If a lobbyist wants to go to a congressional hearing but cannot do the line, she can hire a line stander. Maybe 30 minutes before entering, the customer takes the place of the “waiter.” Saying they have “significant expertise in all of…
How to Build a Better Bridge
Politicians have decided to spend $1.3 billion on an 83 year old bridge between Staten Island, NY and Bayonne, NJ. Because the Panama Canal is the reason, $1.3 billion makes sense. During 2015 or perhaps later if construction delays continue,…
What We Sacrifice for Pothole Patches
With 150,000 more potholes than last year and $12 for each temporary patch, Chicago has spent close to $3 million on pothole repair and the end is not in sight. NYC was at a record breaking 113,131 on February 20.…
Is the Price of Protecting Pandas Too High?
By Madeleine Vance, guest blogger and student at Kent Place School This summer, I had an incredible opportunity to travel through China including a stop to see the giant pandas in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. Although the pandas didn’t…
Gender Pricing: When Do Women Pay More Than Men?
NYC fined the owner of Freckle Skin and Hair for charging men less than women for haircuts. “It’s ridiculous, I have some guys who need to come in every two weeks. If I raise my prices, I’ll lose all my…
A Surprising Connection Between Tennessee and the Affordable Care Act
There is probably a tradeoff between health insurance and the demand for jobs. During 2005 in Tennessee, the demand for jobs increased when 170,000 people lost their Medicaid health insurance coverage. Researchers call that jobs/health insurance tie, the “employment lock.” Looking at…
The Trade-Offs of Prolonging Life
From guest blogger, Mariana Do Carmo, student at Yale University. What if prolonging life results in prolonging not only your suffering but also that of others? The recent development of universal health care in the United States will make it…
One Reason That We Have Nutella
Inside a jar of Nutella you might have a little bit of the Ivory Coast, Turkey, Malaysia, the EU and the US. Processed in the EU, Turkey, Russia, Australia, North or South America, the cocoa and hazelnut spread is then…
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 decision by declaring, “It was worth…
