EconGoneCountry

Supply and demand with a twang

Title: American Saturday Night

​Artist: Brad Paisley

Economic Concepts: Trade; Imports; Consumption; Comparative advantage; Specialization; Production Possibilities Frontier (PPF)  

Details: Some students may think that all goods and services should be made in America and that we have no need to trade with other countries.  However, this would ignore the principles of comparative advantage and specialization, which would mean less efficient production and fewer goods for consumers.  Beyond more efficient production, one of the benefits of trade is having variety in consumption without having to travel the globe.  "Brazilian leather boots on the pedal of her German car... Yeah she's goin' around the world tonight but she ain't leavin' here…Just another American Saturday Night".

In addition, when countries specialize in a certain product, such as Germany with automobiles, this is what they are known for around the globe.  By embracing free trade and having an open economy, these goods and services usually wash up on our shores.  Finally, this song can be used to illustrate that when two parties
or countries specialize and trade according to their comparative advantage, society is able to consume at a level outside of the PPF.  "My great great great granddaddy stepped off that ship.  I bet he never ever dreamed we'd have all this".            

Lyrics: 
Woahhhhh woahhhhhhh
She's got Brazilian leather boots on the pedal of her German car
Listening to the Beatles singin' "Back in the USSR"
Yeah she's goin' around the world tonight
But she ain't leavin' here
She's just going to meet her boyfriend down at the street fair

It's a French kiss, Italian ice
Spanish moss in the moonlight
Just another American Saturday night

There's a big toga party tonight down at Delta Chi
They've got Canadian bacon on their pizza pie
They've got a cooler full of cold nas and Amstel light
It's like we're all livin' in a big ol' cup
Just fire up the blender, mix it all up

It's a French kiss, Italian ice
Margaritas in the moonlight (woahhhh)
Just another American Saturday night

You know everywhere has somethin' they're known for
Although usually it washes up on our shores
My great great great granddaddy stepped off of that ship
I bet he never ever dreamed we'd have all this

You know everywhere has somethin' they're known for
Although usually it washes up on our shores
Little Italy, Chinatown, sittin' there side by side
Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!

French kiss, Italian ice,
Spanish moss in the moonlight
Just another American, I'm just another American
And it's just another American Saturday night   ​​​​