New story promotion: Twilight Sparkle, Unicorn Economist · 11:01pm Jan 15th, 2016
“It’s a test.” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia is always testing me. I just have to figure out what I’m supposed to do.”
“Are you bringing only books, Twilight?” Spike asked.
“Is this really about seeing if I can manage the NGDP Targeting Festival?” Twilight began to pace. “But Princess Celestia already knows how good I am at managing things. Maybe the real test is to improve the level of economic literacy in Ponyville. Those rubes probably don’t even know what NGDP is.”
“Are you bringing a toothbrush? How about a comb for your mane?”
“She can’t really have meant it when she said I should make friends.” Twilight stopped. “No, it can’t be. I’m probably supposed to derive and gather data for the economic theory of friendship. Yes, that must be it."
“I’ll pack a second toothbrush.”
Twilight Sparkle, Unicorn Economist, by mylittleeconomy
A story by mylittleeconomy in which Twilight Sparkle tries to save Ponyville and Equestria from disaster, and her plans fail, but disaster is averted by the invisible hand of the market. Or so I surmise. I haven't gotten to the disasters yet.
I'm not recommending this so much because it's good (although it is, thru chapter 2 at least) as because it's unusual. mylittleeconomy has a distinctive style and subject matter. If ponyfics are starting to feel repetitive to you, I think this will not. (Unless, of course, you just read another mylittleeconomy story.) The subject matter is economics, and who doesn't want more of that? 
The style is, well, like this:
Pictures of who Twilight could only assume were members of the extensive Apple family clustered on every available space, giving the room the feel of belonging to a grandmother or perhaps a serial killer.
Rarity spoke like Princess Celestia did when she was imitating Princess Celestia.
Small woodland critters like squirrels, beavers and raccoons gamboled in the grass not five feet away from lizards, snakes, and hawks, not to mention the mouse sleeping nestled in the mane of what appeared to be a snoring lion. Cows—thank Celestia—stepped gingerly around slow-moving turtles on their way to the tallest grass where a goat grazed next to a seal and a bright pink flamingo. There was a wasp—Twilight couldn’t think of why anypony would want to preserve a wasp or how they would keep it within the fence, but there it was—and a white bunny that stood on its hind legs and seemed to be watching the other animals like an overseer. It was possibly the most unnatural thing Twilight had ever witnessed.
A yellow pony with a pink mane greeted them at the gate. Or rather, she took one look at them, let out an “Eep!” flew over the fence and tried to act like just another one of the animals in the sanctuary.
This story has possibly the least-attractive cover image I've yet seen on a fimfiction story, and the small version you might see on the front page looks like a green smudge, or a spot of fungus. So there's little chance of it making the featured box unless mylittleeconomy adds a chapter where Shining Armor bones Twilight. This seems unlikely, since their sibling relationship suggests that would be a non-monetary transaction.
Word of the day: Gambole
Also, is this a rewrite, because I swear I've seen and meant to read this before?
3688812
Same, this has to have been rewritten or republished or just from another author with a surprisingly similar idea?
I remember it was very good, but no where near as long as this is so far, but that was like 3 years and 20 million pony words ago, so not much more.
Well, that looks humorous enough to be worth reading, even if you're right and the cover image looks like viewing photosynthetic life through a microscope.
3688808
"Gambol"
3688896
3688812
Yes. MyLittleEconomy wrote it previously, and then completely rewrote it.
3688896
Yeah I agree.
I will swear I read this, I think it was like a one shot or something.
3688812
Looks to be a rewrite, because I've got My Little Economy Economics is Science by mylittleeconomy in my older reviews, and the link to that one says it doesn't exist anymore. Plus the bit with the parasprites was pretty close to what I remember. So I'm guessing a rewrite and extension of that previous story.
Better read it quick. This guy has a habit of taking his stories up and down.
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is, apparently, free advertising.
To all below: yes, this story went up, and then down, and then up again, rewritten, presumably better, with some extras, 300,000 more words to come seems reasonable conservative estimate (have written about 50,000 beyond what is published, needs polishing and writing of final two or three chapters for next full story arc). Will write blog post explaining reasons and philosophy on subject, have no objections to archiving and public hosting of said archive, by the way, for any concerned about security of current story, although will not do so myself.
3688968 I probably recommended it the first time, too. I have no brain.
There was a series of stories detailing the evolving relationship from friendship to romance between Rarity and Fluttershy. It's cover art was so absolutely horrendous it took Steel Resolve badgering me to get me to read it. Those green bills are nothing.
Why would you write a story where Shining Armor hits Twilight with a bone? That's mean!
Also, I've read at least the first chapter of this, back when you first mentioned it. Very enjoyable!