Cause: Old Age. Effect: Death.

(This economics lesson brought to us by Monty)
Paul Samuelson, the man who helped turn economics from a field where leading thinkers considered economic issues to one that solves problems with mathematical certainty and rigor, has died at the age of 94. And how could anyone who lived through the last year not be glad for the clear-thinking and rigorousness of the financial sector. Samuelson’s death spares the Nobel Committee the awkwardness of reclaiming the 1970 prize he won, and instead they can sneak into the house when everyone’s at the viewing.