blog: the economic life
07.30.2010 | Son Preference
If there are 122 men for every 100 women, how do you find a wife? According to a Columbia University professor, in China, you save.
Economists... [read more]
07.29.2010 | Kindergarten Matters
Several months ago, we asked if law school was a good investment. Now we can ask the same question about kindergarten.
Saying that adult outcomes... [read more]
07.28.2010 | Mortgage Backed Securities (Insecurities)
NPR's Planet Money has been looking for the people behind a mortgage backed security. The story, almost like a page turner mystery, began with a... [read more]
elaine schwartz
I am a teacher at Kent Place School in Summit, NJ where I have taught AP Economics and US History for several decades. I have also written two economics books: Economics Our American Economy (Addison Wesley) and Econ 101 1/2 (Avon Books), economic history articles, and worked with the NCEE and Foundation for Teaching Economics. I have created this website for my past and current students and all who want to enjoy economics.
notes: july 2010
jul
July 30, 2010
70 years ago this week, Billboard published its first chart ranking the sales of recorded songs. Now, the "Ultimate Chart" aims to improve on the Billboard model. How do rankings influence "tastes", a difficult-to-define determinant of demand?
July 30, 2010
On a lighter note...
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is the best-selling album of all time, with more than 110 million copies sold since its 1982 release.