Since trade with Canada tops everyone but China, we should take a look at what they send to us, what we receive, and why we have a trade surplus with them.…
Everything You Need To Know About the Avocado
From needing a new name to making California growers happy, boosting avocado consumption has been about overcoming obstacles.…
The Return of the Disappearing Avocado
If avocado has returned to your favorite veggie wrap, you can ask your economist to explain avocado prices with supply and demand.…
What a Strawberry and a Chicken Say About Free Trade
More than governments negotiating agreements, free trade is about the variety of strawberries, chickens, pickup trucks and pencils that we can buy.…
Searching For an Accurate Statistic
Whether looking at the height of Mount Everest or at the rules of origin that will be renegotiated during the NAFTA talks, we have a statistical accuracy problem.…
Why Tomatoes are Controversial
Texas and Ohio call the tomato their state fruit. But in New Jersey, it’s the state vegetable. Where are we going? To why people care about what we call a tomato. A Supreme Court Decision Becaus…
Where a Cranberry Meets NAFTA
For another NAFTA example, we can start with the impact of Canadian cranberry production on Nantucket but then continue onward to Wisconsin and beyond.…
The Travels of a Car Seat
With components that crisscross countries until they are assembled. our car seats are global because of incentives from NAFTA.…
Econlife Quiz: Do You Know Your U.S. Presidential Election Economics?
It’s always handy to sound like you know your economics. So, after taking the econlife U.S. Presidential Election Economics Quiz (below), based on the third and final debate, see if you need the follo…
Three Charts That Show the Good Side of Free Trade
The consumer benefits from free trade with cheaper goods that most help low income households, more variety, and a GDP rise that boosts living standards.…