Volkswagen is preparing to cut as many as 100,000 jobs over the coming years and close four factories in Germany.—ft.com Last year, Volkswagen produced and sold approximately 8.98 million vehicles worldwide. The company is adjusting its production capacity to build 500,000 fewer cars at its European factories.—wsj.com In China, the expected launch of many new … Continue reading Volkswagen to Cut Jobs and Close Factories
Category: Economics in the News-Micro
Why Rocket Launches Are So Expensive
Sending astronauts, satellites, and other cargo—called the payload—into space costs thousands of dollars per kilogram. As payload increases, more fuel is needed, and because fuel itself has weight, even more fuel is required to lift it. As a result, total fuel cost increases faster than the payload weight.—medium.com Relationship Between Payload and Fuel Cost for … Continue reading Why Rocket Launches Are So Expensive
Avianca Offers Free Tickets to Stranded Spirits Airlines Passengers
After Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, 2026, many of its passengers are stranded. Columbian airline, Avianca, has offered to fly passengers holding return tickets to their destination without charging any ticket price, depending on seat availability.—nytimes.com Use the following notation to work the questions in the multiple choice quiz below: Price — P … Continue reading Avianca Offers Free Tickets to Stranded Spirits Airlines Passengers
Soaring Jet Fuel Prices and U.S. Airlines
Jet fuel prices rose from $2.50 per gallon before the Iran war broke out to $ 4.13 on May 1 leading airlines to raise ticket prices and reduce the number of routes. The shock was especially severe for Spirit Airlines, which exited the market on May 2.—wsj.com and airlines.org Use the following notation to work … Continue reading Soaring Jet Fuel Prices and U.S. Airlines
Live Nation Violated Antitrust Laws
A federal jury found that Live Nation, owner of Ticketmaster, acted as a monopoly, overcharging $1.72 per ticket. It pressurized venues to use Ticketmaster for ticket sales. It controls 70% of government-identified major venues and 86% of ticket sales. A breakup may be proposed.—nytimes.com
Fast Food Wage Policy
In California, the FAST Act set the minimum wage at $20 per hour for fast-food workers.—calmatters.org
Live Nation’s U.S. Monopoly Case
Live Nation dominates the live event ticket market and charges exorbitant fees partly because many venues must arrange ticket sales through its platform. A government settlement now requires venues to be free to work with other ticketing companies. —ft.com
The Strait of Hormuz and the Global Oil Market
War in the Middle East has severely reduced tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil, raising fears that Iran could close the vital oil shipping route. —bbc.com
Production Possibilities Frontier and War
War between Israel, the United States, and Iran has damaged civilian infrastructure and killed civilians as missile and drone attacks spread across the Middle East.—ft.com Assumption: The world economy uses all available resources.
Coal Electricity and Pollution
In 2012, the EPA introduced Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which require pollution-control equipment to limit toxic air pollution from coal power plants. In 2026, the EPA proposed repealing parts of MATS, saying the rules raise electricity costs and limit supply. Critics warn that removing the rules will harm public health.—eia.gov and wri.org