Tuesday's Assorted Links
Super Bowl halftime payouts, Disney inflation, Mexican imports, diamonds, and tomato taxes
Hi y’all! Here are five stories from this week that contained some neat applications of economic principles or are related to teaching:
Usher didn’t get paid directly for his halftime performance at the Super Bowl, but he’ll likely make up for it in the years ahead [The Hustle]
An $8 ticket to Disney World in 1978 wasn’t a good deal [Econtastic!]
The US purchased more goods from Mexico than China in 2023, the first time that’s happened in 20 years. [The New York Times | Previous MME Coverage]
The traditional diamond industry is thought to be under threat from lab-grown stones, but that’s not how luxury works [The Atlantic]
A Florida trade group has proposed a 21% “tomato tax” on imports, but it would send US tomato prices soaring [Food Dive]
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Boeing's outlook is shaky after problems with its 737 Max 9, posing significant challenges in an oligopoly where holding market share is crucial. For Boeing, as one of just two dominant players, these issues are particularly severe.
The Nuts & Bolts of the Airplane Oligopoly
The market for commercial aviation would be characterized as an oligopoly, dominated by just two titans: Boeing from the United States and Airbus from Europe.
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