Economics

Steamboat Willie and Intellectual Property 1
- Culture, Economics
- January 5, 2024
You’ve likely already seen him freely used across the Internet over the last two days. As of 2024, Steamboat Willie, the cartoon which introduced Mickey Mouse, entered the public domain. This means that Steamboat Willie and its depictions of Mickey Mouse is fair game for any usage (I’d guess Disney likely will still try to
READ MORE
Two Strategies for Making Better Financial Choices in 2024 1
- Economics
- January 3, 2024
The Aesop Fable known as The Ant and the Grasshopper offers a profound commentary on life and work. Its moral is at once striking and compelling, regardless of the reader’s background. One version of the fable goes as follows: One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants were bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out
READ MORE
What an Old Coin Collection Tells Us About Money From the Past 1
- Economics
- January 2, 2024
I was recently given a coin collection that belonged to another relative. Most of the coins in it are not in circulation anymore, and while you don’t see them every day, they are definitely not rare. Most aren’t in good condition either. In fact, they look much worse for wear than the coins you get
READ MORE

Why a New IRS Change Will Push Some Entrepreneurs Into Corporate Desk Jobs 0
- Economics
- December 13, 2023
As the end of the year approaches, the IRS has announced its new late repayment penalty rate. The rate has climbed from around 3% two years ago to 8% today. Most workers in the US are W-2 employees and have taxes deducted from their paychecks each pay period. However, if those employees claim more exemptions,
READ MORE
The Miracles of Human Cooperation Are Hidden in Plain Sight 0
- Economics
- November 29, 2023
Recently, my wife and I had occasion to shop at Trader Joe’s just before closing time. The docks to the storage level were open, and the space inside was stacked from floor to ceiling. Workers were unloading trucks and adding to the brightly lit cornucopia. What happens at night is invisible to the thousands of
READ MORE
How Can We Stop Serving Students So Poorly?1
- Education, Economics
- November 21, 2023
In 1942, there were 108,579 public school districts in the United States. By the 2020-21 school year, there were only 13,187. That massive consolidation of school districts was propelled by the belief that economies of scale created by larger school districts would lower costs and serve students better. Those presumed efficiencies have not, however, been demonstrated in practice.
READ MORE