Sound Economics

Germany has a different system for workers than the US, this is just a quick insight into what rights a normal worker would be entitled to receive. Germans tend to follow the same M-F work week, but on Sundays and public holidays, only necessary workplaces (gas stations, hospitals, police, etc.…) are open. Most grocery stores and all other work are closed. The average working time an employee has can’t exceed 8 hours per day with most employees working 35-40 hours a week. Employees are given a minimum of 20 working days’ vacation per year, but on average receive 25-30. There Continue reading A Quick Snippet of German Labor Laws→

In my last blog post, I discussed the frustration of tipflation, pointing to a real living wage as a solution. And so, it is paramount that we discuss the Federal minimum wage and the benefits of raising it. Last changed in July of 2009, the Federal minimum wage has remained at a meager $7.25 an hour. But more concerning, The Federal minimum wage is not tied to inflation, meaning Congress must manually raise the wage with a new policy every few years. When we look at the 2007 Federal wage adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage has decreased by 28% Continue reading Raise the Wage: A Discussion on The Benefits of Raising the Federal Minimum Wage→

Have you ever wondered why urban cities exist and why they’re located where they are? Historically, these spaces exist due to a confluence of human factors rooted in geography, politics, and human society. But their existence has fundamentally been driven by their ability to offer social and cultural advantages to their inhabitants, bringing people closer together to accelerate human achievement. Here, we explore a few factors: Economic Agglomeration Today, roughly 56% of the world’s population (4.4 billion inhabitants) – live in cities. They provide a platform for economic activities to thrive; as populations concentrate in urban areas, businesses benefit from Continue reading Metropolitan Areas, City Planning… but why?→

The 2008 Great Recession rocked the American economy like a seismic wave, unleashing sky-high unemployment rates and an alarming surge in home foreclosures, something the country hadn’t witnessed since the infamous Great Depression. This economic upheaval had its roots in the subprime mortgage meltdown, but its effects extended far beyond just housing. It crept into mutual funds, pensions, and the very corporations holding these shaky securities, creating a domino effect of financial instability that resonated within many households nationwide. Now, a full decade after the recession, and two presidencies later, the impacts are still haunting us. Workers continue to grapple Continue reading The Federal Reserve and the Great Recession: Unraveling the Role of Monetary Policy→

Summer vacation has just ended, and travel is always exciting. But it has to be said that when you arrive at a new destination, the most important thing is not to immediately start enjoying the local food and scenery. Accommodation is always a problem, especially the seasonal fluctuations in hotel prices. Why Adjust Hotel Prices? Same with air ticket price changes. We often book flights that later become cheaper, or conversely, failing to catch the cheapest airfares. It’s not just about charging more during the peak season or lowering prices during the off-season to attract guests. They make adjustments to Continue reading Hotel Price Adjustments and Ordering Guidelines→

On campus, the Cellar is a popular dinner spot known for its pizzas, ice cream, and late hours of operation. A current issue the Cellar is facing is the build-up of waste. Most people order their food “to-go”, getting their food in disposable cardboard pizza boxes and ice cream cups which causes a lot of trash. One way that the Cellar helps promote ordering “for-here” instead of its counterpart, is by offering a 10% discount when you mention you would like your food in-house. Not many people do this, however, and people who eat in-house tend to order “to-go” despite Continue reading Ways to Help Increase Sustainability on Campus→

The U.S is currently facing one of the worst drug shortages it has ever experienced. As of today, 267 medications are considered to be in a shortage. This includes cancer medications, antibiotics, cough and cold medications, and attention deficit medications such as Adderall. Supply chain failures are partially to blame, but much of the issue ultimately stems from the FDA’s recommended production amounts, which have failed to account for the increased demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because these recommendations are enforced by the DEA, there is very little room for negotiation which leaves consumers holding the short straw if Continue reading Drug Shortages in the U.S.→

 American healthcare is distinctly different from most other western nations. Employer based healthcare makes healthcare unattainable to many and a constant expense to almost all Americans. How did we come to make healthcare and employment a package deal? In the early 1920’s the first iterations of health insurance came to be as hospitals and doctors formed groups to provide insurance. These insurances are still around today, they are Blue Cross and Blue Shield. These plans were made to make healthcare more accessible as hospitals began turning larger profits, however, these plans were almost exclusively purchased on an individuals personal basis. Continue reading How did we get here? Healthcare in America→

As most Puget Sound students are well aware universities, ours included, have been struggling post pandemic. Enrollment rates are down across the country, and so in turn many universities are struggling to make ends meet. Though undergraduate learning was declining pre pandemic, online learning has accelerated this decline. Nationwide undergraduate enrollment fell by 9.4% between 2020 and 2022. Financially, a little over 60% of colleges saw tuition revenue decline, though these losses are often associated with smaller schools, the big-name Ivy’s saw the same drops in tuition revenue. Colleges rely on tuition as their main source of funding, so these Continue reading A Brief Discussion about UPS and Other Colleges in Post-Pandemic Society→