Tuesday's Assorted Links

Citrus Fruit Prices, Learning Losses, Stock Market Simulation, Cheap Booze, Water Usage

Student learning was disrupted during the pandemic, and some researchers have started to estimate the impact that will have on future earnings. Learn more in today’s links.

Hi y’all, here are the top stories I read about last week that were some great applications of economic concepts:

1. As Covid cases spike in China, the demand for fruits rich in vitamin C increased so much that they are selling for 2x-3x their usual prices [CNBC]

2. A new study estimates that the learning losses among K-12 students during the pandemic could result in 5.6% lower lifetime earnings [Hoover Institution]

3. Too risk-averse to invest in the actual stock market? A new simulator will let you play without spending any money [Stradr]

4. Shoppers are reaching less for top-shelf booze and looking for more affordable substitutes instead [The Wall Street Journal]

5. A Google data center uses one-third of a remote Oregon town’s water supply despite drought [The Independent]

US lawmakers propose increasing teachers' minimum salaries to $60,000 in an effort to address the ongoing teacher shortage and looming "mass exodus" from the profession. Americans largely support increasing teacher pay to address the shortage, but will the same Americans support legislation determining pay for a single occupation? Get caught up on Monday’s newsletter:

Could a Federal Minimum Salary for Teachers be a Reality in the U.S.?

A new year brings a new challenge of reading 52 books! I finished 2022 with 77 books, but I always set each year’s goal at 52. I am a bit too compulsive and would likely burn out if I constantly set higher and higher goals each year. Feel free to connect with me on Goodreads and follow along with some of the books I’m reading.

I have some fiction books lined up to start the year and I just started reading This Is Your Brain on Sports by Wertheim and Sommers. The authors look at some of the behavioral economics aspects behind sports and fan behavior. I was a fan of Scorecasting so and am optimistic that some of the chapters from this book will make a nice addition to my Sports Econ class.

Since it’s a new year, I’m excited to share some of the books I have lined up as well. I had my eye on these nonfiction books last year but didn’t get around to reading them in 2022. If you’ve read any of them, let me know your thoughts!

A few recent nonfiction books I'm looking forward to reading this year.

If you have book recommendations (fiction or nonfiction) that you’ve read recently and would recommend, please leave a comment! I think I have a fairly eclectic reading mix, so I’m always open to considering different books.