Tracking prices over time is easy when the object in question doesn't change much-say, an orange. But the process is difficult when there are frequent changes in the quality of the item-say, an Apple computer. Hedonics provides the solution.

The goal of the National Animal Identification System is to trace the origin of a diseased animal within 48 hours. But would an optional, voluntary system accomplish this goal without unduly hurting small farmers?

Amidst the overall strength and longevity of the U.S. economic expansion of the 1990s, a growing current account deficit is one indicator that often is viewed with concern. In this article, Michael Pakko discusses some basic economic principles about current accounts and how they relate to the...

Inflation can cause costly misallocations of resources as consumers seek to protect the purchasing power of their nominal assets. In this article, Michael R. Pakko discusses the nature of these distortions - known as "shoe-leather" costs - in a model where the demand for money is motivated by a...