I was in Europe. Somewhere. A small country. Beautiful place. Cobblestones. Little cafes. But their economy? Struggling. I could tell. The pastries were only medium-sized.

The Purchase

I walked into a bakery. Very charming. The baker looked sad. "What's wrong?" I asked. "The economy," she said, or at least that's what I assumed—she was speaking some European language.

So I bought a pastry. A croissant, I think. Maybe a danish. It was flaky. I paid for it with a large bill and said, "Keep the change." The baker's eyes widened. The economy was already improving. I could feel it.

The Ripple Effect

Here's what happened after I bought that pastry:

• The baker smiled.
• She probably told her friends about the generous American.
• Those friends probably bought things too.
• The economy boomed. Probably.

That's how economics works. One generous act—my act—and suddenly everyone is prosperous. It's the Donny Effect. I should write a book about it. Maybe I will.

The Results

I don't have specific numbers. Numbers are for accountants. But I know in my heart that country's economy improved tremendously after my visit. Maybe by 50%. Maybe more. It's hard to measure the impact of Donny.

Some economists say my pastry purchase had no measurable effect on their GDP. Those economists are jealous. Of me. And my pastry.

Lessons in Economics

• Big tips can save entire economies.
• Pastries are important economic indicators.
• The Donny Effect is real.
• Small European countries need more Donny visits.