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
Category: Economics in the News-Micro
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
Labor Supply and the Dutch Economy
In the Netherlands, four-day workweeks are common. Dutch employees work an average of 32.1 hours per week, well below the EU average of 36 hours. The country also has one of the highest incomes per person in Europe. Higher wages are leading Dutch workers to trade additional income for leisure.—bbc.com
Rafael Nadal’s Performance Measured by Elo Ratings
Nadal, 39, retired in November 2024 after years of battling injuries that ultimately ended hopes of extending one of the most decorated careers in tennis history. —dailysabah.com, December 15, 2025 Elo points measure how strong a player is based on match results. Beating stronger opponents increases Elo points more, while losing to weaker opponents decreases … Continue reading Rafael Nadal’s Performance Measured by Elo Ratings
The Credit Card Loan Market
The U.S. President has proposed an annual interest rate of no more than 10 percent on credit card loans. A senior executive at JPMorgan Chase considers the proposal a vain attempt to help low-income borrowers. The average market interest rate on credit card loans is 22%.— economist.com The Unregulated Credit Card Loan Market A 10% … Continue reading The Credit Card Loan Market
Natural Gas Prices at Their Highest Level Since 2022
Meteorologists are warning of an extreme winter storm. As temperatures are expected to fall, U.S. residents will need more natural gas to heat their homes. Very low temperatures can also disrupt gas pipelines. A huge decrease in storage is expected. Natural gas prices are at their highest since 2022.—cnn.com
A Record Year for Airlines Is Not What It Seems
In 2025, airlines are expected to earn just $7.90 per passenger, yet total profits may reach $40 billion, according to IATA. As Boeing and Airbus struggled to raise production, airlines operated older aircrafts, increasing fuel and maintenance costs amidst rising demand.— economist.com
Warner Bros. Discovery Chooses Netflix Over Paramount
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) rejected Paramount’s bid and accepted Netflix’s offer for its streaming and studio assets. A key concern with Paramount’s proposal was the large amount of debt required. Antitrust authorities are expected to focus primarily on the paid streaming market when evaluating such mergers.—ft.com Market Data The U.S. paid streaming market shares (2025) … Continue reading Warner Bros. Discovery Chooses Netflix Over Paramount