When Mateo gets sick, Jonah comes up with an insurance fund to help cover employee medical bills because the store does not offer health insurance. The team members join the plan because it only costs $20 each month, but Jonah has promised to pay previous medical bills. Jonah and Amy quickly find out each team member, especially Sandra, has a lot of pre-existing conditions and they realize that they can’t cover everyone’s costs at one time. The two try to break the two groups apart, but the members in the pre-existing condition group will have to pay significantly more to cover all their costs.
Home Improvement — Asymmetric Information
Tim decides to hide a blow torch from his co-host, Al, in order to teach a lesson to his young children watching at home. Unfortunately, Al doesn’t know that the blow torch has been hidden and he believes he has lost the item on live television. Asymmetric information occurs when one party has more information than the other party in a transaction. When one party has more information, they are better able to make decisions and make take advantage of the unknowing party.
Neal Brennan: College Loans
A student in my Labor Economics class shared this great clip of standup comedian Neal Brennan discussing why banks don’t want to loan for college degrees. This is a great clip to talk about capital market imperfections and even signalling.
Vox: Why Are Weddings So Expensive
A great look from Vox on the asymmetric information involved in the wedding industry.