Most Recent Articles in Economics...
09/22/03 - Where Can I Get Economics Department Rankings?
Mike lists a number of resources where you can find out how schools measure up against each other.
09/17/03 - Cost-Push Inflation vs. Demand-Pull Inflation
An examination of two different types of inflation.
09/17/03 - Economics Graduate School Atmosphere
Another factor you'll want to consider when applying to graduate school in economics.
09/17/03 - Short Run vs. Long Run
How long is the "long run"? What distinguishes it from the "short run?"
09/10/03 - Exchange Rates - What to Use as the Base
A primer on reading exchange rate charts.
09/09/03 - Choosing a Graduate School in Economics
Factors to consider when choosing a graduate school in economics.
09/09/03 - Banking in India - Banking on Retail
Suchintan Chatterjee's "Banking in India: Banking on Retail" examines the current state of the Indian banking industry and where it might be headed.
09/04/03 - What is Arbitrage?
Here I answer the questions: "What is arbitrage? What markets do arbitrageurs usually trade on?"
08/27/03 - What was the Gold Standard?
"What was the gold standard and how does it differ from today's system of money?"
08/21/03 - Money Resource Center
The "Money Resource Center" is a list of all the articles and subject pages on Economics at About.com related to money and the money supply.
08/20/03 - Stock Market Resource Center
The "Stock Market Resource Center" is a list of all the articles and subject pages on Economics at About.com related to stocks and the stock market.
08/20/03 - Deflation Resource Center
The "Deflation Resource Center" is a list of all the articles and subject pages on Economics at About.com related to deflation.
08/20/03 - Softwood Lumber Dispute Resource Center
The "Softwood Lumber Dispute Resource Center" is a list of all the articles and subject pages on Economics at About.com related to the softwood lumber dispute.
08/20/03 - What is the Demand for Money?
In "What is the Demand For Money?" I show that the demand for money does change over time and I show what causes it to change.
08/20/03 - Nominal vs. Real
A look at the difference between these two commonly used terms in economics.
08/20/03 - Canadian Dollar Resource Center
The "Canadian Dollar Resource Center" is a list of all the articles and subject pages on Economics at About.com related to the Canadian dollar.
08/14/03 - Expansionary Monetary Policy vs. Contractionary Monetary Policy
In "Expansionary Monetary Policy vs. Contractionary Monetary Policy" I examine the effects changes in monetary policies have on the economy.
08/14/03 - Are Credit Cards a Form of Money?
Most of us use credit cards every day to purchase goods and services. Does that make credit cards a form of money? In "Are Credit Cards A Form Of Money?" we investigate the idea.
08/14/03 - The Softwood Lumber Dispute
An investigation of the ongoing softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the United States.
08/13/03 - How Markets Use Information to Set Prices
"How Markets Use Information To Set Prices" looks at how different markets use information and beliefs to set prices, and how we can conversely gain information from looking at price changes.
08/13/03 - Why Don't Prices Decline During A Recession?
This week's article "Why Don't Prices Decline During A Recession?" examines why inflation occurs in both economic expansions and economic contractions.
07/31/03 - A Beginner's Guide to Economic Indicators
A reader asks: "I'm constantly hearing about economic indicators in the news, but I'm never sure what they're talking about. What are economic indicators and why are they important?". In "A Beginner's Guide to Economic Indicators" I examine economic indicators and explain what they're used for.
07/24/03 - More Books for Economics Graduate School
Here's one of the many e-mails I received regarding my "Books to Study Before Going to Graduate School in Economics" article.
07/11/03 - Books to Study Before Going to Graduate School in Economics
Deciding to obtain a Ph.D. in economics is one of the biggest decisions anyone will make in their lifetime. To be able to successfully obtain a Ph.D. in economics, one must have a great deal of knowledge in economics and mathematics before entering. In my article "Books to Study Before Going to Graduate School in Economics" I give a prospective economics Ph.D. student advice about what he should know before entering a Ph.D. program.
