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The Optimal Bundle: Volume 76

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 76

In the Spring 2023 edition of The Optimal Bundle we present a special economic research edition. The PSUEA Research Team has delivered their report: “2022 Consumer Price Index on a Local Scale and Public Perception of Inflation”, which calculates a student price index (SPI). By categorizing Penn State undergraduates’ typical spending across two time periods the team can explore spending behavior and inflation on an extremely local level. For some lighter educational reading, the Print Education team includes their article: “The Economics of Student Discounts”, which discusses price discrimination.

Editor: Sequoia Falcone

Research Report: Mohamed Aljahdhami, Rayan Alshammasi, Arshiya Arora, Emanuel Cáceres, Katelyn Davis, Sequoia Falcone, Aanhar Ishraq, Elvin Jiang, Sishir Katta, Christian Kruse, Amy T. Nguyen, Krish Patel, Clare Robson, Dylan Ryan, and John Turnbach

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 72

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 72

In the seventy-second and final edition of the Optimal Bundle for the Fall 2021 semester, the Print Education Team welcomes a new associate and presents analyses on demonetization in India, illicit activities on popular money-transfer app Venmo, and some FinTech trends and predictions for 2022 based on 2021 figures.

Editor: Colin Spellman

Associates: Julia Kwitkowski, Sanyukta Talukdar

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 70

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 70

In the Fall 2021 semester’s first publication of The Optimal Bundle, our contributors discuss the growing use of AI and machine learning in consumer scoring predictions, the impact of the Fed’s quantitative easing techniques and the tapering of these measures in regards to the debt ceiling, and the relationship between wage-push inflation, increasing demand, and the labor market.

Editor: Colin Spellman

Associates: Julia Kwitkowski, Joshua Mruk

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 68

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 68

In this edition of the ‘Optimal Bundle’ we welcome a new member and take a look at developments concerning the World Trade Organization, the rising status of Bitcoin, and the Federal Reserve’s annual stress tests. Also featured is a book review of a popular economics text with instructions on how to obtain a free print copy!

Editor: Joshua Rudd

Associates: Julia Kwitkowski, Tucker Pippin, Colin Spellman

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 66

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 66

In the last edition of ‘The Optimal Bundle’ for 2020, our contributors take a look at maritime trade and the Jones Act, the prominence of secondary markets for Christmas toys, the value proposition for a present-day college education, and the Federal Reserve’s new approach to inflation targeting.

Editor: Josh Rudd

Associates: Abdallah Al Rahbi, Tucker Pippin, Colin Spellman

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 65

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 65

In this edition of the Optimal Bundle Professor James Tierney is featured as a guest writer discussing changes in the U.S. GDP. We also take a look at the rise of Artificial Intelligence, the current state of agricultural subsidies, antitrust issues in technology, and the slowing growth of innovation.

Editor: Josh Rudd

Associates: Abdallah Al Rahbi, Tucker Pippin, Colin Spellman

Guest Writer: Professor James Tierney

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 64

The Optimal Bundle: Volume 64

In the first edition of the 2020 Optimal Bundle we discuss a topic that has dominated news coverage for much of the past year – the coronavirus. This joint article on COVID-19 covers a historical comparison to the virus, new consumer trends that sprang up out of lockdown, the effects of a remote workforce on class disparities, and finally the public policy response to the pandemic-inspired recession.

Editor: Joshua Rudd

Associates: Abdallah Alrahbi, Tucker Pippin, Colin Spellman

THE OPTIMAL BUNDLE: VOLUME 58

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The Optimal Bundle is a student publication run by the Penn State Economics Association’s Print Education Committee.In this edition, our contributors take a look at rent control in Oregon, analyze the market for scooter sharing, debate recent arguments against capitalism, and look at the accuracy of weather forecasts by your local weatherman.

This is an online version of the print edition.

Editor: Patrick ReillyAssociates: Alex Ferraccio, Jared Anderson, Zachary Shick.