For Elderly in Rural Areas, Times Are Distinctly Harder

Do we have a moral or financial obligation to assist the elderly? What should be done with the care of the elderly?

China’s Economic Power Unsettles the Neighbors

How will the world be different with the changing of the economy of China?

Obama Keeps Focus on Jobs, Warns No Silver Bullet

Is the economy under control??? What solutions would you propose to get people back to work?

Economy Forces College Hopefuls to Lower Sights

How will the current economic situation affect your choice of schools?

How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?

What rationale does Prof. Krugman's cite for economists' in this country failure to see the oncoming recession? Which argument do you find most persuasive?

Wave of Debt Facing US Government

Read the article, then click on the Multimedia graph on the left. At the bottom are listed possible solutions: (1) raise taxes/cut services, (2) inflation, (3) default on debt, or (4) economic growth. Which of these is most palatable? Why or why not?

Developing Countries Voice Complaints About Chinese Currency

China has continued a FIXED exchange rate with the U.S. currency, while other countries have a variable (or fluctuating) rate. The official exchange rate between U.S. dollar and Renminbi yuan currently is about 1:6.8 (1 US dollar = 6.8 yuan RMB) With your knowledge of supply & demand, does this hurt or help the US currency? Why?

Fixed rates and protectionism

How do we have a stable economy without a stable currency?

Paying More For Flights Eases Guilt, Not Emissions

What concepts apply to offset programs? Should these programs be used in a free market society? Will they help?

Lump Sum vs. Per Unit Cost in 60 seconds

Can you do this?

Monopoly graph in 90 seconds

Can you do this?

Who are the unemployed?

This post contains an interactive link. Define your "group" and view the unemployment rate. (Try black, men, 15 to 24, no HS degree VS black, men, 45+, college ed) What trends do you see in the data for your own "group?"

Behind the Jobless Rate

This article contains interactive graphs. Click the numbers (1-8)on the right to view the specific graphs. What do you infer from these graphs?

Who receives subsidies? Should we give subsidies if we are a free market society? How would the lack of subsidies in our economy affect you as a consumer? as a taxpayer?

The New Untouchables

Read the article and reflect: If you were to choose 3 emphasis areas for school improvement, what would they be and why? What is your plan for making yourself "untouchable?"

Rape Case to Force US Defence Firms into the Open

In a free market society, people make employment contracts with employers. If they don't like it, they find another employer. Thirty of your US Representatives believe that it is acceptable to allow "non-prosecution of rape" clauses in employment contracts for those businesses employed by the US Federal Government. (i.e.) If a woman is raped while employed by the firm, the dispute must be settled through arbitration and not the legal system. These Congressmen further believe that it is not the job of the Congress to intervene in free market contracts between employer and employee.

In a free-market society, should employers be able to put such clauses into their contracts? Is it the job of Congress to interfere in this free market activity? Use facts in your argument (pro or con)....not logic, morality or "feelings." What would be your solution?

Stimulus Math

What is Bennett's main idea in presenting this cartoon (use economic terminology)? How would you change the way we spend money?

Still on the Job, but at Half the Pay

How do you feel about the pilot on your plane making only $34,000 a year? How many job do you suppose he will have to work in order to make ends meet?

Slim Thug talks Economics

So......wha cha sayin'?

False Profits or False Prophet?

The author of this piece says of Michael Moore........."His biggest failure, however, is his inability to articulate a plausible alternative to the system he loathes."

Propose alternative remedies for at least two of the simplicities illustrated by Michael Moore in his film.

For example, the author claims that "He (Michael Moore) talks fuzzily of more democracy, but it is not clear what he means......" What would more democracy mean to you? OR the author claims that Michael Moore believes that ....."The $700 billion bail-out after Lehman’s collapse was no genuine attempt to stave off depression, but a financial coup d’état, staged by big banks." Was it? Did the big banks intentionally stage the collapse in an attempt to steal taxpayers' money?

Clean Energy Investing Goes Mainstream; Soros Pledges $1 Billion

What do the investment strategies of George Soros tell us about our own investment strategies?