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The Concept of Demand and Supply in “The Office”
The TV series “The Office” is one of the shows that college professors could use to teach
economics (Greg 2005). The economic concept of demand and supply is very much evidenced in
the series and could help economic students learn concepts in fun-filled ways. The series triggers
memories of the concepts of demand and supply learned in class among other concepts.
Economics students are not only taught on what they should do, but also on what they should
avoid. In the TV series “The Office”, the audiences are shown a paperless company that is
struggling to survive the competitive industry (Greg 2005).
While normal audience could enjoy watching how people relate and form relationships in
the TV show, economic students would learn what to avoid. Michael Scott is portrayed as a
clueless manager whose managerial style creates various responses from other characters in the
TV series (Greg 2005). He does not seem to understand the emerging competition in the
paperless world and therefore he refuses to be innovative and creative.
Scott’s clueless managerial style provides students with great teaching and learning
moments which points out how the students should not think in matters of economics. The
character Dwight Kurt could be described as silly as most of other characters but his actions
could help economic students learn a lot about economics (Greg 2005). Kurt realized the demand
for the coffee shop is higher than the need for the building lobby; hence he converts the lobby
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into a coffee shop the “Nepotism” episode (Blanchard and Danny 1988). In Mrs. California
episode, Kurt solves another demand by converting the office building into a gym.
Just before Halloween, Kurt organizes a ban maze because he knows that children are
ready and prepared for the adrenaline rush activities. From these actions of Kurt, an economist
student would be able to understand the consumer behavior and how they are affected by the
demand and supply (Blanchard and Danny 1988). Through his actions and mistakes that demand
varies cyclically and seasonally. Economic students would learn that decline in sales does not
spell doom for the future, the future might be brighter than the present.
Seasonal demand is portrayed as predictable and is affected by the fluctuations in the
calendar year. It is affected by seasons and holidays but could also be impacted on by the
