EconGoneCountry

Supply and demand with a twang

​Think, Pair, Share

Title: Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer

​Artist: Billy Currington

Economic Concepts: Comparative advantage

Details: Most people aren't good at everything but there are usually a few things which they are good at compared to other people.  The idea of an individual, business, or country being able to produce at a lower opportunity cost than a competitor can is called comparative advantage.  This is different from being able to produce more than any other competitor given the same resources which is called an absolute advantage.  In this song, a man sings about all the things he's not very good at such as working at a bank, as a mechanic, or even a painter.  However, the one thing he seems to be pretty good at is drinking beer.  Note that the song never mentions being the best at drinking beer but only being pretty good at it, especially compared to other tasks.  This leads us to conclude that he does not have an absolute advantage 
in drinking beer but he does have a comparative advantage.  Although this song may illustrate an economic principle, I hope we can all strive to have our comparative advantage be something other than drinking beer.       

Lyrics: 

I wasn't born for diggin deep holes
I'm not made for pavin long roads
I aint cut out to climb high line poles
But I'm pretty good at drinkin beer

I'm not the type to work in a bank
I'm no good at slappin on paint
Don't have a knack for makin motors crank, no
But I'm pretty good at drinkin beer

So hand me one more
That's what I'm here for
I'm built for having a ball
I love the nightlife
I love my budlight
I like 'em cold and tall

I aint much for mowin thick grass
I'm too slow for workin' too fast
I don't do windows so honey don't ask
But I'm pretty good at drinkin' beer

A go getter maybe I'm not
I'm not known for doin' a lot
But I do my best work when the weather's hot
I'm pretty good at drinkin' beer

So hand me one more
That's what I'm here for
I'm built for having a ball
I love the nightlife
I love my budlight
I like 'em cold and tall

I wasn't born for diggin deep holes
I'm not made for pavin long roads
I aint cut out to climb high line poles
But I'm pretty good at drinkin beer
I'm pretty good at drinkin beer

So hand me one more boys...
That's what I'm here for