Tuesday's Assorted Links
Custom Zoom backgrounds, Chegg, canned air, glass monopoly, and looming tariffs
Hi y’all! Here are five stories from this week that contained some neat applications of economic principles or are related to teaching:
Some entrepreneurs and creators pay thousands of dollars for a custom Zoom background [The Hustle]
Chegg’s stock is down 99% as students looking for homework help are defecting to ChatGPT [The Wall Street Journal]
Tourists visiting the picturesque and upscale Italian resort area can now take home a unique souvenir — canned air [NBC News]
The European Union is investigating Corning for allegedly limiting competition by forcing manufacturers into exclusive agreements [The Verge]
Shoe retailer Steve Madden said it would reduce its China-made products by 40%–45% and shift production to countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia to avoid looming tariffs [Bloomberg]
With rumors of potential changes at the Fed under a new administration, few Americans understand the unique structure that protects the Fed from political influence. When asked about his potential removal, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that it’s ‘not permitted under the law,’ highlighting the Federal Reserve’s built-in independence.
What to Know About the Federal Reserve’s Structure Amid Talk of Change
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