Confessions of a Shopaholic

Sample Sale

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Relatively easy access to credit and rising costs make most students extremely susceptible to overspending. This lighthearted, yet cautionary tale is the story of a young shopaholic whose spending habits are out of control due to her twelve “magic” credit cards. A sample sale mob scene for discounted high-end merchandise serves as a useful introduction into the basics of supply and demand as well as establishing the economic concepts of shortages, surpluses and a consumer’s reservation price. Brand-conscious students will also be able to distinguish between the film’s variety of normal, inferior and luxury goods and note the diversity in consumers’ tastes and preferences. Meanwhile, savvier economic students will pick up on the marginal analysis that occurs with each purchasing decision. Note: This is a great discussion starter on student debt or financial literacy education (resources at mymoney.gov).

Content derived from AEA 2013 Poster Session: "Staying Relevant: The Best Media for Teaching and Learning Economics in the Last Five Years," by G. Dirk Mateer and Kim Holder.