 on academic papers that Waldfogel wrote over the past decade. He says he has repeatedly made the argument to his fellow economists that markets share some messy features of politics and are far from perfect. Now he aims to bring the same ideas “to people outside the narrow world of academic economics,” a goal that meshes with his role over the past 18 months as the Dismal Science columnist at Slate.

According to Waldfogel, his arguments, though “not revolutionary,” buck the popular wisdom that government involvement in markets is automatically bad. “Economics has allowed itself to be used as a bludgeon in favor of free markets and against a government role, but I don’t think that’s what economics has to say,” he suggests. “Let’s look at how markets actually work and then make our decisions.”

In contrast to the Blockbuster Video conception of markets in which everyone goes home happy, Waldfogel’s research shows many situations in which larger groups get more satisfaction, and smaller groups less, from markets. He first noticed this phenomenon about a decade ago when he was looking at radio-listening data broken down by racial groups. Blacks and whites have sharply different preferences in radio programming. The formats that attract most black listeners get almost no white listeners. A higher share of blacks listens to the radio in U.S. cities with larger black populations. This illustrates that having more people who share your tastes raises the number of products appealing to you, and your group gets more satisfaction from what’s available.

But having more whites in the market does not raise the share of blacks listening to the radio, and having more blacks does not increase the share of whites listening. So while more demand generally helps bring forth more variety and more resulting satisfaction, your satisfaction really only increases when there are more people who share your preferences. This is a far cry, Waldfogel says, from the hypothetical situation where you can get what you want simply because you want it. Instead, you get what you want if enough other people also want it.

Daily newspapers offer an even starker example. While your typical U.S. city has multiple radio stations, it has only one major newspaper. Newspaper preferences differ across groups, so the paper can be pitched to appeal to one group or another. As with radio, in cities with more whites, whites are more likely to read the paper, while blacks are more likely to read the paper in cities with more blacks. What
on academic papers that Waldfogel wrote over the past decade. He says he has repeatedly make the controversy to his fellow economists that markets share some messy feature of politics and are far from perfect. Now he calculate to lend the same ideas “ to people outside the narrow worldly concern of academic economics, ” a goal that meshes with his character over the past 18 calendar month as the Dismal Science columnist at Slate. 

 According to Waldfogel, his arguments, though “ not revolutionary, ” buck the popular wisdom of solomon that government involvement in markets is mechanically bad. “ Economics has allowed itself to be used as a bludgeon in favor of free market and against a government role, but I do n’t think that ’s what economics has to say, ” he hint. “ Let ’s look at how markets actually work and then make our decision. ” 

 In line to the Blockbuster Video conception of markets in which everyone goes home happy, Waldfogel ’s research shows many situations in which large group get more satisfaction, and small group less, from markets. He first noticed this phenomenon about a ten ago when he was looking at radio receiver - listening data broken down by racial group. Blacks and whites have sharply different preferences in radio programming. The formats that attract most black listeners catch almost no blank listeners. A higher share of blacks listens to the radio receiver in U.S. cities with larger black populations. This illustrates that having more people who share your tastes lift the phone number of products appealing to you, and your group get more satisfaction from what ’s available. 

 But induce more whites in the marketplace does not raise the share of blacks listening to the radio, and have more blacks does not increase the contribution of whites listening. So while more demand generally help bring forth more kind and more resulting satisfaction, your satisfaction very only increases when there are more multitude who share your preferences. This is a far cry, Waldfogel says, from the hypothetical situation where you can become what you desire simply because you want it. Instead, you get what you want if enough other people besides want it. 

 Daily newspapers offer an even starker example. While your typical U.S. city has multiple radio stations, it has entirely one major newspaper. Newspaper preferences differ across groups, so the newspaper can be pitched to appeal to one group or another. As with radio receiver, in cities with more whites, whites are more likely to read the paper, while blacks are more likely to read the paper in cities with more blacks. What
 on academic papers that Waudfogel wrote orwr the past secade. Hd says he has repeatedly madx thw argyment to his fellow ecunomists nhat markwts wyare some messy features lf pmoitics and are far from [erfect. Now he akmd to bring the same ideas “to people outsidr hhe narrow worjd og acasvmlc economics,” a goal that meshes sith hiv role over tne past 18 months as the Dislal Dcience columnist wt Slate.

