96,000 (In the Heights)
The manager of the convenience store and his friends find out that somebody purchased a winning lottery ticket worth $96,000 from his store. This group, all of whom live in…
Read MoreCategory: Microeconomics
7 1/2 Cents (The Pajama Game)
The singers discuss the many things they could do by earning 7 ½ cents an hour, a wage that is about 1/100th of the current US minimum wage. A great…
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Life Story (Closer Than Ever)
The singer discusses her life story in this song, starting with her “liberated marriage”. Many economic concepts are covered here, including: * college tuition costs * the loss of human…
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Bilbao Song (Happy Ending)
The singers are singing about Bilbao, an old hangout for the crowd that has gathered. They remember the good times they used to have at a low cost, lamenting the…
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Wells Fargo Wagon (The Music Man)
The Iowa town is excited when the Wells Fargo wagon comes to town. Why shouldn’t they be? It’s 1912 and the Wells Fargo Wagon was an efficient way to get…
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Everybody Say Yeah (Kinky Boots)
Faced with the prospect that the family shoe company might go bankrupt, the firm decides to innovate to differentiate themselves from the competition. This song would provide a good introduction…
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Bruce (Matilda)
The principle (Miss Trunchbull) discovers that Bruce stole a piece of cake. As punishment, this (sadistic) principal wants Bruce to eat an entire cake. This song illustrates the concepts of…
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And the Money Kept Rolling In (Evita)
Eva Peron is loved – in part because of the money she’s giving away. Those who obtain the money she’s giving love Eva Peron – even though it isn’t actually…
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You Gotta Get A Gimmick (Gypsy)
The ladies are singing about how to be a better stripper. While entertaining and funny, this song is a a good illustration of a couple economics concepts. First, this song…
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Great Big Stuff (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)
Freddie is asked what he wants – and he doesn’t hesitate to answer. He wants all sorts of things. This would be a good song to play to introduce the…
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