Micro Topics – Page 8 – Economics of Parks & Recreation

Flutes for Zorp!

2017

The Reasonablists are having their end-of-life party in the local park and Ron sees an opportunity to sell his high quality wooden flutes. Because the party springs up without notice, Ron sees a sudden spike in demand for his flutes. The leader of the Reasonabilists offers Ron a check because they don’t believe it will have any value the next day, but Ron has been selling them flutes for each of their previous going away parties.

See more: demand, demand shifts, elasticity, expectations, inelastic, M2, markets, medium of exchange, money, normal goods, preferences, store of value, transactions, unit of account

Producing a Halloween Party

2017

Andy and April are throwing a Halloween party at their house and start listing off all the things they need to throw a great party. The output is a great party and the inputs are a variety of different items.

See more: complements, inputs, outputs, preferences, production function, utility

Is a Sunset Worth Asthma?

2017

The pollution from the local factory creates a beautiful sunset, but it also gives people asthma. Ben and Leslie debate whether the beauty of the sunset is worth the tradeoff. Reducing pollution to zero would be extremely expensive, so it’s important to find some optimal level of pollution.

See more: externalities, negative externalities, positive externalities, private benefits, private costs, social benefits, social costs, social incentives, tradeoffs

Ron Finds a Typewriter

2017

Ron finds a typewriter out by the dumpster, but the noise of the machine bothers everyone in the office. While it makes him happy, he’s not taking into consideration the costs he is imposing on everyone else.

See more: externalities, private benefits, private costs, social benefits, social costs

The Value of Leslie Knope

2017

Ben and Chris come into town from Indianapolis to help cut the town’s budget because of their pending financial situation. Ben suggests firing Leslie to relieve some of the spending associated with the inflated budget, but Ron describes how valuable Leslie is to the department and how she’s worth her salary. He basically argues that her marginal productivity vastly exceeds her salary despite making the second largest salary in the department.

See more: derived demand, government shutdown, government spending, marginal product, marginal revenue product, total wage bill, types of income, value

Effects of a Government Shutdown

2017

Pawnee is going through a bit of a budget crises and they have decided to cut the Parks Department budget so that no parks will be open over the summer break. This also means that a previously-planned concert needed to be canceled as well. The citizens of Pawnee want to know what services the government will provide if they are shut down. Ron relishes in the fact that the services aren’t provided.

See more: common resources, government shutdown, government spending, public resources, role of government, types of goods

Purpose of Government

2017

Pawnee, Indiana is going through a budget crises and the city has decided to postpone all planning and spending decisions until the state auditors come by to review their budgets. While this terrifies Leslie, Ron is happy that state auditors are coming to slash the Pawnee budget because he feels government spending has gotten out of hand.

See more: government shutdown, government spending, role of government, social programs

Breakfast is the Best Meal

2017

Ron and Leslie ponder why people would eat anything other than breakfast. While they understand their own utility functions, they struggle to understand others.

See more: intrinsic value, preference ranking, preferences, subjective value, utility, utility maximization

Ron’s Toxic Workshop

2017

Ron invites Mark over to his workshop because he needs a license in order to continue selling products. Ron describes how he shouldn’t have to follow government regulations about toxic chemicals because he’s the only one breathing the fumes. If he isn’t bothering others then he doesn’t feel the need to be regulated.

See more: externalities, government regulation, licensing, private costs, regulation, safety regulations, social costs

Sharing a Soccer Field

2017

A soccer field is double-booked by the Parks Department and Leslie has to work out a solution for who gets the field. Because the field is rivalrous, both can’t use the field at the same time. One team’s use implies that the other cannot use the field.

See more: bargaining, common resources, resource allocation, rivalry, scarcity, tradeoffs

Economics of Parks & Recreation

Exploring hidden economic concepts within NBC's hit television show, Parks and Rec.

Category: Micro Topics

Flutes for Zorp!

Producing a Halloween Party

The Value of Leslie Knope

Effects of a Government Shutdown

Breakfast is the Best Meal

Sharing a Soccer Field