From ABBA to Led Zeppelin: using music to teach economics
From ABBA to Led Zeppelin: using music to teach economics
"K" Archives

My Summer Vacation - Ice Cube

JEL: k l     

Damn G, the spot's gettin hot
So how the f*** am I supposed to make a knot?
Police looking at n***** through a microscope
In L.A. everybody and they momma sell dope
They trying to stop it
So what the f*** can I do to make a profit?
Catch a flight to St. Louis
That's cool, cause nobody knew us

Full Lyrics · Click to Listen

Assignment:

In “My Summer Vacation,” Ice Cube describes selling drugs in St. Louis. Why were financial profits so much higher in St. Louis in the short-run than in Los Angeles? What happened to the profitability (loosely defined) of this activity in the long-run? Does the illegality of the market change anything about the incentives to enter and the required profit rates needed to stay in business?

"K" Archives

Stick Shifts And Safety Belts - Cake

JEL: a k     

Stickshifts and safetybelts,
Bucket seats have all got to go.
When we're driving in the car,
It makes my baby seem so far.
I need you here with me,
Not way over in a bucket seat.

Full Lyrics · Click to Listen

Assignment:

The singer of this song doesn't like safetybelts because they make it harder to get close to his loved one in the car. Of course, safety belts are a highly effective safety device. Using the language of economics, make the case that laws mandating the use of seatbelts are not beneficial to this person. Are there any exceptions or other circumstances that should be considered in the analysis besides this one person's well being?