Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Honors Business Economics: 20 January 2011

Prayer
Beyond the sound bites:


China: USA #1 no more...

China's President Lays Groundwork for Obama Talks



WSJ's Jake Lee speaks to Heard on the Street Asia Editor Mohammed Hadi about Chinese President Hu Jintao's comments on currencies, balancing the Chinese economy and China's growing clout abroad.

Be sure to review the
Mid-Term Assessment Prep Study Page for 21 January.
The Chapter 4 Section 2 Quiz Prep Page is available for the Quiz (once scheduled).
The Ch. 4 Sec. 1 Quiz Make-Up is available.

The Chapter 3 Section 3 Make-Up is available.

The Ch. 3 Sec. 2 Quiz Make-Up is today:

Cf. http://shanawiki.wikispaces.com/Honors+Business+Economics+Fall+2010+Chapter+3+Section+2+Quiz+Prep+Page

The Make-Up for the Chapter 3 Section 1 Quiz is today.

The Chapter 2 Make-Up Test is today.

Cf. http://shanawiki.wikispaces.com/Honors+Business+Economics+Chapter+2+Test+Prep+Page+Fall+2010

The Ch. 2 Sec. 3 American Free Enterprise Make-Up Quiz is today.

Standard feature:

The electronic edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer is available. We have the Sunday edition, available on Mondays, in addition to the Tuesday through Friday editions on the other days.

Please follow the steps below:

URL: http://nie.philly.com
Click on the words "Access e-Inquirer" located on the gray toolbar underneath the green locker on the opening page.
Login:
Username: bshsinky@shanahan.org
Password: 10888

In-class assignment, with a partner, fill in the graphic organizer.

Use the graphic organizer to identify examples of both fixed and variable costs.

Preview

Chapter 6 Prices and Decision Making

Why It Matters

The Big Picture

Section 1 Prices as Signals

Price is the monetary value of a product, which is normally established by supply and demand and is an important economic concept. Prices can be described as signals to both producers and consumers. High prices are signals for businesses to produce more and for consumers to buy less. Low prices signal the reverse. Prices have the advantage of being neutral and flexible. In addition, they permit freedom of choice, have no administrative costs, are highly efficient, and are easily understood by everyone. Non-price allocations systems such as rationing exist, but they suffer from a number of problems, including the issue of allocating ration coupons in a fair and equitable manner. Therefore, economists prefer the price system.

In-class assignment: in two groups, we will do the:

Student Web Activity.

Cf. http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078747643/student_view0/unit2/chapter6/student_web_activities.html

"Prices and Decision Making"

Introduction
You have already learned that prices are the signals that help us make our economic decisions. You have also learned that markets are more efficient when there are large numbers of buyers and sellers and when the information about products in the market is relatively good. All of this results in a situation that results in more competitive prices and more satisfied consumers! The World Wide Web is helping consumers in this regard. For example, you can visit several bookstores to check prices without ever leaving home.

Destination Title:

Barnes and Noble

Cf. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Amazon

Cf. http://www.amazon.com/

half.com

Cf. http://www.half.ebay.com/

Directions
Start at the Barnes and Noble Web site.

1. Select a book of your choice from the Barnes and Noble Web site. What book did you select, and how much does it cost?

2. Next, go to the Amazon.com Web site. In the search box, type the same name of the book that you selected previously on the Barnes and Noble site. How much does the same book cost on the Amazon.com Web site?

3. Now, go to the half.com Web site. In the search box, type the same name of the book that was selected previously on the other retailer sites. How much does the same book cost on this site?

4. Compare the three prices. Which was the lowest? The highest? Why do you think there were or were not differences in the prices? How do you think the free flow of information on the World Wide Web will affect consumer prices?

Ch. 6 Sec. 1 Reading Strategy

In-class assignment: with a partner, complete the graphic organizer by explaining the advantages of prices.

Guide to Reading

Section Preview

Content Vocabulary

price

rationing

In-class assignment, while working with a partner, in this satirical look at the possibility of health care rationing, what problem (s) (as noted in the textbook) are they pointing out?

Health Rations and You, 2:22



ration coupon

rebate

Academic Vocabulary

neutral

criteria

Reading Strategy

Products in the News

Katrina Fallout

The Economic Impact of the BP Oil Spill, 7:27

In-class assignment: working with a partner, answer the following questions.

Is the Gulf Oil spill worse than Hurricane Katrina?
Could the damage be worse on the area?
How much did the Hurricane cost?
What three reasons could make it worse than Katrina?
What is the economic disruption?
What are the three drivers of the economy in New Orleans?
How will the decimation of these industries affect the economy?
How will tourism be effected?
How many are employed in this industry?
How is the oil and gas industry effected?
How much off-shore drilling in the U.S. takes place in the Gulf?
What is the lesson to be learned in this disaster?
Has there been innovation in preventing a disaster?

Brookings expert Amy Liu has been tracking the recovery of the Gulf Coast ever since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. In this week's @Brookings podcast, she discusses the enormous economic impact of the catastrophic BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on New Orleans, the Gulf Coast region, and the nation.



The Global Economy and You

Advantages of Prices

Reading Check

Summarizing

In what way do prices perform the allocation function?

Allocations without Prices

Rationing

Problems with Rationing

Reading Check

Contrasting

What are the differences between the price system and rationing?

Prices as a System

Reading Check

Identifying

How do prices allocate resources between markets?