07/08/03 - Does Freer Trade Mean Lower Environmental Standards?
Nathan Johnson's article "Does Freer Trade Mean Lower Environmental Standards?" examines the claim that free trade agreements will lead to "a race to the bottom in environmental standards among nations".
06/19/03 - The Logic of Collective Action
This week I look at Mancur Olson's 1965 masterpiece "The Logic of Collective Action" to show why special interest groups have so much pull in Washington and why congress passes so many laws which hurt the economy.
06/12/03 - FairTax Resource Center
A collection of all the pieces I've published on FairTax, starting with my FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes article.
06/12/03 - More FairTax Advocates Have Their Say
Even more reader responses to my FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes article.
06/12/03 - More FairTax Advocates Have Their Say 2
Even more reader responses to my FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes article.
06/12/03 - Advertisements as a Revenue Source
Here I examine the idea of giving away free food and using advertising to turn a profit. Does it make economic sense or would this gimmick fail?
06/11/03 - How much is the per capita money supply in the U.S.?
"If all the money in the US was divided up evenly and given to every American over 21 or so, how much would each person get?" Well, it depends what you mean by "money"...
06/04/03 - Insider Trading: What did Martha Do?
Guest economics writer Hannah Rasmussen examines the current Martha Stewart Insider Trading scandal.
06/03/03 - The Canadian Exchange Rate
A reader wants to know if the Canadian Dollar is appreciating relative to currencies other than the U.S. Dollar and where he can find information on exchange rates. This article answers his exchange rate questions.
05/29/03 - What is deflation and how can it be prevented?
Deflation has been a hot topic since about 2001 and the fear of deflation does not look like it will subside anytime soon. I look at the problems caused by deflation and the steps the Fed can take to prevent it from happening to America.
05/21/03 - Economics from A-to-Z
Looking for information on "Money" or "Dow Jones"? Check out the new "Economics - From A to Z", which works like the index at the back of a book. A one-stop place to get all the information you need.
05/14/03 - FairTax - The Advocates Strike Back
In the interest of fairness, I gave the chance for FairTax advocate Al Ose to explain why FairTax would be good for America.
05/08/03 - Are Recessions Good for the Economy?
"Are Recessions Good for the Economy?" looks at firm closure rates which indicate that recessions are not the neccessities in capitalist societies that many argue they are.
05/04/03 - FairTax Redux
Under the new FairTax proposal, you would never pay income taxes again. How would it work? Could it improve the performance of the economy? Here I have a lengthy conversation with a reader on my FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes article.
04/30/03 - Why does money have value?
This is the first in what I hope will be a series of articles based on questions from readers. This week’s question: "Why does money have value?"
04/24/03 - The Effect of Income Taxes on Economic Growth
Advocates of tax cuts claim that a reduction in the tax rate will lead to increased economic growth and prosperity. What does economic theory suggest about the relationship between economic growth and taxation?
04/18/03 - Reader Feedback -We Will Never Run Out of Oil
The economic way of thinking shows why the doomsday scenarios are flawed. Here I respond to user e-mails on my We Will Never Run Out of Oil article.
04/18/03 - Reader Feedback - FairTax
Under the new FairTax proposal, you would never pay income taxes again. How would it work? Could it improve the performance of the economy? Here I respond to user e-mails on my FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes article.
04/09/03 - FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes
Under the new FairTax proposal, you would never pay income taxes again. How would it work? Could it improve the performance of the economy?
04/02/03 - Econometrics Term Paper Ideas
Term paper season is upon us. Here are a couple of suggested topics, along with data, which will allow you to spend a lot less time on your project and simultaneously improve your grade.
04/02/03 - Instant Econometrics Project 1 - Okun's Law
The first quick and easy econometrics term paper idea. Comes complete with a dataset!
