Tuesday's Assorted Links
Spring break, orange juice, pizza prices, lumber tariffs, and Austin
Hi y’all! Here are five stories from this week that contained some neat applications of economic principles or are related to teaching:
Once an enclave for spring breakers searching for warmer weather, the city of Miami Beach is making a concerted effort to curb raucous partying again this year [Fox News | YouTube | Previous MME coverage]
Supply shortages in top orange-growing areas, competition, and changes in Americans’ diets have hammered Tropicana [CNN]
Economies of scale and price discrimination help keep pizza prices lower than other fast food options [The Hustle]
The threat of lumber tariffs is the latest headache for homebuilders [Axios]
Austin is seeing the biggest decline in rents in the country thanks to increasing housing supply [New York Post]
The “Economic Blackout” aimed to hurt big corporations, but the real impact likely fell on hourly workers sent home early without pay. One-day boycotts may make a statement, but real change comes from sustained shifts in spending habits.
The Economic Blackout Probably Did More Harm Than Good
When The People’s Union USA announced its one-day “Economic Blackout” on February 28, the concept was straightforward: make a dent in big corporations’ bottom lines. Shoppers were encouraged to avoid spending money at major retailers, fast-food chains, and gas stations for 24 hours
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