Example Image
Civitas Outlook
Topic
Economic Dynamism
Published on
Dec 5, 2022
Contributors
G. Dirk Mateer
Wayne Geerling
Ben O. Smith
Brian O'Roark
Image: Music Symbols as Background (Wikimedia Commons, 02/06/2025)

Music 4 Econ

Contributors
G. Dirk Mateer
G. Dirk Mateer
Senior Fellow
G. Dirk Mateer
Wayne Geerling
Wayne Geerling
Wayne Geerling
Ben O. Smith
Ben O. Smith
Ben O. Smith
Brian O'Roark
Brian O'Roark
Brian O'Roark
Summary
The lyrics of many songs contain economic references waiting to be appropriated by teachers.
Summary
The lyrics of many songs contain economic references waiting to be appropriated by teachers.
Listen to this article

In order to assist economics educators at all levels, we have created a website that houses economic interpretations of songs.  Users can click on the song title and watch a video of the song playing along with an economic analysis of the lyrics.

Read the Full Paper

This paper was originally published by the Journal of Economics Education

Continue Reading & Download PDF
10:13
1x
10:13
More articles

Trump's Troubling Economic Turn

Economic Dynamism
Jan 16, 2026

The Quintessential American: Ben Franklin, Man of All Ages

Pursuit of Happiness
Jan 16, 2026
View all

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

Economic Dynamism

The Causal Effect of News on Inflation Expectations

This paper studies the response of household inflation expectations to television news coverage of inflation.

Carola Binder, Pascal Frank, Jane M. Ryngaert
Economic Dynamism
Aug 22, 2025
The Rise of Inflation Targeting

This paper discusses the interactions between politics and economic ideas leading to the adoption of inflation targeting in the United States.

Carola Binder
Economic Dynamism
Aug 11, 2025
AI and the Future of Society and Economy

Large language and generative AI models like ChatGPT are the equivalent of the first automobiles: fun to play with, somewhat unreliable, and maybe a little dangerous. But over time, the lesson for will be clear: Who Learns Fastest, Wins.

Joel Kotkin, Marshall Toplansky
Economic Dynamism
Jul 17, 2025
Automated Detection of Emotion in Central Bank Communication: A Warning

Can LLMs help us better understand the role of emotion in central bank communication?

Carola Binder, Nicole Baerg
Economic Dynamism
Jul 1, 2025
No items found.
The Housing Crisis

Soaring housing costs are driving young people towards socialism—only dispersed development and expanded property ownership can preserve liberal democracy.

Economic Dynamism
Jan 8, 2026
America Needs a Transcontinental Railroad

A proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would foster efficiencies, but opponents say the deal would kill competition.

Economic Dynamism
Jan 5, 2026
America’s great migration

The young and ambitious are fleeing the stagnant coastal states for the booming heartland.

Economic Dynamism
Dec 21, 2025
How California is failing its Latino population

The current California regime has been a disaster for minorities.

Economic Dynamism
Dec 9, 2025

Neo-Feudalism: Tech Oligarchs and the Secular "Clerisy"

Economic Dynamism
Oct 20, 2025
1:05

Unlocking Housing Supply: Market-Driven Solutions for Growing Communities

Economic Dynamism
Sep 30, 2025
1:05

Trump’s Tariff-for-Income-Tax Swap

Economic Dynamism
Aug 21, 2025
1:05

Why the Damage to Fed Independence May Have Already Been Done

Economic Dynamism
Jul 24, 2025
1:05

Richard Epstein: Law and Economics of Public Sector Unions

Economic Dynamism
Jun 19, 2025
1:05
The Hidden Costs of Expanding Deposit Insurance

Expanding deposit insurance will only exacerbate financial risk and regulatory dependence, imposing costs on banks, their customers, and taxpayers. 

Daniel J. Smith
Economic Dynamism
Nov 7, 2025
No items found.
Trump's Troubling Economic Turn

How far will current economic regulations go in the Trump White House?

Economic Dynamism
Jan 16, 2026
The Poverty of Vanceonomics

At the core of Vanceonomics is a preferential option for government intervention.

Economic Dynamism
Jan 14, 2026
Entrepreneurial Freedom in the Age of AI

The AI economy can lead to a more inclusive economy that permits people the freedom to choose when they work, what they work on, and who they work for.

Economic Dynamism
Jan 12, 2026
Why Can't the Middle Class Invest Like Mitt Romney?

Why can’t middle-income Americans pay effectively no taxes on investments like the wealthy do? 

Economic Dynamism
Dec 30, 2025
No items found.