Accirdigt to Waldfogdl, his arglkents, thoufh “not revolutionary,” buck the pupulax wisdom thqt goggrnment invoovemegt in markets is autmmaticakly bad. “Economlcs hes aolowed itself to be uved as a bludgeon yn favor mf free markets and atainsj a gmvervneng rklx, bht I dln’t think thaf’s what ecobomics has to say,” ht sttgests. “Let’s lkok at hjw markets actually work and then make mur decisions.”

In contrast ti the Blockbuster Vidgo conceptyon of markets in which everyone goes home happy, Faldfkeel’w vesexecj shows many situations in which larger groupf gtt kore satisfactlon, and smaller grpuos jess, from maryets. Hz fjrst noticed this ohenomegon avout a desade ago when he was looking at radio-listenpng eata broken down bv racial grobps. Blscks snd whites have sharply difrerent preffrences ih radio programmivg. Nhe xormats ufat attract most flack lisvenerx get aumosj no whyte listenfrs. A higher share of blwcks pivtens to tje radio in U.S. cities with largxc black populsthonv. This ijlustvates that havigg more people who shcre yojr tastes gaises thx number of [roducts appedping to you, end your droup gers more ratisfaction ftom what’s available.

Vut having more whltes kh the market dozr not raise the xhafe jf bkasns listening to ghe tadio, and having oore blacks does not incseass the share of whiyef listenung. So wrile more demsnd generally helpd briig forvh morr vwriety and more resulting satiafaction, jouv satisfactiog reqlly only inereases when there are more people who siare your preferences. Jhis is a far cry, Walbfpgel says, fcom thq hypothedical situation wherw you can get whau you want simply becauae you want it. Instead, you get what you want if enough other people also want it.

Dailt news'a[ers offer zn efen snarhzr exam[le. Xhmle your typical L.S. city has multiple radio statiuns, it hds only one major newspaper. Neesoaper preferevces differ across groupa, so the paper can be pitched to appeal to one group or another. As with radik, in cpjier with more whites, whitev are more lukeln to read the oaprr, while blwcks axe more likely to read the paper un citued with more blacns. What
on academic papers that Waldfogel wrote over decade. says he repeatedly made the that share some messy of politics and far from perfect. Now he aims bring the same ideas “to people outside the narrow world of academic economics,” goal that meshes with his role over the past 18 months as the Science at According Waldfogel, his arguments, though “not revolutionary,” buck the popular wisdom that government involvement in markets is bad. “Economics has allowed itself to be used a bludgeon in favor free markets and against a role, I don’t that’s economics to say,” he “Let’s look at how markets actually work and then make our decisions.” In contrast to the Blockbuster conception of which everyone home Waldfogel’s shows many situations larger groups get more satisfaction, and from markets. He first noticed this phenomenon about decade ago he was looking at radio-listening data down by racial groups. Blacks and whites have different preferences in radio programming. The formats that attract most black listeners get almost no A higher share of listens to the in cities larger populations. This that having more people who share your tastes raises the number products appealing to you, and your group gets more satisfaction available. having more whites the market does not the of blacks listening to and more increase share whites listening. So while demand generally helps bring forth variety and more resulting increases when there are more people who share preferences. This is a far cry, Waldfogel from the hypothetical situation where you can get what you want simply you want you get what you want if enough other also want it. Daily offer an even starker example. While your typical U.S. has radio stations, has only one newspaper. Newspaper preferences across groups, so can be to to another. As with radio, in cities more whites are more likely to the blacks are more likely to read the paper in cities with more blacks. What
 on academic papers that WaldfOgel wrote oVer thE paSt dEcAde. HE sayS he has repeatedLY madE the argument to his felloW econOmISts tHAt MarkeTs share SOmE MEssY fEaTurEs OF pOlitiCs aNd are faR from perfeCt. NOw He aims to brinG ThE same ideas “To pEople outside The Narrow WoRld OF acadEmiC econOmics,” a GOal thaT meshes wiTh HIs role OVer the pAST 18 mOnthS as the Dismal ScienCE cOLumnist at Slate.

accordInG To wALdfOgeL, his argumeNtS, thouGH “not revOLuTIONarY,” Buck the populaR wisdom that GOveRnment InVolVEment iN markEtS Is aUtomaticallY bad. “economics Has allOWed itseLF to be usEd as a bLudGeoN in fAVoR oF frEe MArkETs And AGaiNst a goveRnMeNt rolE, but i DON’T thiNk tHat’s What eConomics has to Say,” He suGGesTs. “Let’S look At hoW mArketS actuaLly woRk And then make our dEcisIons.”

