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Algebraic Optimization: Tragedy or Treat? Halloween and the Trick-or-Treating Commons

Author

Listed:
  • Franklin G. Mixon Jr.
  • Cody B. Ward

Abstract

The “tragedy of the commons” is typically a central topic in high school and college-level economics courses. This note provides a vignette for economics instructors that relates to the tragedy of the commons that, owing to the universality of the experience, may appeal to a wider audience than the traditional examples appearing in many textbooks. The vignette relates to the ages-old Halloween activity of trick-or-treating, particularly when some neighborhood residents choose to avoid the hassle of the activity by providing a “common-pool” candy bowl whose contents are distributed to trick-or-treating kids on an honor system.

Suggested Citation

  • Franklin G. Mixon Jr. & Cody B. Ward, 2018. "Algebraic Optimization: Tragedy or Treat? Halloween and the Trick-or-Treating Commons," Journal for Economic Educators, Middle Tennessee State University, Business and Economic Research Center, vol. 18(1), pages 28-32, Spring.
    • Handle: RePEc:mts:jrnlee:v:18:y:2018:i:1:p:28-32
    as

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    File URL: http://capone.mtsu.edu/jee/2018/pp28-32MS418.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Franklin G. Mixon & Richard J. Cebula (ed.), 2014. "New Developments in Economic Education," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 15538.
    2. Franklin Mixon & Jared Loftus & Windy Keene, 2005. "The decay of norms and the production of social order: conceptual and empirical models," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 1-6.
    3. Christopher C. Klein, 2015. "The Music Industry as a Vehicle for Economic Analysis," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(4), pages 403-411, October.
    4. Scott A. Beaulier & Franklin G. Mixon & Richard J. Cebula, 2014. "Can't see the tacking for the trees? Try a Coasian solution," Chapters, in: Franklin G. Mixon & Richard J. Cebula (ed.), New Developments in Economic Education, chapter 11, pages 126-132, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Mixon Jr., Franklin G. & Asarta, Carlos J. & Caudill, Steven B., 2017. "Patreonomics: Public goods pedagogy for economics principles," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 1-7.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    tragedy of the commons; common pool resources; economic education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • A21 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Pre-college
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate

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