Incentives That Have Unexpected Results

From the Wells Fargo scandal to the British National Health Service and Chilean bus drivers, sometimes incentives can have unintended consequences.

Weekly Roundup: From Smart Cars to Dumb Laws

This week’s economic news summary includes work week tradeoffs in France, new labor laws for the gig economy, and why price tags are disappearing.

Weekly Roundup: From Area Codes to Toilets

This week’s economic news summary included looking at human capital from a health care and college perspective and at area codes as conspicuous consumption.

Health Care Spending: The Impact of the Deductible

With some unintended consequences, a large self-insured employer cut health care spending by switching from free employee health care to a high deductible.

Why China’s Two-Child Policy Might Not Work

Although China has said it will replace its one-child policy with a two child limit, small families remain a social norm that will be tough to change.

The Many Sides of the Minimum Wage Debate

The complexities of the minimum wage debate involve different incentives for employers and employees and different minimum wages in the U.S.

Weekly Roundup: From Blockbuster Movies to Student Debt

This week’s economic news summary includes the transactions costs of new medical diagnostic codes, the personal and macro impact of the student loan crisis.

Part 2: Understanding the Student Loan Crisis

On the post secondary institution side of the student loan crisis, eligible Title IV schools charge higher tuition than similar non Title IV schools.

Government Nudge Squad Questions

A government Nudge Squad that compensates for our irrational behavior is dealing with policy makers with the same behavioral economics irrationalities.

Weekly Roundup: From Fed Dots to Income Traps

Our economic news summary includes interest rates and the Fed, inequality and developing nations, space travel innovation and consumer spending changes.