Weekly Econ Articles
Japan, UNC Football, GM, Fries, and a Fed Balance Sheet Explainer
Trade and Specialization: What's in Trump's trade agreement with Japan? | ABC News
Japan struck a trade deal for 15% tariffs, including automobiles, giving it an advantage over current 25% automobile rates for other countries.
Supply, Demand and Equilibrium: Bill Belichick's UNC Football Reportedly Sells Out All Tickets for 2025 CFB Season | Bleacher Report
It’s news I never imagined growing up as a Tar Heel–UNC football tickets are completely sold out over a month before the season even starts. But econ explains it all-Bill Belichick has shifted demand for tickets dramatically to the right.
Supply, Demand and Equilibrium: Beef prices in the US hit record highs | Morning Brew
Beef prices are skyrocketing as a result of a supply shift to the left. And those high prices are encouraging farmers to sell more cattle now, rather than breed them and hope prices stay high next year.
Monetary Policy: Why the Fed is running big losses | Axios
The Fed’s over-budget renovation projects have been all over the news, but it’s not the only reason the Fed has been losing money over the past few years. Expansionary monetary policy results in positive balance sheets, but the contractionary policy the Fed has been implementing over the last few years requires paying higher interest on reserve balances (IORRB). That’s swung the balance sheet into negative territory.
Personal Finance: They bought a house expecting rates to fall. They’re still waiting | CNN Business
Interest rates make a huge difference in the cost of your mortgage. A risky bet that rates would lower quickly has backfired on some homeowners who expected to refinance at lower rates quickly.
Trade and Specialization: GM says Trump tariffs cost $1.1 billion in Q2 with more pain ahead | Quartz
GM’s quarterly financial report indicates it expects a $4-5 billion dollar annual hit on revenues due to tariffs, with $1.1 billion in losses in Q2.
Trade and Specialization: Spud-tacular: How India became a french fry superpower | BBC
A surprising story of developing a comparative advantage in growing french fry potatoes. And how the extent of the market (and the roads to connect it) matter.