Self-interest vs. Social Interest

Courtesy of Wondermark.
http://wondermark.com/842/

Non-Price Determinants of Demand

This is not appropriate for use in high schools. However, those of you who teach at the college or university level may find this helpful.  Econgirl at EconomistsDoItWithModels has a great illustration of non-price determinants of demand with the help of "the most interesting man in the world."

Sometimes the Simplest Answers Are the Best

If you discuss the Chevy Volt with your students, you might want to use this. (HT to Carpe Diem.)

Abbot and Costello Explain Unemployment

Greg Mankiw posts a great piece from a colleague at the University of Chicago.

Generation Gap Alert: I just talked about this with my freshmen at one of the universities where I teach. None of them knew the Abbott & Costello routine "Who's on First?"  Consequently, you may want to skip this or show your students this clip first.

Economic Systems and Institutions

First, I know it's been a long time between posts - life isn't always what we want. I frequently come across items that should be brought to your attention. But due to other factors, I have to choose. It seems opportunity cost is an operative concept.

I don't know how many of you spend time discussing economic institutions and systems.  While many textbooks seem to bypass the subject or give it short shrift, I always try to spend at least one class period discussing them. And they are revisited throughout the semester. The rules that a society puts in place to influence or control decision-making are important if we are to understand the decisions.

Here is an excellent article from The Daily (HT to Arts & Letters Daily) that really brings the importance of institutions home. What I find particularly interesting is the aspect of traditional economies in a modern setting. One quickly understands how traditions can be an important mold for many choices. And attempts to change the rules, by issuing formal rules to replace informal rules, can have significant costs on many levels. I hope you take a moment to check the article out. And I hope you will share your thoughts.

Honey...I May Have Shrunk the Economy

Actor/writer Rick Moranis has a very amusing piece in the opinion section of today's edition of The Wall Street Journal. What struck me was how good it would be in setting up a discussion of opportunity cost. It really harkened back to Bastiat's "that which is seen and that which is unseen." I strongly recommend it and I hope you comment with your opinion.

The Mark of the Entrepreneur

Which of Schumpeter's five roles of the entrepreneur is/are illustrated here?

Two Items of Interest

First, I'm a bit late with this, but for those of you who haven't sought it out already, PNC Bank has it's CPI (Christmas Price Index) up and running, showing the price changes in the gifts from the carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas.  As always, it's an interesting way to explore how an index works and how the various components fit together to provide a single measure. What's particularly interesting is how many of the components showed no change this year.

Second, today's edition of The Wall Street Journal had a great micro-parody of a macro-event (the recent financial crisis). It's well worth a look and good for a chuckle.

All of my classes are entering their last week of the semester. I suspect the same applies to many of you. So in case I don't get another chance to post before the new year, I wish you happy holidays and more good economic resources.

The Invisible Hand and Thanksgiving

I suspect many of you are busy today.  Our family had our dinner yesterday because one of my sons is working on Thanksgiving Day. But when you get a chance, you might want to review this column by Jeff Jacoby of The Boston Globe. (HT to Carpe Diem for the reminder.)

The market works wonders. And if you're thinking "but turkey was relatively expensive this year"; the market explains that, as well.  Here's an item from Bloomberg.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Putting Things in Perspective ... Thanksgiving Edition

As we approach year's end and the traditional holiday season, and with the failure of the Supercommittee to achieve anything of substance beyond finger-pointing, here is something courtesy of XKCD to fill those odd classroom moments.

From Last Night's 60 Minutes on CBS

Captain Renault is shocked.

Rent-seeking 101

Here's an editorial from today's edition of The Wall Street Journal that describes the process simply.

Happiness Can Make You Miserable

Here is a link to a Luann comic strip that offers a chance to really explore choices, trade-offs, opportunity cost and even psychic income.

http://www.gocomics.com/luann/2011/11/13

Behavioral Economics and Tax Cuts

Here is a piece from Bloomberg Businessweek (HT Arts & Letters Daily) on how behavioral economists may have shaped a tax policy. The summary of the research is that the plan didn't work. However, the study is based on survey data, which is not as reliable as actual expenditure data. It's a worthwhile read if you are entering the section of fiscal policy or spend time discussing behavioral economics. 

Taxes and Halloween Candy

Here's a funny video (HT Econlog) with a comedian explaining how to use Halloween candy to explain taxes. It's a great visual, although the last line is over the top.

Voting, Externalities and an "Invisible" Hand?

I've been too busy lately. I've found some time to read, but precious little to blog.  So this is about a week overdue. This article (HT to Marginal Revolution) is really a wealth of opportunity. You can connect all kinds of economic concepts to voting. The author makes some excellent arguments for voting and not voting. It is the latter that are most intriguing. In some instances, the author seems to be relying on normative judgments about what is a good policy.  In other instances, the argument of common good runs up against rational self-interest.

Do you agree with the author?

Dual Mandate

There is a very good short essay by Dan Altman over at Big Think.

It deals with the dual mandate faced by the Federal Reserve. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, the Federal Reserve is obliged by law to consider “maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates.” The kicker is that first part. Many other central banks around the world are focused on stable prices only. This makes sense if you subscribe to the idea that money is neutral and understand the relationship in the equation of exchange M * V = P * Q  (or P * Y as many prefer).

But the author points out that it complicates monetary policy when fiscal policy is ineffective.  I even wonder if fiscal policy-makers are generally unwilling to face hard choices, hoping that monetary policy can solve the problem alone. If true, the tools in the monetary policy toolbox may not offer the solution that is being sought.  This is not the time to use the old adage, “when all you have is hammer, treat everything like a nail.”

I look forward to your comments.

Productivity, Structural Unemployment & Creative Destruction

As we know, cyclical unemployment can become structural if prolonged. And as labor costs rise, there is an incentive for firms to increase the capital/labor ratio rather than hire workers. This can be part of the process of creative destruction. It's all explained rather well in this blog post at The Wall Street Journal.

What I like about the post is that it is short yet very clear. I would think you might want to use with your students as a discussion starter at the beginning of the period or to summarize a day's activity.

Trade Politics of Middle Earth

This may have been more appropriate as an exam question in an earlier age; nevertheless, it is clever - even with the problems with details. (HT to Marginal Revolution)