Ask an Economist

Question:
I am looking into purchase an established auto mechanic shop. The state of economy and ever changing technology could be reasons to fail in future. What are the obstacles for this industry's future?
Answer:

Running a business is always risky, and owning an auto mechanic shop is no different. Your concern about changing technology is interesting because I see two main avenues of change. First, there may be changes in the process of repairing vehicles...

Question:
I read somewhere that economics helps us ask the right questions, what does this mean?
Answer:

Economics provides a framework for understanding aspects of individual and collective behavior.  In particular, economics focuses on how individuals and societies allocate resources.  Economists also offer important insights about how...

Question:
While measuring inflation appears very complex, waiting a month over and over to see what is happening feels like a sub-optimal way to get data to be used to try to control inflation. I'm sure the FED doesn't just seek data on the next to last day of the month, but instead is getting new data all the time. Why could they not be updating the inflation picture in real time, as they get data? The way they are working now is much like trying to drive a car while given a peek out the windshield every five minutes.

As a corollary thought, were the FED to have real time data on inflation, they could micromanage rates rather than waiting a month and then having to jump rates in an attempt to catch up to inflation. If inflation jumps a tiny bit Tuesday then lift rates a tiny bit immediately. I assume that there would be some good reasons not to move rates frequently, but if the big picture intention is to limit inflation to a desirable zone, agility would be a valuable tool. It feels like we are spending 29 out of every 30 days driving out of control.
Answer:

Yes, more timely inflation measures do exist.  For example, academics have used new data-gathering techniques, referred to as "big data", to create daily inflation measures; see, e.g., the Billion Prices Project (...

Question:
I would like to ask something about Granger causality using seasonally unadjusted data. As far as my model is concerned, quarterly log-data is being observed with two endogenous variables specified: GDP and Z (autonomous demand), all in real terms. My question is, is it obligatory to include exogenous variables (dummies for seasonality) whilst determining the VAR model? Doing so, my result changes drastically comparing to one with excluded dummies. In first case (model without dummies) with all necessary condition satisfied, GDP Granger causes Z , but not vice versa, whereas the second model (included dummies) provides both directions but condition of normality of residuals is not satisfied.
Answer:

It is not a necessity to use a seasonally adjusted data for VAR and Granger Causality. If one, however, uses a data with seasonality for estimating VAR / Granger causality and does not do anything to deal with it, the results would capture both...

Question:
Hi, with reference to "Market Structures", how can you work out whether your industry is operating in an Oligopoly/monopolistic/... environment if there is insufficient data? I'm specifically examining the concentration ratio of Property Appraisal firms in France. But without publicised figures regarding the number of Property Appraisals per firm, per year, how can one talk about an industry without knowing its competitive landscape?
Answer:

As you wrote, to compute concentration ratios, you would need data on quantities produced or sold (property appraisals in your case) and a reasonable market definition, which can be a separate challenge on its own. 

Assuming you have...

Question:
In one of our classes we learned about marginal cost of producing a certain product. The lesson says that a company can produce a specific amount of a certain product in order to maximize its profits. After that specific amount (for example 1000 units of a certain product) the company starts to lose profit. (Each new unit doesn’t bring any profit). That’s it about the marginal cost. I’m just wondering how companies use marketing campaigns and make more sales if producing more products results in higher production costs. For example: A company maximizes it’s profits at 500 units. The company then launches a marketing campaign which goes very well and now the demand for its products is let’s say 700 units. How do companies handle this? The only explanation I can think of would be raising the price, but on the other hand a higher price would lower the demand.
Answer:

You asked how a monopolist might use marketing campaigns to increase profit.  As you discussed, marketing efforts would likely result in consumers willing to pay more, shifting the demand out.  This can only be good news for the firm if...

Question:
I have started studying managerial economics as part of my MBA, and it has been great knowing about the economic principles, interdependence, and the gain from trade. I can see how specialization based on comparative advantage helps a country/party in the trade. However, do the two countries possibly engage in a business where the prices are distorted? Is this even possible? It may be possible if one nation is mighty and dictating the terms in a way that is disadvantageous to other countries, but I cannot find a real-life example to understand it better. Is there any example in the current scenario where this holds?
Answer:

Indeed, one answer to a fundamental question in international trade -- why do countries trade? -- is that specialization based on comparative advantage leads to gains from trade for all countries. This same principle also applies at the...

