The economic mysteries of daily life.

If you'd like to sort this department listing by headline, author or date, please use the Slate search.

• Why Not Start Your Weekend on Wednesday? There's no need to preach the gospel of leisure. Most of us work less than our parents did.
  Tim Harford Dec. 27, 2008
  
• On the Dole, but Not Doleful Unemployment benefits do encourage joblessness. But that may not be a bad thing.
  Tim Harford Dec. 12, 2008
  
• Holes in Our Socks Why it's so hard to predict how bad the recession will be.
  Tim Harford Nov. 28, 2008
  
• Only the Good Buy Young Why 20-year-olds should invest way more in the stock market, and 50-year-olds, way less.
  Tim Harford Nov. 15, 2008
  
• Money on the Brain What can "neuroeconomics" teach us about how we shop?
  Tim Harford Nov. 1, 2008
  
• The Theory and Practice of Blackmail Why it's so hard to get away with it.
  Tim Harford Oct. 18, 2008
  
• Bailouts Are Inevitable, Even Desirable Stop complaining about the "moral hazard" problem and enjoy the rescue.
  Tim Harford Oct. 3, 2008
  
• Burn Her! Why it's dangerous to be a witch in a recession.
  Tim Harford Sept. 20, 2008
  
• Why Houses Cost More in Summer An economics mystery has finally been solved.
  Tim Harford Sept. 5, 2008
  
• The Fruits of Their Labors An amazing economics experiment and how it got field workers to pick a lot more strawberries.
  Tim Harford Aug. 23, 2008
  
• The Wisdom of Crowds? A single economic forecast is usually wrong. But groups of economic forecasts are often just as mistaken. Why?
  Tim Harford Aug. 9, 2008
  
• But My Neighbor Has a Cell Phone … Finally, a sensible way to measure poverty.
  Tim Harford July 26, 2008
  
• The World Needs More Speculators Stop demonizing the investors who are betting heavily on oil prices.
  Tim Harford July 12, 2008
  
• Likely Bedfellows How much do Republican-leaning corporations benefit from Republican political success? A lot!
  Tim Harford June 28, 2008
  
• You're Saving Enough for Retirement (Probably) Don't worry—you won't have to live on ramen and cat food.
  Tim Harford June 14, 2008
  
• A Secret Tax on Teenagers You get your rebate check today. Your kid pays the tax bill later.
  Tim Harford May 30, 2008
  
• The $20 Pack Why smokers are happier when cigarettes cost more.
  Tim Harford May 17, 2008
  
• It's Like Money, but With No Dead Presidents Do "local currencies" really help the communities that use them?
  Tim Harford May 3, 2008
  
• What Is "Income per Natural"? How a new way to count national income could change how we think about immigration and development.
  Tim Harford April 19, 2008
  
• Steal This Book! Please! Why software and media companies should encourage piracy (sometimes).
  Tim Harford April 12, 2008
  
• The Price Is Right Does evolution explain why we hate to pay more for scarce goods?
  Tim Harford March 29, 2008
  
• Smallpox or Facebook? Which better explains how ideas move through society: diseases or social networks?
  Tim Harford March 15, 2008
  
• Money That Lasts Forever Why are we so scared of annuities?
  Tim Harford March 1, 2008
  
• My Own Private Housing Bubble I'm about to pay way too much for a house, and I know it. Does that make me a fool?
  Tim Harford Feb. 16, 2008
  
• Amazing Racism A study that shows the true stupidity of discrimination.
  Tim Harford Feb. 2, 2008
  
• How Facebook Is Like Ikea They get their customers to do the work—and to enjoy doing it.
  Tim Harford Jan. 19, 2008
  
• The Logic of Life Why divorce is good for women.
  Tim Harford Jan. 15, 2008
  
• Trial by Camera Measuring the effectiveness of foreign aid.
  Tim Harford Jan. 5, 2008