The government shutdown of 2025 froze activity in the capital, as the federal government ran out of funds, but it has reached all the way to the nation’s air traffic operations. Air traffic controllers were required to work without pay, leading to a shortage of around 3903 certified controllers, as many had to take other jobs or simply bring forward their retirement after missing two pay dates. Retirements since the shutdown spiked from 4 per day to 20 per day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), faced with low staffing, forced airlines to reduce flights at 40 airports by 4%, and announced that it would get to 10% if the shutdown progressed. In just a couple of weeks, more than five million travelers were affected (CNBC).

Back in September, Ariana Grande released her 2026 Eternal Sunshine Tour. I waited patiently in line before the lockdown software kicked me out of the queue. The cruelty of Examsoft left me with only one option: to purchase a resale ticket.

The 2008 financial crisis occurred because of the collapse of the housing market, driven by the sale of risky subprime mortgages. A famous name surged from this event, Michael Burry, the main character of the movie The Big Short. After years of silence, he has reappeared, is critiquing the AI bubble, and has recently invested one billion dollars against it.

New York City, the economic, social, and cultural capital of the world, appears to the outside eye as a bustling metropolis. However, the traffic and congestion statistics may tell a far different story about the greatest city in the world. NYC ranks as the 25th most congested city in the world and the most congested in the US.

The glitz. The glamour. Wait—what do you mean the circuit costs $270 million to build, plus around $18.5 million per year in maintenance fees, and an “entry fee” of $15–50 million per race?

For those unaware, fantasy football (FF) participants draft real NFL players to form virtual teams, scoring points based on the athletes real world performances. Managing your team is all about decision making for your players, such as trading, or deciding who to start. Those decisions are shaped by behavioral tendencies that can be explained with economic theory. Fantasy football is more than just a game of statistics, it’s a weekly experiment in the science behind decision making.

Time is money. It’s a phrase we’ve all might have heard before, but in the current age of social media, those words have never rang more true. Every tap, scroll and like is worth more than users might realize. During the last few years tech companies like TikTok and Meta have baeen successful at mastering the art of transforming distraction into money, using algorithms to keep people engaged for as much time as possible.

Massachusetts recently announced that, due the federal government shutdown, November SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are officially delayed, leaving many households without food assistance. Congress’s failure to pass the FY2025 appropriations for SNAP in October have put enormous strain on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), responsible for overseeing SNAP allotments

Did you know Open AI IPO may be a great investment, but could it push the AI bubble?

The Red Scare is back, and this time it’s over preschool. Recently elected New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, left the country astonished with his proposals of free childcare, free public transit, and rent freezes, and was soon labeled as a “communist.” In some European countries, however, these ideas wouldn’t cause such a revolt. Dutch policy adviser Alexander Verbeek, writing about Mamdani in his newsletter, said that he is a politician who “finally sounded normal.” He added, “Here, taking care of one another through public programs isn’t radical socialism. It’s a Tuesday.” (The Guardian)

Somewhere between a makeup counter and an Instagram feed, self-worth became a product. The mirror still speaks, but its voice now echoes from beauty brands and social media standards. These industries have influenced how people perceive themselves and have seized the opportunity to make a profit from their insecurities.

Instagram influencers, along with apps like Strava and Garmin, often use daily exercise challenges, badges, and other rewards for users to hook athletes on the constant pursuit of personal bests.

WHOOP is a wearable fitness and health-tracking device company. But what differentiates WHOOP from the Apples and Garmins of the world? Is it the fact that it literally can’t tell time even though it’s a watch? Or its focus on performance and recovery optimization?

Halloween spending is projected to reach a record $13.1 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation, more than twice what it was a decade ago. Yet even as concerns about financial instability rise, our spending habits continue to grow. Why? 

Two American cities are making billion-dollar investments in professional sports. In Oklahoma City, voters approved a plan to fund a $900 million arena for the NBA's OKC Thunder team, with taxpayers covering approximately $780 million through a six-year, 1% sales tax.

For decades, Bolivia has found it difficult to specialize in one sector for its economy, which has led some people to ask, Should we legalize cocaine?

In the modern free market of relationships, our dignity is our currency and our texts are private investments. Each DM, much like a stock, carries an implicit cost but offers unlimited upside. This might compel one to gamble, not by longing cryto, but with sending a dangerous double-text.

One of the most popular goals for an economy is economic growth. Did you know the U.S is achieving this goal, as their gross domestic product (GDP) is increasing at 3.8% annual rate in the second quarter of 2025?

Billions of viewers, tourists flocking in, the hustle and bustle of a country preparing for the single largest tournament ever known. The FIFA World Cup provides everything needed to substantially boost an economy, and yet nearly every time, the profit that is to be gained from hosting is severely overestimated. Why is this?