04/02/03 - Instant Econometrics Project 2 - Personal Disposable Income and Spending on Imports
The second quick and easy econometrics term paper idea. Comes complete with a dataset!
04/02/03 - Quarterly Economic Data
Quarterly economic data which will help you greatly on your econometrics project. Saved in Microsoft Excel format.
04/02/03 - Imports and Exports Economic Data
A dataset for econometrics project, saved in Microsoft Excel format.
03/27/03 - We Will Never Run Out of Oil
The economic way of thinking shows why the doomsday scenarios are flawed.
03/20/03 - Will the War be Good for the Economy?
Mike debunks the myth that there will be an economic benefit to the war in Iraq.
03/06/03 - The Nobel Prize in Economics
Guest economics writer Hannah Rasmussen gives a history of the Nobel Prize in Economics.
03/05/03 - Interpreting the Price/Earnings Ratio
Guest economics writer Jenny Luesby explains why the Price/Earnings ratio (P/E ratio) can often predict future price changes of stocks.
02/27/03 - A Beginner's Guide to Exchange Rates and the Foreign Exchange Market
Everything you ever wanted to know about exchange rates but were always afraid to ask.
02/19/03 - Baseball Players and Opportunity Costs
Economics Guide Mike Moffatt uses the Microeconomic concept of opportunity cost to look at the personnel moves Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays have made during the winter. Voice your opinion by voting in our poll.
02/14/03 - Leaky Stadiums
Guest sports economics writer David Marasco discusses the issue of government subsidies of sports stadiums. This indepth article shows why stadiums are often a poor investment for the government who gives the funding. Voice your opinion by voting in our poll.
02/09/03 - Economist Biography - Joan Robinson
Guest economics writer Hannah Rasmussen examines the life of Joan Robinson, a famous Cambridge economist.
02/03/03 - Five Economics Term Paper Suggestions
Mike and guest writer Hannah Rasmussen give five economics term paper topics for frustrated students complete with summaries, issues to address, and detailed lists of magazine articles, policy papers and journal articles.
01/23/03 - The Dividend Tax Cut and Interest Rates
One of the possible side effects of the Bush tax cut plan is that it may cause a rise in interest rates. This could cost you a fair amount of money if you want to take out a car loan or mortgage in the future. Mike discusses why rates will rise.
01/08/03 - The Winner's Curse - Baseball Players and Oil Wells
Guest economics writer David Marasco introduces a concept in game theory known as "The Winner's Curse", to explain why many free agent baseball players perform under expectations after they are signed.
01/06/03 - Economics at About.Com Content Plan for 2003
Mike discloses his plans for world domination (well, the economics website part of the world) in 2003. During the year you'll be bombarded by Mike's views on everything from the financial decisions made by the Toronto Blue Jays to Kazaa.
01/05/03 - Want to write for Economics@About.Com?
Interested in having your work seen by thousands of visitors? Economics at About.Com is now accepting submissions for publication. Details inside.
12/30/02 - Book Review: The Economics of Barbarism
Mike gives a belated review of The Economics of Barbarism: Hitler's New Economic Order in Europe.
12/23/02 - Top 8 Sports Economics Books
The eight books here explain why players get paid so much, the impact of a salary cap, and why arguments for government financed stadiums are bad economics.
12/10/02 - How to Ace Your Econometrics Test
Tips for college students on how to conquer the dreaded econometrics final. The tips should help you improve your score.
12/01/02 - A Public Good Through the Eyes of College Freshmen
A few college students brighten up the drudgery of marking a large set of midterms.
11/23/02 - Do changes in stock prices cause recessions?
What causes the price of stocks to change? Do sharp drops in the Dow lead to economic declines?
11/22/02 - What does the value of the Dow Jones represent?
We demystify the numbers on the nightly news.
11/20/02 - Recession? Depression?
Recession? Depression? What's the difference between the two terms? Can an economics joke help us tell the difference?