Economics Archives

What Are NFTs and How Do They Work?

What are NFTs and how do they work? What makes NFTs so valuable? How can a piece of art that can be screenshotted and viewed online for free now sell for millions? And, finally, are NFTs here to stay, or are they just another bubble waiting to burst? If you are interested in learning about NFTs (non-fungible tokens), but struggle to get your head around what NFTs are and how they work, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. Many people are baffled by the NFTs and their insane valuations, some breaking hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Global Distribution of Wealth: Good News or Bad News?

What is the status of—and the outlook for—the global distribution of wealth? Are the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer? Steven Pinker wants to set the record straight on wealth and inequality in the world. He presents compelling data regarding inequality, poverty, and social spending that might come as a surprise to many. Continue reading to learn Pinker’s argument and for a brief discussion of the prospect of a Universal Basic Income.

Peter Lynch: Investing Isn’t as Hard as It’s Made Out to Be

Have you always wanted to invest in the stock market but felt too uninformed or inexperienced to do so? Do you really need financial expertise to be a successful investor? According to Peter Lynch, investing is not as complicated as it is made out to be. Everyone not only has all the tools they need to become a savvy investor, but they actually have a better chance of investing successfully than professionals and firms. Here’s why you have a better chance of success investing independently.

6 Stock Market Rules for Independent Investors

Are you an independent investor? What are some things you can do to increase your investment earnings? According to former mutual fund manager Peter Lynch, you have a better chance of success investing independently than through professionals and firms. If you choose to invest independently, however, you must be aware of certain key rules. Here are six stock market rules for independent investors.

Extractive Political Institutions: How & Why They Exist

What are extractive political institutions? How do they come into power? What makes a nation extractive? According to the book Why Nations Fail, political institutions determine how a nation creates the rules that citizens live under. Whether a country adopts extractive or inclusive institutions also determines who wields power in society and how they wield it. Read on to learn how and why extractive political institutions are created, according to Why Nations Fail.

The 2 Things Successful Countries Do to Thrive

What makes a country successful? What do successful countries do differently than failing nations? In the book Why Nations Fail, economist Daron Acemoglu and political scientist James A. Robinson explain why some nations have wealth and high standards of living while others struggle with poverty and instability. They argue that freedom and fairness in a nation’s economy and government are the answer. Keep reading to learn the two reasons why successful countries thrive, according to Acemoglu and Robinson.

What Causes Inequality? Analyzing the 3 Leading Theories

What causes inequality in the world? Why are some countries prosperous while others struggle to survive? In Why Nations Fail, economist Daron Acemoglu and political scientist James A. Robinson argue that current theories on national failure are flawed. They further explain that successful nations have political and economic institutions that are “open” while failing nations have “exclusive” institutions. Read on to learn what really causes inequality and why the top theories are flawed, according to Acemoglu and Robinson.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis: Discussion Questions

The Millionaire Next Door and Wealth Building

Are you looking for exercises and discussion questions for The Big Short? How can you apply the lessons in the book to your own life? The Big Short by Michael Lewis explores the origins of and fallout from the 2007-2008 financial crisis through the eyes of a handful of eccentric and oddball investors who saw that the U.S. housing market—and, by extension, the entire financial system—was built on a foundation of sand. Continue reading for The Big Short discussion questions and exercises.

Why Is Rent So Expensive? Economists Weigh In

Why is rent so expensive at the moment? Who has been most affected by rising rent prices? Will prices drop? Demand for affordable housing has surged even as luxury rentals have emptied, leading to quickly rising prices in the market segment that can afford them least. Economists claim that, for lower-income households, the cost to rent is disproportionately higher. Keep reading to find out why rent is so expensive and what the solution is, according to economists.

What Is the Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock?

What is the best time to buy and sell stocks? How can you tell whether a stock’s price is fair and reasonable? There are numerous factors that determine the best time to sell/buy stocks. According to Peter Lynch, the author of One Up on Wall Street, there are two rules of thumb to follow when deciding whether to enter/exit the market for a particular stock. Here’s when you should buy/sell stocks, according to Lynch.