"If I Had a Million Dollars"

"...I'd be rich." Everyone remembers that classic song from Canada's very own Barenaked Ladies right? Well, have you ever wondered what the items in that song would look like on an infographic? Of course you have.

Ever find yourself sitting around on a Sunday morning wondering how much more it costs to own a dog instead of a cat? Or maybe you sometimes think about the differences in the amount of money we spent to fight the Vietnam War vs. Persian Gulf War?

This really great infographic (you can buy it in poster form) right here has the answers to your questions.

Big tip of the Econblog hat to Erin in Athens for sharing this one.

SMG Week 8

With two weeks to go the rankings are looking like so...

1st place- Cedar Shoals High with $192,155.00
2nd place- Parkview High with $170,930.00
3rd place- Bartow County with $161,968.00

Keep it rolling.

And a Pecan Shall Lead Us

Georgia's unemployment rate is still stuck in the high 9's. What to do? How about we bring back good old Pecan Pete? People get hooked on these things and Georgia's pecan farmers will be in the money. Soon they will will be out buying new tractors, new Ford F150's and maybe even some new pecan tree shakers.

Just imagine what kind of impact this would have on numerous Georgia businesses? I can almost see it now,  citizens of this state from Lenox to the Lenox Mall will see the wisdom of planting pecan groves on every square inch of arable land.

Before we know it our unemployment rate will be as low as North Dakota's.

Happy Stuffing Day

A little side of Thanksgiving economics for you.

Enjoy your holiday break.

SMG Week Seven

The top three as of 11/22/11...

1.  Cedar Shoals High................$191,833.94
2.  Burnt Hickory Elementary......$185,690
3.  Parkview High......................$183,472

Three more weeks to go!

Your Weekend Reading

The "Has it really come to this?" edition.

Now with 100% more Snooki.

...and it gets worse (or better depending on your preference for this kind of thing.)

Thank You, Mr. President

With the race for the 2012 White House already in full swing, finding a presidential candidate saying he or she can "fix" the economy is about as easy as finding an angry protestor near Wall Street. 

This plan will cut the debt in half. That plan will bring the unemployment rate down to 4%. The plan over there involves the number nine a bunch of times and it promises to put a man on Mars before Christmas while creating economic prosperity not seen since the days of Martin Van Buren!

Are any of them telling the truth? Can a president really even "fix" the economy all by himself? Ladies and gents, I give you this. A tale of the tape of sorts.

SMG Week Six

With six weeks down, and four to go, the rankings have changed a bit at the top.Your current leaders going into the homestretch...

1st place- Cedar Shoals High with $191,497.00
2nd place- Burnt Hickory Elementary with $189,806.00
3rd place- Mountain View High with $173,853.00

Best of luck to all teams during the remainder of the simulation.

McPork Memories

Woke up , fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head. Made my way downstairs and had a McRib, and looking up I noticed I had sauce all over my shirt...

Ah yes, that magical time of the year is upon us once again. Ladies and gents I give you the 2011 McRib roll-out. The pork of legend.

Are your students fired up? Are they skipping school just to spend more time at McDonald's? I'm willing to bet a Big Mac and a McFlurry that they are.

Please, don't be a fool. Take advantage of this golden, and sauce covered, opportunity to link the McRib to econ. Take a peek right here for some fantastic, and sauce covered, micro connections.

Your Weekend Reading

The "Occupy Mankiw" edition.

Oh, he also wrote this recently.

Royal(ties)

How does a rock star get paid these days? If I'm sitting in the global HQ listening/watching an Arcade Fire song on YouTube how much $$$ is the band pulling in? Is it still profitable for SONY Records to sell an actual CD? Does Apple get a bigger cut of that Matthew Good song than Matthew Good himself? Is Neko Case (greatest singer of all time) getting a cut when I hear her 77 times on Pandora?

All of these questions, and more, answered right here.

Food Trucks to the Rescue

An interview with myself...

Me: So, Mr. EconBlog, what has been the most exciting thing to happen around your office in the last three years? Was it the first ever GSU football pep rally? Was it the recent Occupy Atlanta protests? Was it the time the MARTA police got to business on that guy brandishing that gun in Woodruff Park?

EconBlog: Those are all good choices but none compare to the recent addition of what I like to call "Food Truck Wednesday." 

Me: Food Truck Wednesday?

EconBlog: Oh yes. Each and every Wednesday a collection of Atlanta food trucks bring their goods to Underground Atlanta. Couple bucks and you are eating like a king.

Me: Atlanta has food trucks?

EconBlog: Indeed. Awesome food trucks to be more specific. One week I'm eating spicy pork burritos the next I'm wolfing down some amazing fries from the fry guy. The cool kids call it "epic."

Me: Nice. Wait, why are we talking about food trucks on this here economics blog?

EconBlog: Entrepreneurship. These people are living the American dream. Come up with a great idea, invest in a truck, give the people what they want and compete for my dollar. Totally great to see the free market do its thing.

Me: Sweet. Where can I find out more about Atlanta's food truck scene?

EconBlog: I've got you covered right here.

Your Weekend Reading

The "Use it or lose it" edition.

Well This Stinks

Nothing here to see folks...just keep moving along.

SMG Week 4

 

At the end of the 4th week we have two schools from Gwinnett County battling it out for top honors.

1st place, Mountain View High

2nd place, Mountain View High

3rd place, Parkview High

4th place, Parkview High

Stay tuned....