Firm Decisions & Competition

BACONomics: Biden’s plan to reduce food price inflation

Last week I wrote about how Russia is trying to keep food price inflation down (within Russia) by implementing export tariffs on goods...

First Mover Advantage & PopTarts

Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts. We’ve all had them. They are a huge staple in the breakfast market. Who hasn’t “popped” one in the toaster on...

Driving Demand and Saving Soda

It’s hard for me to go anywhere now without thinking about what I could write a blog post on. Take my trip to Waco a few weeks ago. I...

Raisin Bran was Once a Monopoly (Bran Muffins)

Raisin bran is one of my favorite cereals. I love the sugar on the bran with the chewiness of the raisins. Specifically, I love...

The Colorful Fight between Margarine and Butter

When I set out to write a post on margarine versus butter, I had no idea it would lead to such a fun discovery. Turns out there has been...

Collusion in the Milk Market + Tres Leches Cake

Just a couple of weeks ago, the chicken industry was charged with price fixing. According to the charges, executives were texting each...

COVID-19; Flour, Yeast, and Milk; Elasticity of Supply

It’s April 4th, 2020 and governments across the country and the world are telling their citizens to stay home and not to congregate in...

S'Mores Pie, Marshmallows, & an Explanation of Short- and Long-Run Firm Decisions

About midway through the semester of a microeconomics class, we start talking about “long-run” and “short-run” decision making. This...

Greek feta, Government Protections, and Cheese Pie

************** Me to Lauren upon our arrival in Athens: “I’m excited about the food! Especially the Greek Salads.” Lauren: “Ugh. But I...

Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, and Cake & Brownie Mixes

I bet you have seen (or at least heard) the Pillsbury doughboy. According to the Pillsbury website “[t]he Pillsbury Doughboy was “born”...

Monopolistic Competition and Peanut Butter Cookies (GF)

I’m a Peter Pan fan. Yes, the story is good, but I’m talking about the peanut butter brand Peter Pan. That’s what I grew up eating and...

Tortillas and Price Discrimination

I am from Texas, and I love price discrimination. Um… what? Those seem like two very different things. But, to be honest, that’s what...

Maple Syrup Cartel

I’m sure you’ve heard of the “evil” OPEC. They decrease the amount of oil supplied and when you go to fill up your car, gas prices are...

Ice Cream and Shut Down Decisions

About an hour north of New York City along the Hudson River sits a small town called Cold Spring. During the summer, New Yorkers escape...