Andy tries to help April identify a job that she may be interested in, but she has reasons to hate each of the ones he names. While they may pay well, and she may be qualified for them, the non-pecuniary (non-wage) aspects of the job are just as important as the salary for the job.
See more: Labor, non-pecuniary factors, preferences for work
The Parks Department is trying to determine where to eat and Donna suggests sushi. Andy initially declines because he claims that he is allergic, but it turns out he just thinks he’s allergic. Every time he eats 80 pieces of sushi he gets sick. He probably isn’t allergic, but instead is experiencing decreasing returns (negative marginal returns).
See more: decreasing utility, diminishing returns, negative utility, utility
The Parks Department is holding a garage sale to help raise funds for Jerry’s medical bills. The scene starts with April and Andy trying to decide the appropriate price for a hat that has sentimental value for Andy. Later, Tom tries selling a coat he had paid $150 dollars for. Tom marks the coat up to $200 because he put a scorpion on the back of it, but the customer doesn’t seem to think that’s an appropriate price for this venue.
See more: costs, inputs Prices, prices, subjective value, value, value added, willingness to buy, willingness to sell
Tom needs help learning about basketball so that he can connect with the customers at his store. He believes Ben and Andy can help him since they’re good with numbers and athletic (respectively), but he tricks them into coming into his office by telling them that their favorite items are there. For Ben, he claims that Michael Stipe is in the office, but all he needs to do is offer Andy some free Skittles, respectively to incentivize him.
See more: incentives, Principles, self-interest
Andy and April break into City Hall to get Leslie and Ben’s marriage license, but April decides she may want to take the entire stack of marriage applications for everyone in Pawnee. April doesn’t want anyone else to get married because it makes it less special for her and Andy.
See more: diminishing returns, positional good
Ron owes a large settlement, but keeps his money stored in the form of gold and palladium. While the rest of the office thinks this is a really neat idea, they question whether he knows how much money he actually has since it’s not stored in paper money. Ron is confident in the weight of his money, but not its value.
See more: commodity money, fiat money, medium of exchange, monetary policy, money, store of value, unit of account
Leslie is a workaholic, so when the office starts to get sick she gets a bit nervous. When Andy starts showing symptoms of the flu, she realizes he may be contagious. Jerry has already been quarantined because of his symptoms.
See more: command and control, externalities, flu season, negative externalities, role of government, social costs
Tom incentives the department to come to his club and try his newest drink by threatening to place them on his “done-zo” list. The Parks Department decides to go to the Snake Hole Lounge to try Tom’s new drink, but instead they all have a bit too much and go through the next day feeling terrible. One of the other issues shown in this video is diminishing marginal utility. As the night goes on, each member of the group gets a bit happier, but they eventually peak and see negative returns the next morning.
See more: decreasing utility, diminishing returns, externalities, health economics, negative externalities, negative utility, private benefits, private costs, social benefits, social costs, unintended consequences, utility maximization
Andy goes to the hospital for a broken nose, but it turns into a rant session for Ben. It turns out the roommate situation between Ben, April, and Andy hasn’t been ideal because Andy and April continue to use his things without his permission. Andy and Ben negotiate for ways to remedy the externality on their own. If property rights are well established (Ben does own his stuff!) then two parties can work out externalities without government intervention.
See more: bargaining, Coase Theorem, common resources, externalities, negative externalities, private costs, private goods, public goods, social benefits, social costs, transaction costs, types of goods
Ron is getting audited, so the Parks Department helps him look through receipts to help him. Ron doesn’t believe in banks, so he potentially stores his money around town in the form of gold buried around town.
See more: banks, gold, gold standard, liquidity, medium of exchange, money, money leakages, money supply, store of value
Economics of Parks & Recreation 