supply chain Archives

How Covid Caused a Bagels and Cream Cheese Crisis

Covid’s impact on factory labor, truck drivers, and packaging supplies has resulted in a New York City cream cheese shortage.

International Trade

The Travels of a Banana

Looking at the past, present, and future, we would see that a banana’s travels could once again change because of a fungus.

weekly economic roundup and toilet paper shortages

What's Trending

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.

Trade & Comparative Advantage

A Global Look at the 737 MAX

More than a U.S., airplane, the Boeing 737 MAX is made from components that come from the 600 companies in its global supply chain.

e-links

August 2019 Friday’s e-links: From Retroviruses to the Travels of a T-Shirt and Average Fast-Food Drive-Through Times

Friday’s e-links: Focusing on a monumental scientific breakthrough, Malcolm Gladwell produced a memorable podcast in “The Obscure Virus Club.”

Weekly Economic News Roundup and Columbia's Valentine's roses

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Why Valentine’s Roses Bloom in Colombia

Most of our Valentine’s roses come from Colombia because of the U.S. government, the perfect combination of land, labor and capital, and Walmart.

Weekly Economic News Roundup and "price gouging"

Economic Thinkers

Can a Hurricane Help an Economy?

Before, during and after a natural disaster like Harvey, we have hurricane economics affecting gasoline markets and the GDP.

weekly economic news roundup and consumer spending

Taxes and Spending

How Marijuana Taxes Affect Our Behavior

The state of Washington created new marijuana tax incentives when it switched how it taxed pot growers, processors and retailers.

Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup: From Chicken Sandwiches to Budget Gridlock

Our economic news summary includes chicken sandwiches, reefers and the supply chain, the internet and the information infrastructure and the federal budget.

What's Trending

The Most Expensive Way to Make a Chicken Sandwich

In a chicken sandwich are ingredients from around the world that one person can create but the price system gathered them for us at the local supermarket.