From My Inbox

I recently received an email with the subject line "musical writers who are fans of economics."  It continues as follows:

Hi Dr. Mankiw,

Thanks for giving a shout to musical theater in your recent post about Smash! My writing partner Leah (an econ major) introduced me to your blog several years ago and I've been a regular reader and huge fan ever since. We develop musicals and license the performance rights to college, high school, and community theatres. We're currently working on an adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life set in the recent recession, and it features some economics-inspired songs that you might get a kick out of. Here are a few you might enjoy:

Potter (a female in our version) and Sam Wainwright reflect on the economy. Inspired by a Rogoff article you linked to: Game We Play

Asleep at his desk, George has a Schumpeterian dream: Steve Jobs

Violet reflects on opportunity costs: Live for Today

Anyway, I want to thank you for contributing so much to my education through your blog and for helping to inspire an interest in economics. Maybe someday I'll write a musical explicitly about economics. "The Dismal Science" would make a great title, don't you think? :)

Cheers!

Kevin

GoMusicals.com

A Math Puzzler

Courtesy of my older son, Nicholas, who is in the 11th grade, here is a fun question:

What does the function y = x^x look like?

If your answer works only for positive x, you get at most a B-.

Hint: If you want help, click here.

Eric Maskin

...comes home.

Mr Mandate

The NY Times profiles MIT's Jonathan Gruber.

We're number one!

Unfortunately:

On Sunday, the United States gets a distinction no nation wants -- the world's highest corporate tax rate.  Japan, which currently has the highest rate in the world -- a 39.8% rate on business income between national and local taxes -- cuts its rate to 36.8% as of April 1. The U.S. rate stands at 39.2% when both federal and state rates are included.

A Guide for Prospective PhD Students

By Rachael Meager, via Joshua Gans.

A TV Recommendation

As regular readers of this blog may have noticed, I am a fan of musical theater.  So I was intrigued when I heard about the new TV show Smash,  which is a drama about the back-story of putting on a musical.  It has not disappointed. Indeed, it has quickly turned into one of my family's favorite shows. 

I do recommend, however, starting the story from the beginning, rather than jumping in the middle.  I have had good luck with streaming TV shows via Amazon.