Ideas and discussions about economic and financial literacy issues.
Named one of the 100 best blogs for econ students by Online Universities Weblog.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Economics in the Movies
Considering how often A Muppet Christmas Carol is played in my house during the holidays, I don't know how I missed this. (Start at about 3:20 into the clip and the "lesson" is done by 3:35.)
The mouse is trying to create a shortage and not scarcity. He's got it wrong. The apples are always scarce, both before and after he takes a bite out of one. This is the on-going problem with teaching about scarcity. It's so hard to show because nearly everything is scarce all the time.
You're right, of course. What he's trying to do is similar to what a cartel would do, or what producers would do to take existing product off the market.
But it opens the door to discussion so the concepts can be clarified.
Nobody every accused the Muppets of being great economists.
The mouse is trying to create a shortage and not scarcity. He's got it wrong. The apples are always scarce, both before and after he takes a bite out of one. This is the on-going problem with teaching about scarcity. It's so hard to show because nearly everything is scarce all the time.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, of course. What he's trying to do is similar to what a cartel would do, or what producers would do to take existing product off the market.
ReplyDeleteBut it opens the door to discussion so the concepts can be clarified.
Nobody every accused the Muppets of being great economists.
Thanks for checking in.