Hit by less supply and more demand, our Labor Day cookouts will suffer from hot dog shortages and higher prices.…
When a Carbon Tax Proposal Is Like Goldilocks
In his new book, climate activist Bjorn Lomborg presents a controversial carbon tax proposal that could remind us of Goldilocks.…
The Pandemic’s Pepperoni Problem
In addition to Dr. Pepper and toilet paper, we now can place pepperoni shortages on a list of the products that have been hit by the pandemic.…
What an Oil Boom and Bust Do to a Town
Sometimes like a roller coaster, the change in prices that cause an oil boom and bust can transform drilling towns and cities.…
The Mystery of the Artless Heist
When the ownership rights of a $3.1 million John Constable painting are unclear, no one can buy or sell, display, or conserve it.…
The Sizzling Price of a Francis Bacon Triptych
Looking at yesterday’s first online auction for very expensive contemporary art, we can ask why the price of a painting exceeded $80 million.…
Why Cheddar Cheese Is Like WTI Crude Oil
A benchmark like WTI, light mild Cheddar cheese prices are determined by commodities markets that responded to pandemic changes in supply and demand.…
When Pandemic Electricity Demand Is Like the Big Flush
Although pandemic lockdowns have reduced electricity demand, still, like the “big flush” after the Super Bowl, they need to retain peak capacity.…
How the 2020 Pandemic Is Like the 1930s Depression
Because of state mandated lockdowns, dairy farmers are responding to less demand from restaurants, schools, and hotels by dumping milk.…
Why There Really Is a Toilet Paper Shortage
It’s easy to assume that the toilet paper shortage in the U.S. is caused by panic buying and hoarding but there really might be a supply problem.…