Econ in the News: Plummeting Admission Rates at Top Tier Colleges

In continuation with the college theme this week, I’m going to examine the rapidly falling admission rates to what people consider some of the best colleges in the world, especially in the United States. “Top tier” colleges, such as Stanford, the Ivy League, MIT, the University of Chicago, and other schools, have famously renown academic departments – and … More Econ in the News: Plummeting Admission Rates at Top Tier Colleges

Uniqueness in a Pool of Sameness

Whenever people find out that I go to Stanford, their response tends to follow a similar format: Awe/Congratulations: “Wow! Good for you!” Flattery: “You must be very smart to have been accepted to Stanford.” Anecdote: “I remember when my son/daughter/friend/friend’s son or daughter applied to Stanford/‘Top Tier’ College. They had all A’s, a really good … More Uniqueness in a Pool of Sameness

Econ in the News: The Power of a College Trademark

Although there are more than 4,000 colleges in the United States alone, a select few have been able to build immense brand-name recognition, whether that be for athletics (University of Alabama), academics (MIT), or both combined (Stanford). These trademarks, worth billions of dollars, have led to confrontations between enterprising vendors selling college-inspired items and colleges who wish … More Econ in the News: The Power of a College Trademark

Econ in the News: Back-to-School Spending

For students across the United States, the end of August signals the inception of the next school year. For retailers, that means one final rush for back-to-school supplies. The National Retail Foundation estimates that families with school-age children will spend an average of $630 this year on school-related supplies. This includes clothing (92.7%) , shoes … More Econ in the News: Back-to-School Spending

Econ in the News: Arepas and Hyperinflation

Venezuela has been suffering from major hyperinflation during the past few months, due to the current government printing the Bolivar currency so much that it is nearly worthless. After the inflation rate skyrocketed to 68%, the government ceased reporting inflation figures. This has led some economists to make use of unusual (and delicious) methods to track the hyperinflation. Miguel Octavio, a Miami-based financial … More Econ in the News: Arepas and Hyperinflation

Econ in the News: Grasshopper Markets and Lotus Flower Capitalism

            This week’s Econ in the News brings us to the murkier realm of North Korea. As markets increase in prominence, reports of taxes and bribes being imposed on these markets by the North Korean government have also increased in frequency. The result is something known in Korean as a “grasshopper market”, in which … More Econ in the News: Grasshopper Markets and Lotus Flower Capitalism