Econlife Quiz: The Economics of U.S. Presidential Inaugurations

One week ago, America witnessed the Inauguration of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States. From million dollar donors to glitzy ball gowns, no doubt a U.S. Presidential Inauguration has become both a historic and spectacular occasion. The…

Why We Care About Our Area Code

Conveying a message about its place of origin, an area code becomes a status symbol that displays conspicuous consumption.

How Your Lawn is About More Than Grass

Nothing but grass, lawns began as conspicuous consumption from the English and French aristocracy and now are a middle class manicured status symbol.

Where Prada is Called Ordinary

Purchasing less expensive luxury goods like Prada and Louis Vuitton, China’s growing middle class displays Thorstein Veblen’s conspicuous consumption.

Weekly Roundup: From Milkmen to Menus

This week’s stories on everyday economics include competitive market structures, business cycles, saving, conspicuous consumption and economic indicators.

Will Conspicuous Consumption Add to iPhone 6 Sales?

As an oligopoly, through pricing power and product differentiation, Apple takes advantage of the conspicuous consumption customers could experience.

What Golf in China Shows About Economic Development

On a ladder of spending in developing economies, growing affluence first means wheat and meat. Then, climbing somewhat higher, people can afford consumer durables like a washing machine and a car. On a Chinese spending ladder, we could add golf. But it is a…

Prius Purchases and Conspicuous Conservation

Our Wednesday Environment Focus Reporting that Prius was the top selling car in California, Bloomberg said the reason was tough emissions standards. I wonder… In a 2011 paper, economists Alison and Steven Sexton compared voting patterns and Prius ownership in Colorado and Washington…