In sport, the richest team wins. You can afford the best coaches and the best players, so it’s only normal. But why then have the Toronto Maple Leafs, valued at $4.25 billion, not won the Stanley Cup since 1966-67?

Every election cycle, presidential candidates' advertisements promise jobs, growth, and lower prices — as if the president had a special lever labeled “economy.” But how much say does the president have over the economy?

Pizza, pasta, and wine – nothing says Italy quite as well. These three words are not only symbols of Italian culture, but also a multibillion-euro industry.

As we become so comfortable in the routine of class, studying and sleep, solitude becomes second nature. While being alone does not equal loneliness, it is certainly a large subset. No one seems to know why Gen Z are one of the loneliest generations. Was it those screens? Did the pandemic desensitize their emotional capabilities? The unemployment rates, upheaving politics, and rising cost of… well, everything?

Did you know our best friend, ChatGPT, could form an ‘AI poverty trap’ for less economically developed countries (LEDCs)?

Have you been struggling with two-man missions lately? It turns out that economics is the wingman you needed all along.

The creator economy is a $250 billion industry, projected to reach $480 billion by 2027, allowing millions of creators to turn their passion into a profitable career through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Europe has always been home to the most notable soccer clubs in the world, but in recent years Major League Soccer (MLS) – the largest American soccer league – has seen stunning growth. Both of these associations take drastically different approaches towards managing their teams and investors.

Let’s break down mosh pits through an economic lens – it’s like a live-action supply and demand machine, only with more sweat, chaos, and crowd-surfing.

Once considered taboo and a last resort, thrifting has exploded in popularity over the past couple of years thanks to Gen-Z.

Imagine a recruiter asking you to determine the value of a certain good. What valuation factor jumps out for you?

At what point does profit maximization become unethical?

The Hermès Birkin bag is the epitome of luxury and exclusivity given the widespread perception that the ability to purchase them requires being amongst the biggest spenders at the Hermès boutique.

The aesthetics of everyday items, from packaging to digital interfaces, play a major role in influencing consumer behavior and even broader market trends.

Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes, is a monumental piece of work in the fields of political and ethical philosophy through its description of man’s natural state as well as social contract theory.

As you DoorDash your midnight snack, you have the gig economy to thank for the driver behind the wheel.

Gen Z is redefining the world of personal finance with a fresh, tech-driven approach to investing.

In the icy rivers of Alaska, salmon is a vital resource for its fishing-reliant communities, indigenous peoples, and the economy.

The working of the mind has been considered beyond the scope of economic inquiry. Neuroeconomics, attempting to bridge this gap, studies the relationship between economic decisions and observable phenomena in human brains.

Have you ever considered a world where the economy ceases to exist? This seems impossible, but for most of my life it was reality.

Why do you want money? Nowadays, everyone has a distinct answer to this question. Yet, the classical economic model seems to stop before this question, assuming that we make decisions by logically calculating costs to maximize utility: homo-economicus.

Over the years, the Philippines and China's physical proximity to one another has strengthened economic activity and overall relations between the two countries. However, this proximity has recently become a point of contention, particularly due to the South China Sea.

Behavioral economics acknowledges that psychological factors significantly influence decision-making. People are often driven by emotions, cognitive biases, and social pressures, leading them to make choices that deviate from what would be considered "rational" in an economic sense.

Are $200 Sephora purchases rash, or can they be justified? In the world of girl math, cosmetics and other unnecessary purchases are no longer seen as superfluous, instead they are seen as investments whose costs can be rationalized by their number of uses.

Marriage is a fundamental social institution that profoundly influences individual and societal well-being – extensive literature has explored factors influencing marital decisions and outcomes.

Ethiopia has experienced significant economic expansion in recent years with a GDP growth rate of approximately 7.2 percent in the fiscal years 2020 to 2023 – a testament to Ethiopia's emergence as one of the world's fastest growing economies in today's global landscape.

With the rise of online dating platforms, many argue that the “competition” for attention and the need to “impress” potential partners mimics the mechanisms of the labor market. Much like applying for a job, online dating requires crafting profiles that signal unique qualities, akin to the resume-building seen in the labor market to stand out as a specialized worker. Photos, bios, and interests on a dating profile aim to stop individuals from swiping left, just like an impressive education may deter a hiring manager from throwing away a resume. Recent research suggests that this dynamic aligns with the economic theory of the price mechanism, raising the question: how exactly do individuals “price” their value in the marketplace of relationships?

Getting older doesn’t mean spending more. If you play it right, your birthday can be a financial glow-up! Businesses love to shower you with freebies – from meals to beauty products – but why? And how can you make the most of them? Companies aren’t just being generous. Birthday freebies build customer loyalty. A free treat creates warm feelings, making you likely to return and spend more. Businesses also count on you bringing friends, increasing sales. That “free dessert” at a restaurant? It usually comes with a table full of paying customers.

