2012-01-19

A tall multi-panel SMBC comic. A young boy complains to his father that he used to get three dollars a week for bringing in the mail. The father declares "This will not stand!!" then sheepishly admits, "Sorry, kiddo. Your sister recently migrated into existence, and she's willing to do it for 2.50." The boy counters: "Okay! I propose you regulate Mom. She's driving down the price of labor in the house!" The father, distorted with excitement, exclaims "Hoh! Dere she!" and proclaims, "I am setting the price of mail services at three dollars a week!" Caption: "Two weeks later..." The boy, looking at his pay, is shocked: "What the... this is two dollars!" He goes and knocks on a closed door, demanding, "I know you're both in there! How come my pay was lowered?! Where's the oversight?!" The door opens and his sister leans out and asks, "Are you familiar with the concept of regulatory capture?" Votey (bonus panel): A woman hunched over a desk writing, with a caption reading "Everybody likes economics jokes."