Homer has had about 100 jobs during his many years on television and Vox writers have analyzed his work life. If you plan on using a lot of Simpsons clips throughout your course, they may be a good introduction for students unfamiliar with the show.
The Terminal — Quarters for Carts
In The Terminal, Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) is trapped in JFK airport when his visa is no longer valid because his country entered into a civil war. Stranded inside JFK, he has to figure out how to eat and sleep while his political situation is resolved. He quickly realizes that many people aren’t returning the luggage carts even though there is a 25 cent “reward.” He begins collecting carts around the airport in order to buy Burger King meals.
Chicago Booth Review — Video Killed the Radio Star
Erik Hurst, an economist with the University of Chicago, delivered an interesting commencement address that focused on the role of video games in the supply decisions of young men. While a bit more academic than some other commencement addresses, it sets the stage for a nice discussion on the increasing value of leisure.
Quartz — Robots Should Pay Taxes
Bill Gates, in an article with Quartz, argues that if a robot which take workers’ jobs should be required to pay taxes. Those tax funds should be redistributed to pay for re-training programs.