economist

Can a Little Inflation Be Good?

Posted February 17, 2010 - 06:00 by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance

Balloon Inflation

Let me jump to the end and say right at the start that I don't think so. However, there's a serious argument being made right now among economists and economic policy makers that higher inflation would be good. There's enough of them in the pro-inflation camp that it's worth taking a look at what they're saying.

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Recession Journal VI: It's OVER!!!!!!!!!!!! Any Questions?

Posted October 31, 2009 - 08:00 by Jabulani Leffall

Consumer Affairs

The recession is technically over, officially over, numerically over. How do you feel now and what are you gonna do about it?

full story 35 comments

Deadweight loss of Christmas: Economist explains why gifts are inefficient

Posted 3 years ago by Will Chen

Filed Under: Shopping

Christmas tree at Rockefeller centerDid you unwrap any crappy presents this morning? Are you thinking that all the shopping and running around was a big waste of time?

You might be right, says economist Joel Waldfogel.

Waldfogel estimates that people generally spend 16% more on presents than they’re worth to those who receive them. He calls this phenomenon “the deadweight loss of Christmas.”

For example, a deadweight loss is created when you spend $20 to give me a DVD that I would spend only $15 to buy for myself. Economist Tim Harford explains:

Continue reading "Deadweight loss of Christmas: Economist explains why gifts are inefficient"

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