ARCHIVE:
The Undercover Economist
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Why Not Start Your Weekend on Wednesday?
There's no need to preach the gospel of leisure. Most of us work less than our parents did.
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On the Dole, but Not Doleful
Unemployment benefits do encourage joblessness. But that may not be a bad thing.
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Only the Good Buy Young
Why 20-year-olds should invest way more in the stock market, and 50-year-olds, way less.
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Bailouts Are Inevitable, Even Desirable
Stop complaining about the "moral hazard" problem and enjoy the rescue.
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The Fruits of Their Labors
An amazing economics experiment and how it got field workers to pick a lot more strawberries.
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The Wisdom of Crowds?
A single economic forecast is usually wrong. But groups of economic forecasts are often just as mistaken. Why?
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The World Needs More Speculators
Stop demonizing the investors who are betting heavily on oil prices.
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Likely Bedfellows
How much do Republican-leaning corporations benefit from Republican political success? A lot!
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You're Saving Enough for Retirement (Probably)
Don't worry—you won't have to live on ramen and cat food.
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A Secret Tax on Teenagers
You get your rebate check today. Your kid pays the tax bill later.
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It's Like Money, but With No Dead Presidents
Do "local currencies" really help the communities that use them?
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What Is "Income per Natural"?
How a new way to count national income could change how we think about immigration and development.
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Steal This Book! Please!
Why software and media companies should encourage piracy (sometimes).
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The Price Is Right
Does evolution explain why we hate to pay more for scarce goods?
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Smallpox or Facebook?
Which better explains how ideas move through society: diseases or social networks?
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My Own Private Housing Bubble
I'm about to pay way too much for a house, and I know it. Does that make me a fool?
