Saturday Night Live – Check to Check Business News

In this Saturday Night Live sketch, Jon Hamm and Ego Nwodim play anchors on a business news channel that shifts its focus to “regular folks” living paycheck to paycheck. As they report on economic trends, the news ticker at the bottom highlights relatable, everyday financial decisions—like switching to store-brand cereal or cutting back on name-brand toothpaste.

This sketch is a humorous way to introduce the concept of inferior goods—products whose demand increases when income falls. It’s a great clip for helping students connect abstract economic terms to real-world behavior, especially when discussing how different income groups respond to economic downturns.

Thanks to Brian Lynch for the submission!

2025 0

The G Word with Adam Conover – Fiscal Stimulus During Covid

The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns sent the US (and world) economies into an immediate recession. The US experienced record-high levels of unemployment and a massive reduction in GDP. To counteract this recession, the federal government enacted a series of expansionary fiscal policy recommendations that increased the aggregate demand curve to account for the previous reduction.

2022 0

The Simpsons — Day Laborers

In this scene, Homer and Bart are loading construction materials into their car at Builder’s Barn (a Home Depot-type store). Bart isn’t sure his dad is capable of handling the word himself when a group of immigrant day laborers offer their services. The day laborers have come from nearby Barleyville due to a recent “Barley Bust.” Homer accepts their offer and welcomes them to his home. He now feels superior because he’s able to hire workers to do jobs “we don’t want to do,” but then a hoard of laborers rushes the town of Springfield.

For a deeper look at economics and The Simpsons, check out Josh Hall’s book Homer Economicus.

2019 0