Last year, the onset of the pandemic devastated air travel as lockdown orders kept planes on the ground all over the world. After numerous airlines nearly collapsed as a result, the federal government provided the industry with three bailouts amounting to tens of billions of…
Coffee is a mainstay for many college students. Some view it as a social institution, gathering with friends to talk about their lives over a latte. Others see it as an essential during busy times, mainlining it during finals weeks or during long haul study…
After experiencing the worst year for the hospitality industry in U.S. history, restaurants and bars are beginning to bounce back as vaccinated Americans reemerge into the world and Covid-19 restrictions ease. For instance, sales at the Miami coffee shop and eatery All Day spiked in…
In this podcast we (Michael Mandel and Sean Flynn) talk about the economics of infrastructure. As of early April 2021, President Joe Biden has just put forth his $2.2 trillion infrastructure plan, which covers roads, bridges, dams, electric, water, broadband, housing, education, and manufacturing. Many…
This video explores the global shortage of semiconductors, the tiny chips used as the brains for everything from cars to jets to washing machines. While market forces might usually work to bring supply and demand together, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted typical demand and production of…
The late Milton Friedman once quipped that if the federal government were put in charge of the Sahara Desert, there would be a shortage of sand within five years. Similar skepticism about government led President Ronald Reagan to say in his first Inaugural Address, “Government…
Starting in March 2020, new unemployment claims in the U.S. seemed to reach record levels every week as businesses closed all over due to the pandemic. And while that number has gradually been decreasing in recent months, thousands of people continue to file fresh unemployment…
In this podcast we talk about the very hot topic of fiscal stimulus: Too big, too small or just right? We’re recording this podcast in early March 2021 as Congress is discussing President Biden’s $1.9 trillion covid recovery package. We are not going to talk…