Question:
at this point, it feels like money was brought up as a solution to combat human’s inherent nature to be greedy and selfish. Just like that post, this is certainly more philosophical… but, I don’t see how a society where everyone does what they enjoy for work (or maybe they don’t but regardless a job is a job) and can get whatever they want (ideally within reason, luxury is nice but not always a necessity… even people who make above six figures can’t always afford luxury; the world is already like this).

The incentive to work should really not be a higher wage, working ANYWHERE should immediately give you the right to live comfortably.

Now, the main answer to the original question I realize; is inflation. Demand rises and then so do costs whether it’s for more product or more labor, whatever the reason… if from the beginning we gave every single worker regardless of the role access to food, water, shelter, clothing, and whatever else is needed for a human to be happy and healthy, I don’t see how the economy could suffer. Maybe my point is: the reason poverty exists is because of this economy.

I realize I’ve got off track, but if the government printed $50k and gave it to EVERYONE; sure people would absolutely use it irresponsibly but if that money is going back into the economy anyway… why does inflation even matter? Bc the American dollar in a way loses value? So what… just print more money… it’s paper, $1 = $1 but what’s the deal with $1 being $10 if there’s like a lesser need for people to make large profit because we can just print more money…
Answer:

Printing more money does not solve a country’s financial problems, rather it would exacerbate those. Suppose an economy prints more money, it would mean that the consumers can now buy more goods or a greater quantity of the same good. The...

Question:
In Arizona we have a 5.6% sales tax. Arizona's public school system tried to teach me that sales tax is a regressive tax. I argued that its a proportional tax because regardless of income all consumers have to pay 5.6%. They argued that sales tax puts a burden on lower income families so it's a regressive tax.
Answer:

First, it is important to understand what a proportional or regressive tax means. A proportional tax system requires all taxpayers to pay the same proportion of their income regardless of how much money they earn. Whereas, under a regressive tax...

Question:
If rates are raised to dampen inflation and reduce spending, let's say in buying houses, why then would they ever lower rates? Wouldn't it make more sense to keep rates high? The home ownership rate in the U.S. from 1990 until now has steadily held between 63% and 69% (roughly). Is there some other big reason to lower rates at some point? Thank you.
Answer:

When the Fed raises interest rates, it raises the cost of borrowing by firms which raises their cost of doing business. That induces firms to hire less, delay or eliminate capacity expansions, etc. This is why it is not a good idea for...

Question:
Hello, I am interested in goods, material or non-material, that can be transferred from person A to person B without loss, such that after the transfer of X from A to B, both A and B now possess X (e.g. objects such as viruses, conditions such as illnesses, or knowledge such as a recipe). I thought there was a particular name for such goods but can't find it ... is there? Any pointers gratefully received. Also it seems to me that there is a sub-distinction between goods where what is transferred is the good itself (e.g. a mathematical equation) vs. something being transferred which is not quite the good, but is a necessary and sufficient precursor to its possession (e.g. virus particles for infectious disease, or seeds for plants). Is this a recognized distinction in economics?
Answer:

The term you’re looking for is “non-rivalry.” Rival goods (in contrast to non-rival goods) are the standard stuff of economics: chairs, computers, etc. As you say, they are the kind of good where multiple people cannot use the good simultaneously...

Question:
I want to ask a question that why the producer of a good increases the price when the demand is high, isn't it unfair, he could have sell his good on same prices on first come first serve basis ,while increasing his goods production and selling on same price rather to increase it. I shall be thankful if u answer this. I personally consider it unethical.
Answer:

Economists start from the presumption that producers want to maximize their profits, and are not running a business to promote social welfare or social justice. If a producer can sell 1 unit of a good to Mr. A for $10, he would always prefer to...

