| relevant research · login |
|
|
 About UsThis 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.Recent Entries
Relevant Research and ResourcesSuggestions?
Credits |
Search ResultsEntries from From ABBA to Zeppelin, Led tagged with 'Self-Interest'The FearIn "The Fear," Lily Allen sings about a young woman who lives in a trailer but dreams about living with unlimited resources in a large estate. The narrator's utility for some costly but tangible goods (such as clothes and diamonds)... Tobacco IslandWhat was the economic advantage to engaging in slavery? Why did they choose to engage in economic ventures in Barbados rather than remaining in their home country, especially given the high start up costs (ship construction, supplies for the voyage,... Mercedes BenzJanis Joplin wants a Mercedes Benz in order to keep up with her friends. Economist Robert Frank writes about how people seek status in a game of constantly trying to outdo each other. He has advocated highly progressive taxes in... Money, Money, MoneyEconomists often use supply and demand curves to illustrate markets. Changes in income, preferences, and the price of a substitute or complement shift demand curves to the left and right. In the lyrics above, lead singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad is tired... She Works Hard for the MoneyThis classic Donna Summer song is about a waitress she met at a local restaurant who was working two jobs. Donna could see “she works hard for the money.” Many economists are somewhat puzzled by tipping behavior. The tip is... Shitload of MoneyLiz Phair claims, if given the chance, individuals would wish for money. Why might money be the best gift one can give (hint)? If individuals can maximize utility with respect to income better than anyone else acting on his/her behalf,... Diamond's Are A Girl's Best FriendFrom the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," Marilyn Monroe sings about diamonds being a girl's best friend. Interpret the lyrics "Men Grow Cold/As Girls Grow Old/) in light of "Rings and Promises" by Margaret Brinig (Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization... CapitalismGenerally, profit accrues to individuals when the value of a good produced and sold is greater than the value of other goods that could have been produced with those same resources. From this perspective, the pursuit of profits adds value... Between Angels and InsectsSelf-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... Why Don't You Get a Job?Researchers have questioned whether you can design a welfare system that provides a generous safety net, but not so generous that the effective marginal tax rate that the poor face when contemplating leaving welfare is too onerous. Explain why creating... 20 DollarsThis song places the listener in the uncomfortable position of questioning whether or not they should help someone who asks to borrow a small amount of money. This is what is referred to as the Samaritan’s dilemma. Why does the... Some Days You Gotta DanceWhile most people think of jobs as good things, economists are more likely to think of them as "bads". After reading the lyrics to this song, can you see why?... Share The LandThis classic 1969/1970 song advocates that we "share the land." Do you think simply sharing the land is likely to lead to the good results suggested in the song ("no more sadness, no more sorrow...")? In writing your answer you... WhoopsWhen I was growing up my mother said not playing with a toy I purchased was wasteful. The lead singer of Blues Traveler, John Popper, is saying that using the land is causing it to go to waste. Which, if... No Man's LandExplain how the forces of supply and demand, steep rent-gradients, taxes, and the Tiebout Hypothesis all combine to drive people away from the more densely populated central city areas (where economies of scale exist) and into the surrounding communities.... Hole In The BucketIn the basic theory of consumer demand, an individual tries to maximize their utility subject to their budget constraint. Increases in income or wealth thus allow individuals to move to a higher indifference curve and a higher level of utility.... SignsThe song "Signs," originally performed by the Five Man Electrical Band and also covered by Tesla, takes a stand for communal ownership of property. What are the costs and benefits of communal ownership of property? Assume that "keeping mother nature... LuxuriousBecause income is scarce people must trade current consumption for for future consumption. Since 1950, the average age for retirement has fallen for both men and women. In 1940, the average retiree lived for ten years after retirement. Today, the... My Summer VacationIn “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... I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)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... Soak Up the SunNear 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... StuffHow much is enough? This is the question that Diamond Rio asks in Stuff. The singer keeps buying and does not get very much additional utility from the new purchases. What economic theory can be used to explain this?... The Wacky World of Mass TransitA good economist, to paraphrase Bastiat, observes both the seen and the unseen. On its face, a bus ride costs only 80 cents. What costs are unseen? Illustrate with examples from the song.... Stick Shifts And Safety BeltsThe 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... Boys & GirlsThere is “no such thing as a free lunch” is one of the first lessons in economics. Explain how this principle is applied throughout the song. What are the short-run and long-run trade-offs from accepting financial favors in a relationship?... The Way It Is / ChangesBruce Hornsby’s original lyrics point to discrimination as a fact of life. Tupac added his own take on the issue of discrimination when he made the claim that “the way it is” forces black society to make poor choices just... Downeaster AlexaWhat barriers to entry exist in the fishing industry? Are these barriers significant enough to create firm-specific pricing power? Ocean waters also present a common property problem. If competitors in the fishing industry cannot prevent new entrants into the market... Feed SubscriptionIf you use an RSS reader, you can subscribe to a feed of all future entries tagged 'Self-Interest'. [What is this?] |
