Economic Crisis in "Mary Poppins" by Director: Robert Stevenson, Producer: Walt Disney (1964)
A well-intentioned financial lesson accidentally leads to a bank run.
Economic Growth in "Home Town Story" by Directed and Produced by Arthur Pierson (1951)
This scene depicts markets in a way rarely seen in contemporary films.
Economic Crisis in "Vegas Vacation" by Director: Stephen Kessler, Producer: Jerry Weintraub (1997)
Cousin Eddie takes his savings and buries the money in metal coffee tins in the desert.
Economic Crisis in "Seabiscuit" by Director: Gary Ross, Producers: Gary Ross, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Jane Sindell (2003)
This scene helps the viewer to appreciate the economic forces at work during the Great Depression.
Economic Crisis in "Pay It Forward" by Director: Mimi Leder, Producers: Mary McLaglen, Jonathan Treisman, Steven Reuther, Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy (II), and Paddy Carson (2000)
Pay It Forward discusses Keynes' idea of the multiplier.
Economic Growth in "Local Hero" by Director: Bill Forsyth, Producers: David Puttnam, Iain Smith (1983)
In this scene an American business wants to buy a Scottish beach in order to drill for oil.
Economic Growth in "Gangs of New York" by Director: Martin Scorsese, Producers: Alberto Grimaldi, Harvey Weinstein, and Bob Weinstein (2002)
From next to Brooklyn Bridge in Queens, one sees the rise of the Manhattan skyline from 1964 until 2001.
Economic Growth in "Catch-22" by Director: Mike Nichols, Producer: John Calley, Martin Ransohoff (1970)
This clip shows a military unit’s mess officer explaining to his commanding officer than he can turn a profit acquiring eggs, olive oil, and other commodities for the unit.
Economic Crisis in "The Wizard of Oz" by Director: Victor Fleming, Producer: Mervyn LeRoy (1939)
It has been speculated that L. Frank Baum’s classic was intended as a commentary on the gold/silver standard debate of the late 1800’s.
Incentives in "Can You Spare a Dime" - SpongeBob SquarePants by Created by Stephen Hillenburg, Written by Aaron Springer, C.H. Greenblatt, Merriwether Williams (2002)
Squidard quits his job and then begins to mooch off of SpongeBob.
Incentives in "Theo's Economic Lesson" - The Cosby Show by Created by Ed. Weinberger, Michael Leeson, Bill Cosby, Directed by Jay Sandrich (1984)
Cliff is upset that his son doesn't want to go to college.
Incentives in "The Cyber House Rules" - Futurama by Created by Matt Groening, Directed by Susie Dietter (2001)
Bender decides to adopt ten kids to get the subsidy from the government.
Incentives in "Homer Versus the 18th Amendment" - The Simpsons by Created by Matt Groening, Directed by Bob Anderson, Written by John Swartzwelder (1997)
Springfield rediscovers an old prohibition law opening up black market opportunities for Homer and Bart.
Incentives in "Trading Places" by Director: John Landis, Producer: Aaron Russo (1983)
Eddie Murphy gets a lesson on commodities trading that explains why financial brokers make money.
Incentives in "Freakonomics" by Directed by: Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock, Produced by: Chad Troutwine, Chris Romano, and Dan O'Meara (2010)
Does your real estate agent have your best interest in mind?
Incentives in "Homer Versus Lisa and the 8th Commandment" - The Simpsons by Created by Matt Groening, Directed by Rich Moore, Written by Steven Pepoon (1991)
The Simpsons acquire illegal cable.
Incentives in "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack" - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia by Created by Rob McElhenney, Directed by Matt Shakman (2008)
After Dee is hospitalized for a heart attack, she and Dennis try to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Incentives in "Thank You For Smoking" by Director: Jason Reitman, Producers: David O. Sacks and Edward R. Pressman (2005)
Nick Naylor proposes a way to combat the anti-smoking campaign.
Game Theory in "Hall Pass" by Director: Bobby & Peter Farrelly, Producers: Charles B. Wessler, Bradley Thomas, Benjamin Waisbren, Bobby & Peter Farrelly, J.B. Rogers, and Mark Charpentier (2011)
A group of friends at a bar observe a group of women across the room and notice how they strategically position themselves to appear more attractive.
Game Theory in "L.A. Confidential" by Director: Curtis Hanson, Producers: Curtis Hanson, Arnon Milchan, and Michael G. Nathanson (1997)
Three prisoners are put in separate cells and interrogated.
Game Theory in "Wall Street" by Director: Oliver Stone, Producer: Edward R. Pressman (1987)
This classic film extols the virtues of greed and self-interest.
Game Theory in "Trading Places" by Director: John Landis, Producer: Aaron Russo (1983)
Markets can be manipulated and exploited when one side has more information than the other.
