Since 1995, many of us have been consuming shamelessly decadent Frappuccinos. Just one Ultra Caramel Frappuccino with dark caramel coffee, layers of whipped cream (each topped with a dollop of caramel…
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.…
Weekly Roundup: From Lost Jobs to Fewer Tips
Posts Roundup Sunday 10.11.15 Why we stick with a brand…more Monday 10.12.15 The many meanings of the minimum wage…more Tuesday 10.13.15 How a drone port solves road problems…more We…
Tipping Decisions
Phasing in a no-tipping policy, Danny Meyer will eliminate tipping decisions, raise prices, change server pay and increase what the kitchen staff earns.…
Weekly Roundup: From Uber's Impact to the Cost of Children
Our everyday economics includes social norms, tradeoffs, financial intermediaries, human capital, sovereign debt, externalities,labor markets, & gender gap.…
Why Recycling is More Expensive
Because recycling is a broad social norm, we do not differentiate between good and bad recycling and, as a result, have a higher cost.…
Should Your Boss Require Vacations?
OECD countries mandate that wages and salaries be paid for vacations and sick while, in the U.S., firms decide their own policies.…
Changing Female Images
Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” When econlife looked at women and the symphony orchestra several weeks ago, we first saw a world t…
Are You a Follower?
This sign in Arizona’s Petrified Forest was having little impact: “Your heritage is being vandalized every day by theft losses of petrified wood of 14 tons a year, mostly a small piece at …
More Than a Mandate
Yesterday, the odds on intrade were 76% that the Supreme Court will declare the health care insurance mandate unconstitutional. This started me thinking about Social Security during 1935. Several stat…