Economics of the Indy 500

By Econ70 | 05/27/2011
A picture of the inside of a room with a bunch of stuff on it.

The Indy 500 is more than a huge financial Memorial Day event. Via trickledown technology it has vastly improved our lives. Turbochargers were 1st used in ’52, rearview mirrors in ’11 and seatbelts after WWII. Wide low-profile tires now used were also perfected there. When Indy cars were 1st outfitted with crash test recorders in…

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UPS Earnings: Up but Down

By Econ70 | 05/03/2011
A man in a suit and tie standing on stage.

UPS released its earnings last week. Volume fell here but grew overseas. Pricing power in the US was good and revenue surged despite weak volume because big investments in technology resulted in worker hours falling 2%. UPS mgt also had concerns about oil. In short: great $$$$, mediocre US outlook, a better situation in Asia,…

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