Question:
Much of our labor data and statistics explain what a marginally attached worker is, how the pandemic exacerbated the numbers to an all time high. I work in workforce development and want to target this population. How would you suggest I go about this? I am not even sure how to identify/locate them.
Answer:

The sudden and persistent drop in labor force participation that began with the pandemic has been called the Great Resignation. The labor force fell by 3.2 percentage points at the beginning of the pandemic (Figure 1), but almost immediately...

Question:
MRTS is equal to the ratio of marginal products of two inputs. I'm having a hard time understanding the intuition behind the formula.

For example, I am looking at the MRTS of good b for a. Thus, MRTS = marginal product of a / marginal product of b.

Let's say that good a is very productive with a high marginal product, while good b is unproductive and has a low marginal product. This means that the MRTS of good b for a is very high. Thus, a lot of input a must be reduced for a 1 unit increase in input b, to maintain the same level of output.

This conclusion does not make sense to me since I thought that input a was very productive. How come when we increase the unproductive input by 1 unit, we have to reduce a lot of the productive input in order to maintain the same level of output?
Answer:

The question is based on the definition of the MRTS of B for A as the (the amount of input A)/(the amount of input B), which is flipping the numerator and the denominator of the correct definition, probably because of the definition of...

Question:
I have been reading Michael M. Alba's "Why has the Philippines Remained a Poor Country" and in it he mentioned that the Philippines is nearing its steady-state level of output per worker and that the convergence point is lower than advanced economies. Could you please explain to me what steady-state level of output means and why is it bad in context?
Answer:

Steady-state level of output per worker is roughly the same as per capita income in the long run. There is nothing good or bad about it, except countries and their residents enjoy higher standards of living in a material sense if the per capita...

Question:
I have come across a number of articles that test on the Kuznets curve. They are using GDP and log squared GDP as independent variables for their research. I just don't get why they have to create a brand new independent variable that is the "log squared GDP." What is the purpose of this? Why cant I just interpret from the GDP value itself? For example: GDP coefficient is negative, I would just interpret it as a negative relationship between inequality and GDP. Why the addition of log squared GDP?
Answer:

There are several statistical reasons why you would covert the variable into a logarithm. Logarithm transformation, for example, can change a highly skewed variable into a more normalized distribution. It is also useful when you wish to linearize...

Question:
I understand that inflation occurs when demand for commodities far exceeds supply (like now) and that the Fed typically raises interest rates to lessen overall demand and reduce/control inflation. This approach seems focused on addressing demand, but does it also affect supply? Businesses want to expand their capacity to meet higher demand and typically need capital to do that. Does the policy of increasing rates ultimately limit businesses ability to expand further hindering their ability to meet demand? Wouldn't be better if we lent more aggressively to businesses so that they could increase capacity rather than reducing demand?
Answer:

Standard theory describes channels through which raising rates affects both demand and supply.  Higher rates raise the opportunity cost of spending and thus tend to dampen both business investment and household consumption.  All else...

Question:
Hello, I'm in the 8th grade in Ontario's Gifted Enrichment Program. I am researching for my Independent Study Project which I chose to be about space. My question is, "In your opinion, considering the current issues on Earth, should we be spending money on space exploration? If so, should we be spending more or less money than we already are?"
Answer:

I should be clear that economics cannot provide an answer, but it can help us to organize our thoughts about an answer. The economic concept that is most helpful in thinking about this question is "opportunity cost." That is, the best way to...

Question:
I'm writing a book about a solution to high medical costs. The government makes it legal to disregard all copyright and patents for all things medical i.e., EpiPens, prescriptions, and pacers, until healthcare providers and health insurances make prices affordable. In my story, bootleg healthcare is already prevalent. Besides this being an extreme solution, does this solution seem plausible or is there something I don't know about that would make it impossible for this solution to work?
Answer:

Interesting idea.  As you note, the idea is extreme, but it addresses some of the underlying causes of high healthcare prices.  

Your reasoning likely was that cost reduction for the healthcare providers would lead to price...

