivers respond to stop signs, rotaries, and courtesy. More often […]

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July 7, 2014
Indian development and tradeoffs from roads and cars
Published by Elaine Schwartz at July 7, 2014
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The Difference Between India's Stories and Statistics

There is a village in Southern India called Kadapakkam. It had been a home to farmers and fishermen whose thatched huts had no running water and no electrical appliances. At traditional tea shops […]

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June 16, 2014
Published by Elaine Schwartz at June 16, 2014
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How Big is the Leisure Gap Between Men and Women?

Our Monday gender issue focus Married or single, weekends and weekdays, men have more leisure time than women. Imagine a typical weekend. Yes, mom might spend a […]

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May 31, 2014
Charts and graphs tell stories
Published by Elaine Schwartz at May 31, 2014
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An Amazing Story From a Graph

Sometimes one graph can tell a whole story:   A 4-minute animation can also convey a much bigger story. Looking at the same time period as our […]

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