Beyond $55.18: The Invisible Economics of Holiday Labor
Beyond $55.18: Economics of Holiday Labor Shashi Bellamkonda Professor | Community Builder | Chief Marketing Officer November 28, 2025 The annual American Farm Bureau Thanksgiving tally counted the cost of a classic holiday meal for 10 at $$55.18. This figure prompted a letter to the editor in the Washington Post from Alisa Bernard, who argued it completely fails to account for the labor, time, energy, and emotional toll borne by those who orchestrate the entire holiday experience. She is right. The $$55.18 represents only the input cost. It reflects the grocery bill, not the Total Cost of Ownership of the event. This oversight is not simply a holiday problem. It highlights a vast gap in how we value labor, particularly in the domestic sphere. 🍂 🍁 🍂 In any busines...
