Government

January 8, 2015
Everyday Economics and how dynamic scoring is controversial because it spotlights growth instead of spending categories.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at January 8, 2015
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Understanding a New Tax Issue

With the House requiring dynamic scoring of tax legislation from the CBO, the bigger tax debate resurfaces on how much redistribution and spending.

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December 31, 2014
Everyday economics and the cost of curing diseases
Published by Elaine Schwartz at December 31, 2014
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Alcohol, Marijuana or Tobacco: Which is Most Harmful?

When government miscalculates the negative externalities of substances like marijuana and alcohol, they waste land, labor, capital, time and money.

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December 26, 2014
A part of the money supply, currency wears out, is shredded and then recycled or destroyed.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at December 26, 2014
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How the Fed Solves the Old Money Problem

Part of keeping the money supply at the right level involves the Fed monitoring the paper money that enters circulation and recycling cash that leaves it.

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December 22, 2014
Everyday economics and the cost of cheap parking.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at December 22, 2014
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The Seven Ways We Pay For Free Parking

Including congestion, wasted gas, time and emissions, cheap parking creates negative externalities that variable pricing of parking spaces can eliminate.

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December 16, 2014
Oscar betting markets
Published by Elaine Schwartz at December 16, 2014
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Why Academy Award Winners Might Live Longer

Relating income inequality to the stress felt by low status Bolivian Tsimane men and academy award losers, researchers said that stress that harms health.

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December 15, 2014
Everyday economics and the internet in Italy
Published by Elaine Schwartz at December 15, 2014
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Italy and the EU: An Internet Story

Looking at internet connectivity as a part of the EU's information infrastructure, we can see how Italy is behind and reflects member nation contrasts.

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December 11, 2014
Everyday day economics and the minimum wage
Published by Elaine Schwartz at December 11, 2014
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Is Your Favorite Economist Biased?

Illustrated through word use and data selection in research, politically liberal and conservative economists display a tendency toward confirmation bias.

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December 9, 2014
Everyday economics: Looking at the CPI and beyond, there are many ways to calculate the inflation rate.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at December 9, 2014
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Expanding How We Measure Inflation

Our CPI measure of the inflation rate has been debated because it could be calculated using a chained CPU, could be real time, and excludes some seniors.

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November 27, 2014
Weekly roundup and income inequality
Published by Elaine Schwartz at November 27, 2014
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A Bigger (Thanksgiving) Pie or Equal Slices?

Increasing income inequality by moving from communal farming to individual plots, Plymouth Colony Governor William Bradford changed income redistribution.

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November 13, 2014
Everyday Economics: Because water is not a public good, neither Ireland nor Detroit need provide it without charging.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at November 13, 2014
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Should Water Be Free?

Although protestors in Detroit and Ireland say water is a human right, economists, citing a definition of a public good and a tornado alarm, would disagree.

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November 12, 2014
Everyday Economics of Dodd-Frank
Published by Elaine Schwartz at November 12, 2014
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Dodd-Frank: When Is A Law Too Long To Obey?

With debated impact, a little more than half of the thousands of rules necessary for implementing the financial regulation in Dodd-Frank have been written.

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November 10, 2014
More people vote when they believe it is a social norm.
Published by Elaine Schwartz at November 10, 2014
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The Difference That a Sticker Makes

Because "I Voted" stickers indicate voting is a social norm, like paying taxes or saving electricity, people are more likely to act like their neighbors.

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