Game Theory in "Tin Men" by Director: Barry Levinson, Producer: Mark Johnson (1987)
In this scene, a car buyer negotiates with a car salesman.
Game Theory in "The Maltese Falcon" by Director: John Huston, Producer: Hal B. Wallis (1941)
One of the best scenes in movie history. Bogart negotiates over a priceless piece of jewelry.
Game Theory in "Career Opportunities" by Director: Bryan Gordon, Producers: John Hughes and Hunt Lowry (1991)
The scene of the night janitor at Target provides a great example of the principal-agent problem.
Game Theory in "The Front" - The Simpsons by Created by Matt Groening, Directed by Rich Moore, Written by Adam I. Lapidus (1993)
Lisa knows that Bart will always choose "Rock" when playing rock-paper-scissors.
Game Theory in "White Chicks" by Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Producers: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Marlon Wayans (2004)
Hilarious auction scene involving a reluctant auctioneer.
Game Theory in "The Men Who Stare at Goats" by Director: Grant Heslov, Producer: Paul Lister, George Clooney, Grant Heslov (2009)
When a U.S. general learns of Soviet research into psychic power the U.S. army feels compelled to follow suit.
Pricing in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" by Director: Adam McKay, Producer: Judd Apatow (2004)
Will Farrell is an anchor in the male-dominated broadcasting business of the 1970s. Things change when Christina Applegate is hired as the station’s first female anchor.
Pricing in "The Man in the White Suit" by Director: Alexander Mackendrick, Producer: Michael Balcon (1951)
When a fabric is created that never needs cleaning and never wears out it is hailed as a great invention.
Pricing in "Schindler's List" by Director: Steven Spielberg, Producers: Steven Spielberg, Gerald R. Molen, and Branko Lustig (1993)
Oskar Schindler tried to "purchase" the lives of thousands of Jews.
Pricing in "Dirty Pretty Things" by Director: Stephen Frears, Producers: Robert Jones and Tracey Seaward (2002)
The movie revolves around illegal kidney harvesting.
Pricing and Elasticity in "Confessions of a Shopaholic" by Director: P.J. Hogan, Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer (2009)
A shopping addict decides to sell all her clothes to pay off her credit card debt.
Pricing in "American Gangster" by Director: Ridley Scott, Producers: Ridley Scott, Brian Grazer, Tim Bevan, James Whitaker, Eric Fellner, Steven Zaillian, Nicholas Pileggi (2007)
Denzel Washington's character goes straight to the source of heroin in SE Asia to buy it in bulk.
Pricing in "The Informant!" by Director: Steven Soderbergh, Producers: Gregory Jacobs, Jennifer Fox, Michael Jaffe, Howard Braunstein, and Kurt Eichenwald (2009)
The movie chronicles the lysine price-fixing case against Archer Daniels Midland.
Pricing in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" by Director: Jay Roach, Producers: Eric McLeod, Demi Moore, Mike Myers, Claire Rudnick Polstein, Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd (1997)
Dr. Evil awakes after being frozen for 30 years and is surprised to hear of all the changes that have taken place.
Pricing in "Broke" - The Office by Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Developed by Greg Daniels, Directed by Steve Carell (2009)
Michael Scott starts his own paper company with an unsustainable pricing model.
Supply and Demand in "Dead from the Waist Down" - Two and a Half Men by Created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, Directed by: James Widdoes (2010)
Alan is ashamed that he can't afford to buy Lyndsey a birthday present, so he gets creative and starts selling massages in the local mall.
Supply and Demand in "Grosse Pointe Blank" by Director: George Armitage, Producers: Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth, and Roger Birnbaum (1997)
John Cusack plays a hit man who rebuffs Dan Ackroyd's overtures to form a hit man's cartel.
Supply and Demand in "La Douleur Exquise!" - Sex and the City by Created by Darren Star and Karey Kirkpatrick, Directed by Allison Anders, Written by Ollie Levy, Michael Patrick King (1999)
Charlotte has a fetish for shoes.
Supply and Demand in "Moroccan Christmas" - The Office by Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Developed by Greg Daniels, Directed by Paul Feig (2008)
Dwight buys all of the season's hottest gift, the "Princess Unicorn" doll, from local stores and then charges desperate parents $200 for the doll.
Supply and Demand in "Capitalism: A Love Story" by Director: Michael Moore, Producers: Anne Moore and Michael Moore (2009)
Michael Moore argues that airplane pilots should make more than $20,000.
Supply and Demand in "Wimbledon" by Director: Richard Loncraine, Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Liza Chasin, and Mary Richards (2004)
Peter Cort's career gets a jump start and he learns about supply and demand.
