With the way the media view ‘price gouging’ I have no idea why Apple is so loved: Are they the best company in the world at price skimming? Apple Inc. halved the price of its entry-level iPhone to $99 and rolled out a next-generation model, looking to sustain the momentum for its popular smart phone …
Category Archive: Microeconomics
Permanent link to this article: http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2009/06/10/apple-arent-a-cuddly-teddy-bear/
Jun 09 2009
A good reason to complain
Matt’s bout of food poisoning has prompted an email discussion on whether he should complain to the store that sold him the offending item. He is of the opinion that a certain percentage of products are always going to be bad and he was just unlucky, so why bother complaining. I think he’s ignoring the …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2009/06/09/a-good-reason-to-complain/
May 21 2009
Cruelty to pigs, willingness to pay, and intrinsic animal rights
Brad Taylor has an interesting post discussing how New Zealand pig farmers are using the issue of stall vs non-stall pigs as a way to increase protectionism in the New Zealand pork industry. Now if all that matters is how humans value the issue then Brad is right – the efficient solution requires no regulation. …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2009/05/21/cruelty-to-pigs-willingness-to-pay-and-intrinsic-animal-rights/
May 01 2009
Women, relationships, and game theory
When reading about that hunk Hugh Jackman and his new movie Wolverine I read this story in Stuff. In that story he mentioned the following comment from his wife: He said: “She gets very annoyed. She says, ‘A husband’s job is to be fat and flabby and make me look fabulous.’ She said I wasn’t …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2009/05/01/women-relationships-and-game-theory/
Apr 17 2009
Easter surcharge confusion
When I had breakfast in town over Easter I was charged a 20% surcharge on everything, allegedly because their labour costs are higher over Easter. Now it’s true that they are statutorily required to pay more over the Easter break, so their labour costs are higher; however, the marginal cost of providing a meal is …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2009/04/17/easter-surcharge-confusion/
Apr 15 2009
Smoking, preferences and internalities
Eric Crampton reports a study on the reasons for smoking. It finds that smokers place a lower value on the cost of getting a major lung disease than non-smokers. I really like to see these sorts of studies because differences in preferences are almost impossible to show without them. It’s easy to SAY that smokers …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.tvhe.co.nz/2009/04/15/smoking-preferences-and-internalities/
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