From SeatGeek: January, 2013 $500-$2500 is the face value range for 2014 Super Bowl tickets. By contrast, in 1967, the least expensive box office ticket to the first Super Bowl would have cost you $6.…
In West Virginia, Is Price Gouging a Problem or a Solution?
West Virginia’s Attorney General says it’s illegal and “just plain wrong” to inflate the price of water in times of emergency. In addition, he suggests that people keep an eye …
Marrying Up in China
“There is an opinion that A quality guys will find B quality women, B quality guys will find C quality women, and C quality men will find D quality women…The people left are A quality wom…
Is Colorado's Marijuana Tax Too High?
Colorado has a nasal ranger. Concerned with the increasing odor of marijuana in the streets now that its recreational purchase is legal, Colorado has made it possible to quantify the smell. Last year,…
Top Ten Ways to Sound Like an Economist
You might find it handy sometimes to sound like an economist. Here are the top ten ways: 1. Whatever the question, always answer, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” 2. Defend a…
How High Can a Taxi Fare Go?
Tough to get in rain, ice or snow, NYC cabs never seem to be around when I need them. That is what makes Uber such a great story. First used in San Francisco, the idea behind Uber was to make more rid…
Church Bell Economics
Irritated that church bells had been awakening them before 7 a.m., in 1879 a group of New Yorkers complained to the city Board of Health. They said the chimes violated Section 177 of the Sanitary Code…
A Nutty Demand and Supply Story
Our almond story starts on the demand side in China with a name change. Just like apricot kernals, California almonds had been called xing ren until the apricot kernel growers accused the Americans of…
One Reason To Drink Coffee in China
How can you show your friends (in China) that you have ascended to your country’s middle class? Starbucks. First, some background… A 2010 BusinessWeek article on the world’s most caf…
How Are French Fries and Airplanes Similar?
The same oil that fried your potatoes might have fueled your airplane. Correctly processed, biofuels made from used cooking oil burn 80% cleaner than fossil fuels. Just add to that the incentive of US…