1. Economics: Think Differently.

2. Economics Economists are good at tax refunds.
Economists only care about money.
Economics deals with cold, hard cash.
Economists are cold and hard.
Economics is black and white.
Economics is boring.
and pointless.
and confusing.
and too abstract.
Economists always use Arial font and write bulleted lists of boring things.

3. False.

4. In reality, Economics is the study of how humans use scarce resources…which could be anything.
Economists are psychologists, scientists, sociologists, doctors, artists, theorists, innovators, idealists, and skeptics all at the same time.

5. So how can an Economist be all of those things?
Psychology- we focus on how humans make decisions—dealing with money, resources, or even what name they choose for their baby.
Science- there is method to our madness.
Sociology- Game Theory=interactions between people and their expectations. It is pretty much a large-scale game between bluffing companies.

6. Doctor- hello, PhD. But in a less literal sense, we diagnose the problems of the world. From increasing crime rates to increasing inflation rates, the Economic way of thought seeks to uncover the cause of these problems.
Artists- we draw a lot (LOT) of pretty graphs, oh, and we have to obtain a certain creative way of thinking to succeed in Economics.
Theorists- sometimes, we make things up. But everything makes logical sense if you think about it. Almost all of Economics is theory that can be applied to the real world.

7. Innovators- if you discover the next big Economic theory, you could literally save the world…it has happened.
Idealist- we enjoy simplifying models to represent a utopian society with only two variables, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective.
Skeptics- an economist never accepts anything without questioning it. If there is an exception to a rule, we will find it.

8. Just ask the authors of the New York Times Bestseller Freakonomics.
Don’t believe me?
Just ask the authors of the New York Times Bestseller Freakonomics.
Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner wrote a book that uses Economic thought applied to the popular world.
Using Economics they explain that there is a “hidden side of everything”.
They explain how sumo wrestlers and teachers have more in common that meets the eye—they both cheat.
How the Ku Klux Klan resembles a “group of Real Estate Agents”,
Why drug dealers live with their moms,
And why people should pay attention to what they name their kid.

9. Basically, it is Economics for the masses.
You, however, are smarter than the masses…so you will also be learning the abstract theories behind these real-world applications.
Economics is just one huge puzzle waiting to be solved.
Now it is your turn to solve it.

10. Not to worry—I’ll explain.
Your Project
Look intimidating?
Not to worry—I’ll explain.

11. Sources:
Levitt, Steven D., and Stephen J. Dubner. Freakonomics. 1st ed. New York: William Morrow, 2006.
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Music: (if applicable)
“Alla Luca Dal Sole” performed by: Josh Groban
“FNT” performed by: Semisonic