A person’s age is used in many ways in economic decisions due to the belief that it is a low cost proxy for ability. Even with this importance assigned to age, however, little economic research has investigated the underlying relationship between age and output. Our purpose is to consider this relationship using data from the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. Our findings indicate that men age faster than the rates estimated by others. Also, unlike other studies, these data allow inferences to be drawn about the linkage between age and ability for women. We find that women age only slightly faster than men, showing some relative increase in aging in later years. At younger ages, however, women appear more responsive to training and maturation (forms of human capital investment) than young men.
The practice of setting prices a few pennies or a few dollars below an even (whole) number is referred to as odd pricing. Most attempts to explain odd pricing use an argument that, in part, draws on varying degrees of consumer irrationality. In this note, a justification for odd pricing is provided that assumes rational and informed consumers and businesses. Empirical evidence is offered in support of this view.
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