Looking at New York City real estate prices and the dogs that households own, we can see a correlation and a quirky economic indicator.
How to Make Kids Smarter (And Also Help the GDP)
While superstition tells us that babies born during the Year of the Dragon will have more success and power, economists look at human capital investment.
The Economic Yardstick That (We Don’t Know) We Need
Please think GDP for a moment. Reported and revised during each quarter, GDP numbers create a reaction. If the growth rate is high, lawmakers assume their policies are working. When the numbers are lower, people wonder how to boost them.…
When Garbage Is More Than Trash
Our story starts in a college dining room when students said the mayonnaise did not taste right. It turns out that a shipment of mayonnaise to Michigan State University had frozen. Yes, you could eat the mayo (I checked). It just…
The Shrinking Cities Problem
An idyllic mountain village wants you. The town has one shop, a church, houses that have been there forever, and a population that has shrunk to 240. It is located in the Swiss Alps. Albinen’s plusses include clean air, magnificent views, and…
The Messages That Satellite Images Send
By showing illuminated areas of the world, nighttime satellite images can tell economic stories that relate to growth and contraction.
The Power of Saudi Female Drivers
By royal decree, a Saudi woman can drive by June 24, 2018. But she still might need permission from her husband to buy a car. Narrowing the Saudi gender gap will be complicated. The Saudi Gender Gap First, let’s see…
A Wake Up Call for High School Principals
At 8 am or earlier, the average high school start time could diminish adolescent math and reading cognition because of sleep deprivation.
How Affluence Relates to Pollution
China’s first three five-year plans had no mention of the environment. Then in plans five through nine, there was more. And now, looking at plans 11 to 13, we would see that 5% of all words relate to ecology, energy or the environment. Where are…