Question:
If a company wishes to invest in new equipment as technology demands, should they not to the capital markets to raise those funds? Is it moral to have their customers to pay for such equipment by raising customer fees & rates. By having customers pay for the cost of new capital equipment, it allows the companies shares to rise in value, which enriches share holders. Is this the way the business world operates ?
Answer:

You ask, “Is it moral to have their customers pay” by raising prices? Well, let’s ask it this way. Assuming the quality of the product increases because of the investment in the new technology, are customers willing to pay higher prices after the...

Question:
On the most recent test in my AP Economics class, there was a multiple-choice question about "What is true when comparing accounting and economic profit?"

I chose the answer that said "Accounting profit is greater than economic profit" because I am under the assumption that there is always an opportunity cost no matter the situation ("No Free Lunch"). However, when I got my test results back, I found that the supposedly correct answer is "Accounting profit is greater than or equal to economic profit." When I asked my teacher about this question, he said that hypothetically in economics there are situations with no opportunity cost.

So my question is: What do you think is the correct answer to this question? In economics, is there ever theoretically a situation where there is no opportunity cost?
Answer:

Great question. First off, when we’re talking about a firm, be careful with what you label economic (or opportunity) costs: they are the sum of implicit and explicit costs. Accounting and economic cost both consider explicit costs (things like...

Question:
Was corporation efforts to limit competition (healthcare drug maker practices, etc.) considered within the original, or current, evaluation of free-market equilibrium? It seems like the free-market theory diminishes when such practices are in place and competition is limited through things other than efficiency, ingenuity, capital, etc., such as lobbying government or organizations to limit entry to a market through regulations rather than competition. I'm not well read on Adam Smith. Did he consider such limits to the "free" in free markets?
Answer:

You are correct in observing that efforts to limit competition have the potential to produce market outcomes that diverge from the "free market ideal" that economists commonly use as their baseline of comparison. Indeed the desirable properties...

Question:
So I wanna make a currency/small economy in my school and I need to figure out how to make it have value, without it being made from something with preexisting value (such as precious metals being used as a currency). I know how to distribute the money but I don't know how to create a value for it.
Answer:

I know you are asking this out of intellectual curiosity and for fun; in the U.S., it is illegal to create any sort of currency. Having said that, you raise an important point. It is easy to "create money" by printing some pieces of paper and,...

Question:
At the time of this question, the Atlanta Braves baseball team is one of the "only" publicly traded teams. At the beginning of the season, their stock price was about $29. Right now, they are one game away from going to the World Series and their stock price has dropped to $26. When a baseball team goes to the playoffs, they receive more revenue in ticket sales, concession and so forth. The Texas Rangers generate about $13,000 a night in sales tax alone for the city of Arlington when it packs the stadium. THAT IS JUST SALES TAX! So when a team goes to the playoffs, their pocketbooks get bolstered. So why did their stock go down in price, since the team obviously has more liquid assets in their accounts and they get placed in a better position for next year's trades?
Answer:

Interesting question. The Braves defeated the Dodgers on Oct. 20 (2021) to take a 3-1 game lead in the National League Championship Series and are now just one game away from the World Series. Liberty Media Corporation is an American mass media...

Question:
I'm wondering if you could provide insights in, or criticism of, Simon abundance index. A friend recently told me about it and I was very surprised not to find anything on it other than stuff written by the people who built it.

On top of this strange confidentiality of the index, as well as the surprise at "no resource scarcity, we're actually improving", I have a few other reservations.
What it says about resources being virtually unlimited leads me to compare it with that math paradox of the arrow that always covers half of the remaining distance, infinitely, instead of touching the target -the Earth being limited, at some point I think we'd run out even if we optimized our consumption to the molecular level. It also takes into account the richest 10% when trying to show that the average work time needed to buy some basic items across the world has lessened, so we're going better with a bigger population, which doesn't look fair. I also know that among animals, large populations collapse after a while due to lack of resources -but they say it doesn't account for humans resourcefulness (could be a "not for us" bias, but could also be relevant).
Answer:

Your observation about the lack of material on the Simon Abundance Index is a valid one. Perhaps its newness accounts for a general lack of peer-reviewed material on the subject.

The Simon Abundance Index emanates from the ideas and work...

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