A government shutdown is again in the news. The key date is December 21. If federal agencies without funding do not get their money by then, they have to follow their shutdown rules. I suspect most of…
Environment
Environmental economics looks at the positive and negative impact of growth. Especially focusing on marginal analysis and externalities, econlife looks at our current impact on the environment and our use of natural resources in the US and beyond.
The Light Side of South Africa’s Electricity Problems
Indicating the bigger problems with South Africa’s electricity, Trevor Noah’s Grandma says she does not watch “The Daily Show” because of load shedding.…
Why Less Land Needs To Make More Food
With population growth adding almost three billion people by 2050, we need to figure out how to produce more food with less land and fewer emissions.…
The Economics of Skiing Across Antarctica
Across a 921-mile stretch of Antarctica, two men are racing. Unassisted, each is alone. Unsupported, they are not allowed to receive a food or fuel drop or to use a kite for wind power. All each needs…
A New Way to Score a City
Cities that benefit from the economic side of walking have a boost in productivity, better health, and more social interaction.…
A Tale of Corn and Climate
A look at corn and climate change in northern Canada demonstrates the different markets that develop when temperatures rises.…
What an Air Quality Index Really Measures
While the Air Quality Index (AQI) is a pollution yardstick, it also can signal if we are controlling the tragedy of the commons.…
The Facts You Never Knew About the Nobel Economics Prize
First awarded more than 70 years after the original Nobel Prizes began, the Nobel Economics Prize is worth some unexpected extras.…
Why Wedding Tickets Should (or Should Not) Be For Sale
By identifying the moral limits of markets, we can decide what should and should not be sold…like wedding tickets and high grades.…
Six Facts About Disaster Economics
When natural disasters like hurricanes, massive snowstorms, and wildfires strike a region, their economic impact is far more than the clean-up.…