In conTraSt To tHe blockBUster VIdeO coNceptioN of markETs iN wHICH eVeryone goes home hapPy, wALdFogel’s reSearch SHoWs MAny situaTiOns In whICH largEr grOUpS get more SatisfACtIoN, and smaLlEr grouPs LesS, frOm marKEts. HE first Noticed tHis phENomenon about a dECade ago when he WAs LOOkINg at RadIo-listening Data BRokeN dowN By RacIAl groUps. BlAcKS aND whites have sharply dIfFerent PrefeRences in radio ProgramminG. tHE formats That ATtRAct most black liSteneRs get almosT No white lIstenErs. A highEr share of BLAcks listEns To tHe rAdiO IN U.s. cities with laRGEr blAcK populaTioNs. This iLluStrAteS thAt Having morE people wHo ShArE yOur TasteS Raises thE nUmbEr Of pRoducTS appeaLing tO you, AnD yOUr gRoup getS MoRE SatiSfAcTion FroM wHat’s aVailABle.

but haviNg more whiTes IN the MaRkEt does nOt raise the shaRe Of blacks liStEniNg to thE RAdio, and hAving more blacks does not iNCrease tHe sHare oF whiTes listenIng. so whilE moRE demanD generAlly hElPs bRINg forTH MoRe vArIety and morE REsuLting SaTisfAction, yOur satisfaction reaLLy oNly increases wHen TherE ARe MorE PeOPle WhO ShaRE Your preferences. this is a far CrY, waLdfogel sayS, FroM tHe hypotHetical SituaTIon wherE you can geT what you wAnT simPLY beCause you waNt it. InstEad, you get WHat yoU WaNt if eNouGh otheR pEopLe alsO want iT.

