Tuesday's Assorted Links

Inflation tracker, West Virginia University, feral cats, state funding, and the homework apocalypse

Just because inflation comes in at 3% doesn’t mean it’s an equal change for all goods and services. Depending on what you consume, you may have different feelings. Check out today’s links to learn more 👇

Hi y’all! Here are five stories from this week that contained some neat applications of economic principles or are related to teaching:

1. This inflation tracker will let you see what costs less and what remains stubbornly expensive [The Wall Street Journal]

2. West Virginia University is facing a severe budget crisis, and its puppetry major may not survive [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

3. Looking to hire a cat? This organization can help [Marketplace]

4. Do blue-state taxes really subsidize red-state benefits? [The Washington Post]

5. Fall is going to be very different this year, but are educators ready for the homework apocalypse? [One Useful Thing]

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A new provision buried in a 2,700-page funding bill provides the Department of Transportation with funding to pilot a national test of a new tax. Instead of funding road repair with a fuel tax, could a tax on the number of miles a vehicle is driven be a better solution?

Catch up on yesterday’s post: