Tag Archives: television

The baffling career of Berlusconi

Posted on June 26, 2011 by

“Who trusts Berlusconi?” is the title of a recent paper from the Economics and Econometrics Research Institution in Brussels. The ability of Berlusconi to clutch on to power is continually baffling. It’s like Italy has been stuck for over a decade in a … Continue reading →

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The overconfidence of Machiavelli and Blair

Posted on March 13, 2011 by

In the 16th century, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a book for a prince on how to use cunning to obtain and hold on to power. In sharp contrast to most books written at the time on princely governance, morality took second … Continue reading →

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Jerry Springer and cigarettes

Posted on February 28, 2011 by

There’s a lot of talk show TV out there. And it’s very popular. Take, for example, The Jerry Springer Show, which has been going strong since 1991 and even spawned a spin-off opera.  Why is it so popular? It’s simple if you think … Continue reading →

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Rastamouse deals with market failure

Posted on February 13, 2011 by

Or, how Rastamouse made a bad ting (“thing”) good. The good thing about having young nieces and nephews is that you’re kept up-to-date on the latest trends in kids’ TV. So today, I tuned into an episode of Rastamouse, Hot hot … Continue reading →

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Frasier and Niles and placebos

Posted on September 4, 2010 by

… or a good excuse for Five Minute Economist to dig out some quotes from a comedy classic. Healthcare works differently from most markets in many ways. Apart from anything else, it’s an experience good, which means that it’s hard … Continue reading →

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BBC Three’s misguided attempt to slim people down

Posted on July 3, 2010 by

In amongst the various Doctor Who spin-offs and teen entertainment, BBC Three occasionally also tries to lend a helping hand. Usually as part of a reality programme – because clearly people with problems are very entertaining. One of BBC Three’s … Continue reading →

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