[Opening – Solo: The Intern, center stage under spotlight] I’m just an intern at the Fed downtown Filing graphs while the world spins around They say rational people just choose what's best But I missed lunch and I’m kinda stressed They told me Maximize utility, optimize the plan Act like an agent with a marginal scan But all I see are trade-offs and lines And a curve that’s bowed most of the time [Verse 1 – Ensemble enters: students, baristas, workers] Scarcity’s the rule of the day Can’t have it all, so we throw things away Opportunity cost—make the call Get the jeans, skip the mall Should I study or go out late? Weigh the marginal benefit against the marginal rate If benefit is greater than cost, then cool But if not, I break the golden rule [Chorus – Full Ensemble] It’s the invisible hand Moving all across the land No one’s in charge, but somehow we stand On prices and choices, and what we demand Trade-offs dance in a planned-unplanned band It’s quirky, it’s weird—it’s the invisible hand [Verse 2 – Solo: Construction Worker with blueprints] I build houses, or I build roads But my budget’s tight, and the cost still grows Do I make capital or consumer stuff? The PPC says I can’t do enough Increasing opportunity cost starts to bite Each extra house costs me twice the night Efficiency’s nice, but choices are real If you’re beyond the curve, that’s not a deal [Pre-Chorus – Two Students with notebooks] Marginal benefit, marginal cost If MB is greater than MC, I’m not lost But if cost is greater, I pause that thought I’ll choose the option where value is caught [Chorus – Full Ensemble] It’s the invisible hand Always playing second hand We think we’re in charge, but it draws the strand Of every choice from beach to brand Limited resources stretch like sand And still we move with the invisible hand [Bridge – Overlapping solo lines, lights spotlight each character] Farmer: Do I grow wheat or corn today? Tech CEO: Should I sell my code or give it away? Parent: Daycare or overtime pay? Barista: Tip jar or a raise today? [Dance Break – Dancers mark out PPC points with signs: Efficient / Unattainable / Underutilized] [No lyrics] [Final Chorus – Cast gathers around the Intern] It’s the invisible hand Trade-offs on demand Scarcity shaping where we all land I give up this to get that stand Opportunity cost, forever unplanned But still we move with the invisible hand [Outro – Solo: The Intern, quiet piano reprise] So why do bubbles float, And crash when they land? Maybe it starts With the invisible hand
