Leslie tries to throw a garage sale to help Jerry pay for his medical bills because the government insurance plan is so bad. She goes on to describe how the Pawnee Municipal Employee Health Care Plan is so bad that she was denied coverage on a sprained wrist because they believed having a wrist was a pre-existing condition.
See more: health economics, inefficiencies, insurance, public health
Ron and Leslie get into a debate about people’s right to determine how they treat their own bodies. Leslie shows up to his dinner where Ron announces he’s eating a Turf’n’Turf and will consumer an entire cigar. Ron is a firm believe that people should be allowed to do what they want with their bodies and shouldn’t be controlled by the government.
Thanks to an anonymous submitter for the clip!
See more: choice architect, choices, free market, health economics, private benefits, social costs, tradeoffs
After Sweet-Ums tries stocking the local parks with their sugar-loaded protein bars, Leslie and Ann try holding a town forum to persuade citizens to vote against this decision. Ron isn’t happy with this directive because he is a firm believe in people having the right to consumer whatever they want and that the government should not interfere in that decision.
Thanks to an anonymous submitter for the clip!
See more: choice architect, choices, free market, government intervention, health economics, negative externalities, obesity, role of government
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
Leslie meets with Kathryn Pinewood to discuss the sizes of sodas sold at the local restaurants. Leslie, as city council member, doesn’t believe that this move by local businesses is good for the health of her community. Local restaurants have gotten creative in marketing the larger sodas by offering price discounts when customers by large volumes. Despite framing the larger sizes with more normal names, Leslie is confused why people would keep purchasing that much soda.
See more: behavioral, choices, framing, health economics, negative externalities, preferences, price discrimination, second degree price discrimination, subjective value
Leslie’s first act as a city councilwoman is to implement a soda tax because she believes that it will make Pawnee healthier. The new larger sodas are causing obesity in town and Leslie aims to regulate the market through taxes. Depending on the size of the local elasticity, there may not be much of a change in consumption, but it could mean additional revenue for the city.
See more: elasticity, externalities, government regulation, government revenue, health economics, negative externalities, preferences, regulation, taxes
Andy hits his head against the wall, but can’t afford to go see a doctor. He hasn’t had insurance for two years because he thinks he only needs it for when something bad happens. Moral hazards often arise when one party takes on more risk because they are insured.
See more: adverse selection, asymmetric information, health economics,insurance, moral hazard, public health
Economics of Parks & Recreation 