Ch. 6 Sec. 1 Review

In-class assignment: with a partner, identify the problems associated with rationing.
Case Study

I Bought It On eBay

Section 2 The Price System at Work

Economists develop economic models of markets with supply and demand curves in order to analyze and predict outcomes. In a competitive market, the forces of supply and demand establish prices. A temporary surplus drives prices down; a temporary shortage forces prices up. Eventually, the market reaches the equilibrium price where there are neither shortages nor surpluses. Changes in supply or demand can disturb the market, but the market will tend to find its new equilibrium with the help of temporary shortages and/or surpluses. Whenever supply or demand for a product fluctuates, the elasticity of the two curves affects the size of the price change. Competitive markets represent the ideal, but the lessons learned from them apply to other markets as well.

In-class assignment, working with a partner, answer the following.

In your own words, explain the price system.
Does one person make a pencil?
Do it take many people and cultures to produce even simple goods such as pencils?
Does it take cooperation?
Is it likely that the differences between people would make them hate each other if they met?
Then what brought all these people together?
What does the price system foster if left unregulated according to Friedman?

Milton Friedman, Free to Choose (explains the price system), 2:11



Guide to Reading

Section Preview

Content Vocabulary

economic model

equilibrium price

surplus

In-class assignment, with a partner, answer the following.

As illustrated in the video, draw the graph.
Which direction does the demand curve go?
Which direction does the supply curve go?
Why (for each curve)?
What is the intersection of the curves called?
What does the idea of the surplus entail?
What is the red (in the video) section called?
What lines define the consumer surplus?
Can prices be determined as a result?

Equilibrium price and surplus, 6:27

Description of equilibrium price, consumer surplus, producer surplus and social surplus using supply and demand diagrams.






shortage

Academic Vocabulary

Reading Strategy

Companies in the News

Want prime seats? Get ready to bid?

The Price Adjustment Process

A Market Model

Figure 6.1 Market Equilibrium

Surplus

Shortage

Figure 6.2 Surpluses and Shortages

Cf. http://glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/socialstudies/in_motion_08/epp/EPP_p150.swf

Equilibrium Price

Reading Check

Summarizing

How do surpluses and shortages help establish the equilibrium price?

Explaining and Predicting Prices

Change in Supply

Figure 6.3 Changes in Prices

Change in Demand

Change in Supply and Demand

The Importance of Elasticity

Careers

Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents, among others such as actors (including voice actors), artists, novelists, freelance writers, and similar creative artists as talents are generally compensated on a "per job" basis, and thus are not treated as employees; as freelancers, they file a 1099 form for their taxes. They are not, strictly speaking, an employee of a company. The health care provisions passed last year require them to purchase health care and to be treated as regular employees of companies.
Prices and Competitive Markets

Reading Check

Explaining

How does the elasticity of a good affects its price?

Business Week Newsclip

What's Raining on Solar's Parade?
Solar Power: Why Economics Matters, 7:12

Section 3 Social Goals and Market Efficiency

Prices work as a system to allocate resources between markets. However, if prices are fixed in one market, temporary shortages and surpluses tend to become permanent. A price ceiling, such as rent control, is one form of fixed price; a price floor, such as the minimum wage, is another example. Agriculture is especially hard-hit by price changes, because demand and supply tend to be inelastic, while weather often causes the supply curve to change. Therefore, to help farmers, the federal government established the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), an agency in the Department of Agriculture. The CCC then used a target price, which is essentially a price floor, to help stabilize farm prices. As a result, over the years, the government has established other forms of support for agriculture in the economy.

Guide to Reading

Section Preview

Content Vocabulary
price ceiling
minimum wage
price floor
target price
nonrecourse loan
deficiency payment
Academic Vocabulary

Reading Strategy

Issues in the News

Minimum Wage Rise Hurts Students

Ch. 4 Prep

Cf. http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078747643/student_view0/unit2/chapter4/

Multiple Choice Quiz

Cf. http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078747643/student_view0/unit2/chapter5/self-check_quizzes.html

Crossword Puzzle

Cf. http://www.glencoe.com/olc_games/game_engine/content/gln_ss/epp_08/ch05/index.html

Flashcard

Cf. http://www.glencoe.com/qe/efcsec.php?qi=15424

Ch. 5 Prep

Chapter 5 Supply Multiple Choice Quiz

Cf. http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078747643/student_view0/unit2/chapter5/self-check_quizzes.html

Chapter 5 Puzzle

Cf. http://www.glencoe.com/olc_games/game_engine/content/gln_ss/epp_08/ch05/index.html

Chapter 5 Supply Flashcards

Cf. http://www.glencoe.com/qe/efcsec.php?qi=15424

Ch. 6 Prep

Chapter 6: Prices and Decision Making
Multiple Choice Quiz

Cf. http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078747643/student_view0/unit2/chapter6/self-check_quizzes.html

ePuzzle Concentration

Cf. http://www.glencoe.com/olc_games/game_engine/content/gln_ss/epp_05/chapter06/index.html

Academic, Glossary, People/Places/Events

Cf. http://www.glencoe.com/qe/efcsec.php?qi=15429

Ian Hunter, How's Your House, for the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund



Email (or hand in hard copy) to gmsmith@shanahan.org.


Thursday HW
1. p. 140, #1-10
2. p. 140, #19-20

Friday HW
1. p. 140, #21-23