Get the Best Real-World Examples of Economic Concepts in the News!

Hello Adam Smith,

Welcome to this week’s installment of MRU’s Econ in the News, where we share the top real-world examples of economic concepts in the news!

The Latest News Articles:

• Supply, Demand, and Equilibrium: Whey suppliers racing to catch up with protein demand | Food Business News

  Sept. 22, 2026

  Soaring demand for whey protein is prompting investment in new facilities and capacity. As a byproduct of cheese production, part of increasing whey capacity is finding buyers for the cheese, increasingly in international markets, as US cheese demand is falling.

• Money and Banking: Traces of nearly four million coins reveal how Rome achieved economic integration | Agencia Fapesp

  Sept. 2, 2026

  Rome wasn’t built on just military history. Economic integration played an important role in the development of the Roman Empire.

• Inflation: Everything At the Grocery Store is On Sale Relative to 1980 | Economist Writing Every Day

  Aug. 12, 2026

  Compared to 1980, today’s average worker can more cheaply acquire a number of groceries. But compared to 2019, grocery prices on those same items are up, explaining why many consumers are frustrated with inflation at the moment even when their purchasing power for groceries has effectively increased over the long run.

• Money and Banking: Extreme heat strains Italy’s ‘cheese banks,’ where Parmigiano backs farm loans | Euronews

  Aug. 11, 2026

  Cheese banks in Italy hold Parmigiano as collateral, providing farmers with cash before the cheese is fully aged and sold. But rising temperatures are driving up the costs of storing the famous cheese.

• Costs of Production: The Actual Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Olive Oil | The Hustle (Video)

  Jun. 25, 2026

  This long-form video compares olive oil at 3 price points—breaking down different growing methods, harvest times, as well as blending and bottling decisions that impact the costs of production for each brand.

• Costs of Production: Beef prices are rising so fast some famed Texas BBQ joints are closing: ‘Everybody’s at risk these days’ | The Independent

  May 25, 2026

  Beef prices have increased so much that Texas BBQ joints have reached their shutdown conditions. Variable costs from beef and the labor required to turn briskets into flagship entrees are too high to make it worthwhile to stay open.

New Resource:

• Economic Growth: Any Human Ever

  Learn about how humans have lived over time from every area of the globe. This is a fascinating resource to introduce historic living standards and explore how life expectancy and quality of life have changed dramatically compared to much of human history.