There is an argument often made by economists that Christmas gift-giving is inefficient, as the money spent by the giver is better spent by the recipient on themselves, causing a deadweight-loss that is costly. "Scroogenomics" has been criticized before but I have a new view ...
from a Keynesian perspective. I argue that, given the slack in the economy during the winter, it's good to have additional spending to ensure full employment, especially in an agricultural economy with the potential for starvation of the winter. Even in our modern economies ...