Product Differentiation

Canada Taps In

Michael Coon
16 December 2021

Shortly after the US announced a release of petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve coordinated with several other countries, Canada announce that they too would be tapping in to their strategic reserves…of Maple Syrup. The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup…

My Cheesy Valentine

Michael Coon
5 February 2021

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner grocery and drug stores are starting to stock their shelves with many of the usual sights: Teddy Bears, candy heart candies, roses, and greeting cards. These products have been staples of the Valentine’s…

Bud Lightning

Michael Coon
2 October 2020

In honor of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2020 Stanley Cup victory, Budweiser has announced it will produce a limited-release run of “Bud Lightning” bottles to be sold in the Tampa Bay area later this year. Budweiser has a history of…

A pizza by any other name…

Michael Coon
27 May 2020

As social distancing orders forced restaurants to stop serving in their dining rooms, many transitioned to serving customers with take-out meals or delivery. Food delivery services like Grubhub, UberEats, and DoorDash have seen dramatic increases in customers and revenue. Although…

Organic Dairy Farmers in Decline

Michael Coon
22 February 2020

Sales of organic products in the US exceeded $50 billion in revenue for the first time ever in 2018. Organic sales have more than doubled since 2010. Despite this tremendous growth, small organic farmers are struggling, with market pressures coming…

CNBC: “Amazon’s cloud business bombards the market with dozens of new features as it looks to preserve its lead”

David Switzer
3 December 2019

“If keeping track of all the new stuff feels overwhelming, that’s kind of the point. Amazon wants people to feel like it’s coming out with so much that no one can keep up.”

Pumpkin Spice in Everything

Michael Coon
10 October 2019

Every September we begin to see the signs that the fall season is on the horizon. The temperature starts to cool, the leaves start changing colors, and Starbucks begins selling Pumpkin Spice Lattes. As a common fall harvest vegetable, pumpkins…

Food & Wine: “The Craft-Fishing Revolution Is Here, Now”

David Switzer
6 December 2018

You probably don’t expect to learn much about economics in Food & Wine magazine, but here is a great story about the “craft fishing” industry. It includes economic concepts such as “catch shares” (to decrease overfishing), economies of scale, and product differentiation and improving quality to move a market from perfect competition to monopolistic competition. It details how one fisherman has worked to change the supply chain to a direct-to-consumer model that provides the consumer (restaurants) with higher quality fish that they can sell to discerning diners at higher prices, and also helps the fishermen ensure adequate compensation for their efforts.

Chicken Little is an Increasingly Rare Bird

EVs: Driving Change at Convenience Stores

Who’s In The Driver’s Seat: The Changing Dynamics of Auto Production

China’s Population is Declining – Too hot, too cold, or just nice for its Economic Development?

The Externalities Effect of Child Firearm Fatalities in the States

Why is Everything Getting So Expensive?

Understanding the U.S. Labor Market – A January 2023 Snapshot

The New Economics of Car Production

Looming Water Crisis – What can YOU do to Conserve Water?

U.K. Economy Three Years after Brexit