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the undercover economist
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the undercover economist
columns
- Bailouts Are Inevitable, Even Desirable
Stop complaining about the "moral hazard" problem and enjoy the rescue.
Tim Harford
posted Oct. 4, 2008 - Burn Her!
Why it's dangerous to be a witch in a recession.
Tim Harford
posted Sept. 20, 2008 - Why Houses Cost More in Summer
An economics mystery has finally been solved.
Tim Harford
posted Sept. 6, 2008 - The Fruits of Their Labors
An amazing economics experiment and how it got field workers to pick a lot more strawberries.
Tim Harford
posted Aug. 23, 2008 - The Wisdom of Crowds?
A single economic forecast is usually wrong. But groups of economic forecasts are often just as mistaken. Why?
Tim Harford
posted Aug. 9, 2008 - Search for more the undercover economist articles
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the undercover economist: The economic mysteries of daily life.
Minibar EconomicsWhy you should stay at hotels that overcharge for drinks and Wi-Fi access.
By Tim HarfordSophisticated readers may care to seek out companies that charge hidden fees. Steer clear of the minibar, and you may get an excellent deal.
PAGE: 12
Related in Slate
Tim Harford explained why, despite the above advice, you might be tempted to plunder that minibar after all. Austan Goolsbee examined the hidden fees in 529 savings plans, which are really bad for customers. Henry Blodget's Wall Street Self Defense Manual explains why hidden charges turn good investments into bad ones. If you think you've been swindled lately, read about Nigeria's spam industry.Tim Harford is a columnist for the Financial Times. He is the author of The Undercover Economist, and his latest book is The Logic of Life.
Photograph of a minibar by Art-Line Productions/Picture Arts.
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