Economics Too Hard? 18 Funny Stories Explain Financial Terms

1. Interest
   Banker’s son: "Dad, the bank’s money belongs to clients. How did you get your house and cars?"
   Banker: "Son, bring me the fatty meat from the fridge." Son does. "Now put it back. See the grease on your fingers?"

2. Investment Banking
   Rookie: "What’s investment banking?" Senior points to rotten fruit: "How would you sell these?"
   Rookie: "Discount them." Senior cuts them into a fruit platter: "Now sell at 10x the price."

3. Sales

   • "I’m the best, date me!" — Direct Sales.

   • "My dad owns 3 houses, they’ll be yours." — Promotion.

   • She’s charmed without him pitching. — Marketing.

   • She doesn’t know him, but her friends rave. — Branding.

4. Parking Fee
   A rich man borrows $5,000 using his Rolls-Royce as collateral. Returns in 2 weeks, pays $15 interest.
   Banker: "You’re worth millions—why borrow?"
   Rich man: "$15 for 2 weeks’ parking? A steal in Wall Street."

5. Luxury Goods
   Professor: "Luxury is what your girlfriend stares at for 30 seconds, and you buy. If she stares again, she’s the luxury."

6. Long-Term Investment
   A girl pays 30 cents for an unripe melon, saying: "I’ll come back when it’s grown."

7. Industrial Economics
   Professor: "Primary industry: raising cows. Secondary: slaughtering. Tertiary: eating beef."
   Student: "Cultural industry?" Professor: "Boasting and showing off!"

8. Profitless Investment
   Professor: "Give an example." Student: "Taking my sister out."

9. Game Theory
   If 4 guys chase 1 girl, she’ll play hard to get. If they chase others first, she’s easier to win. — Nash’s game theory.

10. No Free Lunch
    Economist Friedman: "Even ‘free’ meals cost you the chance to earn $1 million instead." — Opportunity cost.

11. Business Model
    Woman reports theft: "Money was stolen from my bra!" Cop: "You didn’t notice?"
    Woman: "Who knew he was after money?"
    Best business model: Make customers happily part with their money.

12. Sharing Economy
    Share 5 of your 6 apples; you’ll gain friendships and future fruits. — Sacrifice is wisdom, sharing is virtue.

13. Dating Market
    A men date B women, B men date C women… leaving A women and D men single.
    Economics lesson: Outrun your friend, not the bear.

14. Pareto Distribution
    Global wealth: A tiny elite at the top, a long tail of poverty. — Pareto principle.

15. Poor Tax
    Lottery tickets are a "tax" on the poor who dream of striking it rich.

16. Happiness Formula
    Happiness = Utility ÷ Expectations. Lower expectations, higher happiness.

17. Joy vs. Pain
    People prefer:

    • Finding $50 + $25 separately.

    • Losing $75 at once.
      Rule: Spread good news, bundle bad news.

18. Bubble Economy
    Chatting online = "startup." 200 people saying "I’m pretty" = bubble economy.