Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Minimum Wage

As this weeks chapter deals with minimum wage the blog will as well. Go to the following website,
Minimum Wage and explore it. Write down at least two interesting pieces of information that you discovered on the website. Don't copy your classmates. Each post must contain two pieces of information that have not been discussed.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Current Debate on U.S. Labor Markets

Image result for labor markets


Go to the following website listing online Economic debates over the current state of the U.S. labor force. http://www.swcollege.com/bef/econ_debate.html Click on Labor Markets under Microeconomics.
Select one of the debate topics on the left side of the page. Begin your blog entry with a short (one sentence) description of the topic. Do not just copy and paste the introduction. Browse through the resources on your topic. Discuss your feelings on the issue (3-5 sentences). Choose a topic that you have strong feelings about. Cite two examples from the resource list that are in line with your opinion on the issue. You may use the same debate topics as your classmates but not the same citations.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Is Paying Kids for Good Grades Wrong?

There have been several experiments by school districts at paying students for attendance, good behavior, and good grades. The most recent attempts in Washington, D.C., New York City, and even our very own Houston have shown some promising results. Money is a powerful incentive. Click on the link below, read the article, watch the video and leave your thoughts about "money for grades." Posts should be 50-75 words.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Game Theory

As the current chapter we are studying deals with Game Theory, go to the following link, and explore. Find an example of game theory in pop culture or the media and write a 3-5 sentence summary in your own words. Don't copy any example that has already been used.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

100 Best Economics Blogs For Students

100 Best Economics Blogs for Students

Click on link above to be taken to list website

Review two blogs from this list of the 100 best blogs for economics students. Make sure they are from different categories, and don't repeat one that someone else has already done. Yes I realize that this means you will have to check the previous posts to see which ones have already been reviewed. The sooner you do this one the easier it will be. Reviews need to include:

1) Content
2) Appearance
3) Ease of Navigation
4) Apparent bias
http://www.onalytica.com/blog/posts/top-200-most-influential-economics-blogs/


**Due Sunday before midnight**

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Worldwide News

Go to Welker's Wikinomics Economics Universe feed by following this link. Browse through the multitude of articles until you find one dealing with market structures (monopolies, oligopolies, monopolistic competition, perfect competition). Go to the article read it, and fill out the following: Source:
Article Title:
Date:
Market Structure discussed:
2-3 Sentence Synopsis of article:
You may not copy anyone else's article, so get this one done early.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Is it time to retire the penny?

Has the venerable $.01 piece outlived its usefulness? Check out the website for some of the arguments in favor of eliminating the penny. What do you think? Also check out this guys hilarious rant against the penny.
The second video is from a guy who loves pennies. Which side are you on? Why?


Sunday, February 14, 2016

Types of Market Structure

There are 4 basic types of Market Structure:
1. Perfect Competition
2. Monopolistic Competition
3. Oligopoly
4. Monopoly
Select one of the above, give me one fact about the market structure and one example of a modern day business that operates as the structure you select. Don't copy your classmate's ideas.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Super Bowl 2016 TV Ad Analysis


Image result for Super bowl 2016

Many corporations spend their entire advertising budget on Super Bowl commercials.
Follow this link, Super Bowl TV Ads to the commercials from the 2016 Super Bowl. Pick one that hasn't been selected already and complete the following questions on the commercial.

1. Form- What kind of piece is it? What does it look like? Was it visually appealing?
2. Audience. To whom is the author addressing the piece? Was the message appropriate for the target  audience.
3. Topic or subject. What is the piece mainly about? What is the brand?
4. Purpose. What is the author trying to accomplish with the piece? What is the objective of the      piece?
5. Effectiveness. Did the add make you want to purchase the product?
6. Long term Effect. Did you like the ad? Will you remember this add in the future?

Once the original 60 ads have been analyzed, look on this website,Best Super Bowl Ads  for ads from previous Super Bowls and use them

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Is the death penalty an efficient deterrent to murder?