Supply and Demand in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" by Director: Mel Stuart, Producers: David L. Wolper and Stan Margulies (1971)
Roald Dahl’s well-known children’s classic is filled with economics.
Supply and Demand in "Tucker: The Man and His Dream" by Director: Francis Ford Coppola, Producers: Fred Fuchs and Fred Roos (1988)
Jeff Bridges plays Preston Tucker an innovator and entrepreneur who designs a better automobile in the 1940s.
Supply and Demand in "Stalag 17" by Directed and Produced by Billy Wilder (1953)
The key point of interest in this film scene is the use of cigarettes as a currency among the prisoners inside Stalag 17.
Pricing and Supply and Demand in "Pretty Woman" by Director: Garry Marshall, Producer: Laura Ziskin (1990)
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts negotiate a deal.
Marginal Thinking in "The Nutty Professor" by Director: Tom Shadyac, Producers: Karen Kehela, Jerry Lewis, Mark Lipsky, Russell Simmons, Brian Grazer (1996)
Eddie Murphy has a problem with eating.
Marginal Thinking in "Wedding Crashers" by Director: David Dobkin, Producer: Peter Abrams, Toby Kiccumshot, Robert L. Levy, Cale Boyter, Andrew Panay, and Richard Brener (2005)
Two bachelors crash weddings in order to have a good time.
Marginal Thinking in "The Darwin Awards" by Director: Finn Taylor, Producers: Jason Blum, Debbie Brubaker, Dieter Busch, and Frank Capra III (2006)
These two short scenes would be useful for discussing risk aversion.
Marginal Thinking in "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" by Director: Danny Leiner, Producers: Nathan Kahane and Greg Shapiro (2004)
It’s 2:30 in the morning and Harold and Kumar are at a deserted intersection waiting to cross the road.
Marginal Thinking in "Cool Hand Luke" by Director: Stuart Rosenberg, Producer: Gordon Carroll (1967)
Paul Newman decides to eat 50 eggs on a whim in order to spice things up while in captivity.
Marginal Thinking in "Swing Vote" by Director: Joshua Michael Stern, Producers: Kevin Costner and Jim Wilson (2008)
Kevin Costner causes trouble in the political realm.
Marginal Thinking in "Super Size Me" by Directed and Produced by Morgan Spurlock (2004)
The movie chronicles obesity in United States.
Marginal Thinking in "Outsourced" by Director: John Jeffcoat, Producer: Tom Gorai (2006)
After his entire department is outsourced, an American novelty products salesman heads to India to train his replacement.
Diminishing Marginal Utility of Income in "Three Hundred Big Boys" - Futurama by Created by Matt Groening, Directed by Swinton O. Scott III (2003)
Mom (a wealthy character) blows her nose with a $300 bill while Klompers looks on sadly.
Opportunity Cost in "No Man's Land" - Grey's Anatomy by Created by Shonda Rhimes, Directed by Adam Davidson (2005)
A man discovers he has a brain tumor. Surgery is available, but only at the great risk of the patient losing his memories and personality.
Opportunity Cost in "Coyote Ugly" by Director: David McNally (2000)
This is a great example of a successful auction with an unusual ending.
Opportunity Cost in "Along Came Polly" by Director: John Hamburg, Producers: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, and Stacey Sher (2004)
Reuben learns about the opportunity costs involved in keeping the bed looking nice.
Opportunity Cost in "I Am Peter, Hear Me Roar" - Family Guy by Created by Seth MacFarlane, Directed by Monte Young (2000)
After hearing a time share pitch, Peter must choose between a new boat and a mystery box as his gift. He chooses wrong.
Opportunity Cost in "The One with the List" - Friends by Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Directed by Mary Kay Place (1995)
Ross chooses between Rachel and Julie, describing the pros and cons of each choice.
Opportunity Cost in "Mascot Love" - Hannah Montana by Created by Michael Poryes, Rich Correll, Barry O'Brien, Directed by Roger S. Christansen (2006)
While unclogging the sink, the father realizes he is late for a meeting. His son volunteers (for $50) to fix the sink rather than his father hiring a plumber. The father agrees and he admits he would have paid more.
Opportunity Cost in "The Merchant of Venice" by Director: Michael Radford, Producers: Cary Brokaw, Michael Cowan, Jason Piette, and Barry Navidi (2004)
Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons star in Shakespeare’s tale of greed and love.
Opportunity Cost in "Garage Sale" - The Office by Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Developed by Greg Daniels, Directed by Steve Carell (2011)
The office decides to hold a garage sale.
Opportunity Cost in "Confessions of a Shopaholic" by Director: P.J. Hogan, Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer (2009)
Shopaholics Anonymous meeting is disrupted when Becky reminds everyone how much they how shopping.
