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From ABBA to Led Zeppelin: using music to teach economics
From ABBA to Led Zeppelin: using music to teach economics

About Us
This weblog offers a variety of song lyrics that instructors of economics may find useful in teaching economics. Each post includes a selection from the song's lyrics and a brief assignment for students. This site has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Economic Education.

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  • If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact us. We can be reached at:
  • joshua.c.hall-at-gmail-dot-com
  • rlawson-at-capital-dot-edu
  • dmateer-at-psu-dot-edu
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"B" Archives

Between Angels and Insects - Papa Roach

JEL: b p     

I just want to be heard loud and clear are my words
Coming from within man tell them what you heard
It’s about a revolution in your heart and in your mind
Till you find a conclusion lost out in obsession
Diamond rings get you nothing but a life long lesson
And your pocketbook's stressing
You’re a slave to the system working jobs that you hate
for that shit you don’t need
It’s too bad the world is based on greed
Step back and see
Stop thinking about yourself start thinking about

Full Lyrics · Click to Listen

Assignment:

Self-regarding behavior is the cornerstone of economic analysis. Recall Adam Smith's famous quote, "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, baker, or brewer that we expect our dinner, but from their own self interest." Would a world full of "Angels" work as well at providing what people want? What about a world full of "Insects?" Papa Roach seems to be saying that "greed" is a problem. Comment.

By: Dirk Mateer
03.29.07 · Permalink
Keywords: ·
"B" Archives

I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) - Meat Loaf

JEL: a b c   

And I would do anything for love
I'd run right into hell and back
I would do anything for love
I'll never lie to you and that's a fact

But I'll never forget the way you feel right now--
Oh no--no way--
I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
I won't do that
Anything for love
I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
I won't do that

Full Lyrics · Click to Listen

Assignment:

The principle of substitution says that a consumer is willing to give up some of one good to get more of another good. This principle is implicit in indifference curve analysis since the indifference curve represents this trade-off of one good for another. One violation of this principle is lexicographic preferences. A person having lexicographic preferences will always prefer to have more of good x - so much so that she will be unwilling to trade for a different bundle with slightly less x but a lot more y. Is MeatLoaf saying he has a lexicographic preference against "that"? Suppose that he is unwilling to do "that" - what does that imply for the marginal rate of substitution of love for "that"?

By: Joshua Hall
07.10.06 · Permalink
Keywords: · ·
"B" Archives

Soak Up the Sun - Sheryl Crow

JEL: a b p   

My friend the communist
Holds meetings in his RV
I can't afford his gas
So I'm stuck here watching tv
I don't have digital
I don't have diddly squat
It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got

Full Lyrics · Click to Listen

Assignment:

Near the middle of the song Sheryl Crow sings, "I'm gonna soak up the sun while it's still free." Comment on the accuracy of this statement from an opportunity cost perspective. What are some of the contrasts mentioned in the song between the affluent and the poor?

By: Dirk Mateer
07. 4.06 · Permalink
Keywords: · · · ·
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