ARTICLES

Imagine a dinner party where the bill is not paid by the people eating, but by the guests arriving for the next shift. As long as the line of new guests is longer than the table of current diners, the feast continues. But what happens when the queue shortens, and the diners at the table decide to stay longer? This is the simplified, uncomfortable reality of Portugal’s Social Security system. It is not a savings account where your contributions are stored for your future; it i

Smartphone bans in schools have emerged as global policy in all continents. While often framed as social interventions, these restrictions warrant rigorous economic analysis examining costs, benefits, and rationales for market intervention. Today's adolescents represent the first generation immersed in smartphone technology from childhood. Data shows   95% of teenagers use social media,   with over one-third reporting almost constant usage. On average,   60% of 12 to 15 year-

What if the price you see online when you’re making a purchase isn’t the real price, just the one the algorithm thinks you will accept? Personalized pricing is present in our daily lives, from flight tickets and hotel rooms to food delivery and ride-sharing services. Every time we browse, click, or linger on a product, we create an online trail that businesses use to determine our willingness to pay. What used to be a simple purchase is becoming a private negotiation between