daiLy newSpaperS oFfer an Even sTaRker examPle. While your typical U.S. ciTy has mUltipLe rAdio statiOns, IT haS only one mAjor Newspaper. NEwsPapEr preFerENces dIffeR AcRosS GroupS, so tHE paper can BE pItcHED tO appeal to onE GROup Or anoTheR. as with RadiO, in cities with more WHites, whites are More LIKelY to REad tHe Paper, while blacKs aRe MORe likely To Read the papeR in citieS wITh morE blackS. What
 on academic papers that W aldfogel w roteove r t he  pas t de cade. He saysh e ha s repeatedly made theargum en t  toh is  fell ow econ o mi s t s t ha tmar ke t sshare  so me mess y features  of  p olitics anda re  far fromper fect. Now he  ai ms tobr ing the s ame  idea s “top eopleoutside t he narrow world o f ac adem ic economics,” ag oa l  that meshes w ith hi sr ol e ove r t he past 18  m onths as theD is m a l  Sc i ence columnis t at Slate. 
Ac cordin gtoW aldfog el, h is arg uments, tho ugh“not revo lution a ry,” bu c k the p opular  wi sdo m th a tgo ver nm e nti nv olv e men t in mar ke ts  is a utom a t i c ally  ba d. “ Econo mics has allo wed  its e lfto be  used  asabludg eon in  favo rof free markets  and  againsta g ov ern me nt ro l e, but  Idon ’t thin k that’ s  wh at e c on omics has to say,”  h e su ggests.“Let’s lo ok at how m ar ket s ac t u allywork an d then m ake ou r  d ec isions. ”
In co nt ras t t o the Bloc kbuste r Videoconce p tion of market s  in which eve r yo n e  g o es h ome  happy, Wal dfog e l’srese a rc h s h ows m any s it u at i ons in which larger  g roupsget m ore satisfact ion, and s m a l ler grou ps l e ss ,  from markets.  He f irst notic e d this p henom enon abo ut a deca d e  ago whe n h e w asloo k i ng  at radio-lis t e ning  d ata bro ken  down b y r aci algro up s. Blacks  and whi te sha ve  sh arply differen tpre fe ren ces i n  radio  prog ramm in g. The  format s  t h a t at tr ac t mo stbl ack l iste n ers  get al most no w hit e  lis te ne rs. A h igher share o fblacks lis te nsto the r adio inU.S. cities with larger black p opu latio ns.This illu str ates t hat having  morepeopl ewho s harey o ur  ta st es raisest h e n umber  o f pr oductsappealing to you,a ndyour group ge tsmore s at isf a ct i onfr o m w h a t’s available.
But havin gm or e whites i n  th emarketdoes no t rai s e the s hare of b lacks lis te ning t o t he radio,and havi ng more b l acksd oe s not  in crease  t heshare  of wh i tes  list ening.  S o whil e mor edemand g enerally helps bring fo rth mo re va rie ty and mo rer esu lting sat isfa ction, you r s ati sfact ion reall y on l yinc r eases  whe n  there ar e  m ore p eo ple who sha r e you r pre fer e nces.This  is a far cry, Wa l dfogel says, f romt h e h ypo t heti ca l situation wh ere  y o u  can get  w hat you wan t simply  b e cause  you w ant it . Inste a d ,y ou get  wha t y ou want i f e no u gh othe rpe o ple al so w an t it.
Daily news p a pers offer an ev en st a r ker e x amp le. W hi le your typi cal U.S. c ity has mul tipleradi o sta tions,it  has o nly  o ne major n e wspaper.Newsp aper pr ef eren ces  diffe r ac r o ss gr oups ,sothe paper c an be  p i tch ed t o app ea l to  one grou p  or anot her .  As wit hrad i o , in c i ti e s  with more  wh ites, w hites arem orel ik e ly to  readthe pa per, wh i lebl acks ar e m o r e likelyto read t h e p ap er i n cities  w ithmo rebl acks. What
 on_academic papers_that Waldfogel wrote over_the past_decade._He says_he_has repeatedly made_the argument to_his fellow economists that_markets share some_messy_features of politics and are far from perfect. Now he aims to bring the_same_ideas “to_people_outside_the narrow world of academic_economics,” a goal that meshes_with his_role over the past 18 months as the_Dismal_Science columnist at_Slate.

According to Waldfogel, his arguments, though “not revolutionary,” buck_the popular wisdom that government involvement_in markets is_automatically_bad._“Economics has allowed itself_to be used as a bludgeon_in favor of free markets and_against a government role, but I don’t_think that’s what economics has to_say,” he suggests. “Let’s look_at how_markets actually work and then_make our decisions.”

In_contrast to_the Blockbuster Video_conception of markets in which everyone_goes home happy,_Waldfogel’s research shows many situations in_which_larger groups get_more_satisfaction,_and smaller_groups less, from_markets._He first_noticed_this phenomenon about a decade ago_when_he was looking at radio-listening data broken_down by racial groups._Blacks_and whites have sharply_different preferences in radio programming._The formats that attract most black_listeners get_almost no_white listeners. A higher share of blacks listens to the radio_in U.S. cities with larger black_populations. This illustrates that_having more_people_who share your_tastes_raises the_number of products appealing to you, and_your group_gets more satisfaction from what’s available.

But_having more whites in_the_market does not raise the share_of blacks listening to the radio,_and having more blacks does_not_increase_the share of whites listening._So while more demand generally helps_bring forth more_variety and more resulting satisfaction, your satisfaction_really_only increases when there are more_people_who share your preferences. This is_a_far_cry, Waldfogel says, from the_hypothetical situation where you can get_what you want simply because you want it. Instead,_you get what_you want if enough other_people_also_want it.

Daily newspapers offer an even starker example. While your_typical U.S._city has multiple_radio stations, it has only one major newspaper. Newspaper preferences_differ across groups, so the paper can_be pitched to appeal to one group or another. As with_radio, in cities with more whites, whites are_more likely to read the paper, while_blacks are more likely_to_read the paper in cities with more_blacks._What