The Independent Market Observer

Approaching Economics with Humor: Some Favorite Videos

Posted by Brad McMillan, CFA®, CFP®

Find me on:

This entry was posted on Dec 31, 2019 1:48:54 PM

and tagged Commentary

Leave a comment

To ring out the year, Commonwealth CIO Brad McMillan shares some videos that approach economics with humor. I suspect not too much work will get done today, at least in my house, so let’s have some fun. Below are links to some of my favorite economic and investing videos. In true economist fashion, I have categorized them appropriately. Note that I may not agree with the content—especially for the funny ones! Start at the top.

Enjoy—and see you in the new year!

Generation Z angst?: Gumball’s “Economy Song”

I have to give a hat tip to my son for this cartoon, since I was watching TV with him when I saw it. As the song announcer says, “The stock market has fallen, but these animated graphs will tell you all about it.” The clip is from the Cartoon Network’s Amazing World of Gumball television series.

Keynes vs. Hayek rap battle: “Fear the Boom and Bust”

In this 2010 music video—an oldie but goodie—twentieth-century titans John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich von Hayek attend a modern economic summit and rap about the boom-and-bust business cycle. Created by John Papola and Russ Roberts, the video addresses the question: should we steer the markets or set them free?

Rodney Dangerfield: “First Economics Class”

Who better to parody economic theory versus reality than Rodney Dangerfield in the classic 1986 comedy Back to School? In this bit from the movie, Dangerfield stars as a successful but uneducated businessman who enrolls in college. Here’s what happens when the practical loudmouth takes his first economics class, with the topic being real estate development.

Homer Simpson: “An Economic Analysis”

Does Homer Simpson’s job history represent that of many middle-class Americans? In this 2016 video analysis, Vox charts Homer’s hypothetical salaries from 100 of the jobs he held during 27 years as the lead character of the popular TV series The Simpsons. Vox’s conclusion? Homer’s median income just might be a paradigm of the “middle-class squeeze.” 

American Economic Association: “The Funniest Papers in the History of Economics”

As Yoram Bauman, PhD, says in this humorous presentation at the annual meeting of the American Economic Association in 2016, “It was a challenge to just get them down to a couple.” Bauman bills himself as “the world’s first and only stand-up economist.” This video is quite a compilation—which one is your favorite?


Subscribe via Email

Crash-Test Investing

Hot Topics



New Call-to-action

Conversations

Archives

see all

Subscribe


Disclosure

The information on this website is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation.

Certain sections of this commentary contain forward-looking statements that are based on our reasonable expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

The S&P 500 Index is a broad-based measurement of changes in stock market conditions based on the average performance of 500 widely held common stocks. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly in an index.

The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australia, Far East) Index is a free float‐adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index consists of 21 developed market country indices.

One basis point (bp) is equal to 1/100th of 1 percent, or 0.01 percent.

The VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) measures the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility across a wide range of S&P 500 options.

The forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio divides the current share price of the index by its estimated future earnings.

Third-party links are provided to you as a courtesy. We make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided on these websites. Information on such sites, including third-party links contained within, should not be construed as an endorsement or adoption by Commonwealth of any kind. You should consult with a financial advisor regarding your specific situation.

Member FINRASIPC

Please review our Terms of Use

Commonwealth Financial Network®