Sound Economics

Disclaimer: We all know the bureaucracy and have formed our own opinions. The author (that’s me!) has decided that he doesn’t like most bureaucracies. Therefore, the views expressed in this article are his and do not reflect the stance of Sound Economics at large. If you are a fan of bureaucracies, and/or you think this article may hit a little close to home, simply click on over to Brennan’s fantastic piece on umbrella usage. If you feel as though the above qualifiers do not apply to you, I welcome you with great excitement to continue along with me now and read Continue reading Op-Ed: The Swamp needs Draining→

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is closely related to the economic growth of less developed countries (LDCs). Yet over 500 million women and girls globally still lack access to facilities and materials for adequate MHM. The silence, taboo, and stigma associated with menstruation often make it difficult to maintain good hygiene and limit women’s and girls’ potential in society. Restrictions during menstruation, from staying home from school or temple to having to sleep outside, and the lack of adequate washroom access in LDCs have affected women’s and girls’ likelihood to attend school. While this is first a sanitation matter, it is Continue reading The Economics of Menstrual Hygiene Management→

A month to month recap of the US economy in 2019! January Federal Open Market Committee voted to hold interest rates steady February US economy grew by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Trump plans to spend $6.7 billion spent for border security. March President Trump nominated campaign adviser Stephen Moore and  former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain to the Federal Reserve’s board of governors. April Unemployment dropped from 3.8% to 3.6%. May US begins increasing tariffs on Chinese goods. US announces ending waivers for Iran and other oil supplying countries. June China and US come to an agreement and resume trade. July Boris Johnson was confirmed Continue reading 2019 Economic Recap→

The holidays aren’t over yet! New Years Eve is just around the corner which means more consumer spending on… you guessed it, Champagne! For New Years celebrations alone more than 39.8 million bottles of Champagne will be purchased in the U.S. But why champagne? How has that become our nation’s and most of the worlds drink of choice for celebration? Champagne is a symbol of luxury in our world today and as we know, luxury goods as opposed to normal goods do not behave the same as far as consumption goes. Some Champagne may even be considered a Veblen good (a good Continue reading New Year, Old Tradition: the history and economics of Champagne→

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the most commonly used tool to refer to the size of an economy. It is, in effect, assumed to indicate the well-being of any given country. Born in the manufacturing age, the tool’s failure to count for environmental costs, unpaid work, technology benefits, and the informal economy, have conceded economists’ widespread debate around the dethronement of GDP as an indicator of economic and social success. To understand how this tool fails to paint a comprehensive picture of a country’s well-being, an explanation of GDP as a concept is first necessary. GDP measures the aggregate value Continue reading Gross Domestic Product, Explained→

Financial markets often operate under gender biases that further conditions of credit scarcity among women in low- and middle-income countries. Highly gendered decision making in the governance of these banks diminishes the flow of capital into women’s projects and to women’s enterprises. This restricted access to credit services particularly hurts women-headed households. With women borrowers also being generally associated with lower portfolio-at-risk, lower write-offs, and lower credit-loss provisions, development organizations have, over the last decades, focused on extending credit to women to lift them and their families out of poverty. Microcredit refers to the practice of giving a small loan Continue reading Gender, Microcredit, and Climate Change→

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse Children asleep lying under their covers Hoping for money from their rich grandmothers.   As good economists they know the costs That presents only bring deadweight loss.   Alas when they woke, they found under the tree Something that noone should ever see. Gift boxes wrapped up with ribbon and bow The little economists thought no, no, no, no.   This will never do, the little economist said in his head While holding the sweater with too itchy of thread. Smiling Continue reading Dec the Halls With Dead Weight Loss: An Economist’s Christmas Story→