In our ever changing economy, one of the only industries with consistently high demand is the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to music, people have always been excited to listen to their favorite songs or catch the latest rom-com. However, in the era of technology, the way this content is consumed is rapidly changing; society has entered the age of streaming. Instead of buying CDs or visiting movie theaters, we can stream whatever we desire from the comfort of our own homes, impacting the economy in countless ways.

Why are some former colonies, like the United States and Australia, among the world's most prosperous nations, while others struggle with persistent poverty? In their Nobel prize-winning 2001 paper, "The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development," economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson provided a compelling answer: it all comes down to whether European colonizers could survive long enough to settle.

The US is home to just 4% of the world’s population—yet houses over 20% of its prisoners. With over 1.9 million people behind bars as of 2023, the US leads the world in mass imprisonment and deals with overcrowding of public facilities at high costs. As such, the privatization of prisons has been the “quick-fix” solution for the government. But does outsourcing incarceration truly save taxpayer money, or rather foster a profit-driven system that values revenue over rehabilitation?

"Crazy Rich Asians" isn’t just a fictional rom-com—it’s a real economic spectacle wrapped in designer fabric. It pulls back the velvet curtain on a world where private jets replace Uber, wedding budgets rival national GDPs, and wealth isn’t just about having money, but about having the right kind of money. Behind the glitz and glamour, the film is a sharp commentary on class divides, generational affluence, and the invisible economic barriers that separate the ultra-rich from, well, everyone else.

Thanks to the rise of social media and convenient streaming services, it is undeniable that the influence of celebrities has grown exponentially in recent years. From yummy recipes to effective workouts, more and more people are turning to celebrities for advice on how to live their lives. Recognizing this, many of them have expanded their brands to profit from their extended influence, particularly the beauty industry.

Consumer preference depends on a variety of factors. In recent years, there has been a trend in preferring products that are eco-friendly. Within the last ten years e-cigarettes have risen in popularity significantly. One question that often isn’t considered when deciding between the two, is which one is better for the environment.

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed an incredible shift in people’s day to day lives, most notably impacting work arrangements. From 2019 to 2023, remote work has seen a five-fold increase, with nearly 40% of US employees reporting working remotely at least one day per week. This shift represents a fundamental change in the way work is organized and raises questions regarding productivity, work culture, and future costs.

You know the drill. Sunlight hits just right, your iced coffee is in hand (even in this horrendous cold?, guilty) and suddenly, you’re not just running errands – you’re the lead in a slow-burn indie film. That’s main character energy, and Gen Z is obsessed. But here’s the thing: being the star of your own life? Kinda expensive.

In a 2022 report, the WHO estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. This speaks volumes on firms’ temporal bandwidth, where many prioritize short-term profits by overworking employees without realizing the long-term cost of burnout. Even through a theoretical perspective, investing in mental health seems to point towards a sustainable labor market.

Stagflation – an economic phenomenon characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of stagnation in economic growth, high unemployment, and high inflation – is a troubling combination that challenges conventional economic theory and policy responses.

Have you ever noticed that women’s razors, deodorants, or even basic clothing items often cost more than their male counterparts, despite being nearly identical? This premium, commonly known as the “Pink Tax,” isn’t an official tax, but rather a classic example of price discrimination. While this seems unfair and furthers inequality, from a microeconomics businesses are completely justified.

In the digital age, consumerism has transformed, driven by the immediacy of technology and a growing preference for more flexible financial products. This is where BPNL (Buy Now, Pay Later) comes in.

College students and coffee: many argue that one cannot exist without the other. In an environment where students face academic, professional, and extracurricular responsibilities, many students rely on coffee to survive, and the sheer number of coffee shops at Boston University is a testament to that. From Starbucks, Pavement, and Saxby’s, students have a plethora of options, with each cafe receiving hundreds of customers each day. In an attempt to capitalize on this demand, coffee shops implement pricing tactics to squeeze every dollar they can out of their caffeine-addicted customers. But how effective are they?

Ozempic, a semaglutide GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) originally developed as an anti-diabetic medication, has become a powerful weight-loss drug that functions by curbing appetites and altering impulse control. However, beyond its health benefits, its widespread use is triggering shifts in multiple industries. Some health economists are calling Ozempic the new economic earthquake that could reshape spending habits and redefine consumer behavior.

“Did I take advantage of the weak yen, or did the weak yen take advantage of me?” This tiktok trend encapsulates the complex dynamics at play in Japan’s current tourism boom. With a record surge of 36.87 million tourists flooding Japan in 2024, the nation has become a hotspot for shoppers eager to maximize the value of their stronger home currencies against the relatively weak yen.