Death Penalty: Pro or Con

Here is another policy debate and another chance for you to think about where you stand on another major issue.
The economic argument in favor of the death penalty is rather simple. Economists assume that individuals weigh the expected costs and benefits when deciding to undertake any activity. Thus, rational individuals considering criminal activities would weigh the expected benefits against the expected cost of the criminal endeavor. The expected cost of any given crime is affected by the probability of being detected, the probability of being convicted given detection, and the expected penalty that results from a conviction. Since the death penalty provides a higher cost than alternative punishments, it is expected to generate a larger deterrent effect, ceteris paribus.
Go to the website and use two sources to justify whether you are for or against the death penalty.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

School Vouchers: An Economic Debate

Do School Vouchers Improve the Quality of Education

Follow the link to the article listed above. Read the article and post your thoughts on this issue. Are you for or against school vouchers? Why? Include at least two points from one of the sources listed at the bottom of the article. Be sure to list which source you used. Do not copy the points used by any of your classmates.
Check this website for more resources both pro and con.
http://www.balancedpolitics.org/school_vouchers.htm

Monday, January 18, 2016

Supply and Demand Practice

In your response, select the first unanswered problem from the table. Give your answers to the problem and then leave a problem of your own. The first to respond will answer #2 and leave question #34, the next student to respond will answer #3 and leave #35 and so on.

Market
Event
Would the demand curve or supply curve shift?
Would the curve shift to the right or left?
Determinant
Involved
1. wheat
A drought destroys much of the crop.
Supply
Left
Stoner (R)
Resources/Raw Materials
2. redwood lumber
Environmentalists urge consumers to boycott redwood products.



3. cigars
A new study shows that smoking cigars results in lots of wrinkles.



4. butter
The price of margarine goes up.



5. paper
The price of wood pulp rises.



6. Hula hoops
Brad Pitt confides to People   magazine that "he gets a big kick out of his hula hoop."



7. yachts
The average price of stocks falls by over 20% between now and the end of the year.



8. gasoline
Large sports-utility vehicles   (like Suburbans and Expeditions) become more popular.



9. umbrellas
Heavy rain is forecast.



10. tofu
E. Coli bacteria is found in another meat plant.



11. gasoline
Two oil supertankers collide.



12.hamburger
The price of hamburger rises.



13.oranges
There's an early frost which   destroys much of the crop.



14. apples
A new pesticide is developed which controls tent caterpillars.



15. grapes
The National Marines Fisheries Service bans pesticide spraying within 1,000 feet of waterways containing coho salmon.



16. wine
The average wage of grape harvesters rises by 10%.



17. U.S. cars
The U.S. imposes a tariff on Japanese car imports.



18. hospital beds
Scientists discover a pill that cures cancer.



19. cement
A 7.9 earthquake hits San Francisco.



20.Video rentals
The price of getting cable TV goes up.



21. windshields
A new law is passed requiring gravel trucks to cover their loads with tarps.



22.Taxi service
Local subway workers go on strike



23.Bike helmets
The price of bicycles goes down



24.melons
The cost of water goes up.



25. Lucernemilk
The price of Safeway milk goes down.



26. jellybeans
The price of jellybeans goes up.



27.Oreo cookies
The price of milk increases.



28.Burger King whoppers
McDonald's lowers the price of Big Macs.




29. Hot dogs
60 Minutes does an expose called "The Truth about Hot Dogs."



30.Hot dog buns
The price of flour rises



31. butter
Mad Cow Disease wipes out a lot of dairy cows.



32. candles
An electric company official announces that a computer bug will likely result in power outages.



33. Cowboy boots
Old Navy launches an ad campaign called "Everyone in cowboy boots."




34. Your entry

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Production Possibilities Curve

Click on the title link to find an excellent article on the Production Possibilities Curve and Frontier. The way this weeks blog will work is that I will post a question from the article. The first person to post will answer my question, and then leave a question of their own from the article. The next person to post will answer that question then write one of their own and so on and so on. Question #1 Why do most world religions teach their adherents to have an attitude of gratefulness?
Link to article

Monday, January 4, 2016

Welcome to Microeconomics

Welcome Class of 2016. Reply to this post with a topic that you think we will be studying this semester in Microeconomics. Don't copy any of your classmates posts.