News and notes from around the interweb:
- The ‘Big Mac Index’ has been a useful albeit imperfect way of computing purchasing power parity. People may earn less in one country compared to another, but cost of a bundle of goods there may be lower too so the income comparison alone doesn’t tell the whole story of relative wealth.
There’s another take, comparing the cost of Starbucks lattes around the world but I don’t think the metric would be as useful. Starbucks hasn’t spread as broadly as McDonald’s, and in a meaningful sense Starbucks is selling more of an overall experience than McDonald’s. In some places it’s a status good, in other markets with more highly developed coffee cultures it doesn’t carry the same connotations. So you’re not necessarily comparing the same ‘product’ from country to country.
- Airlines appear to be having the same problem getting money out of Egypt that carriers had with Venezuela.
- Interview with the Pan Am co-pilot who survived the Tenerife disaster. (HT: Cranky Flier)
- ‘Upgrading’ to extra legroom seating in Delta economy caused Flying Blue to cancel a US domestic award ticket.
- Which airlines take the longest to pick up the phone and to answer email?
- Behind the scenes of the air traffic control tower at New York JFK:
Gary,
Always good to read about coffee …
What bugs me the most with Starbucks … and I’m sure many can relate:
Not too long ago, a medium of even large latte would get you juiced up well with the two shots it generally comes with.
Nowadays, even a medium latte with an exra short (i.e. three altogether) is lame.
That, to me, comes right after kidnapping !
Mark
@Mark: I don’t think anything has changed about the shots–I suspect you just have built up a tolerance for the caffeine.
Another issue with the latte index is the latte they purchased in Oslo is at the airport. Now there’s no doubt that Oslo is an extremely expensive place to eat out, but comparing prices at the airport to non-airport locations isn’t quite fair.