Unit Four
Dis cus s ion Que stions : Post your initial responses to the discussion forum by Wednesday 11:59 p.m. and respond to the discussion of others by Saturday 11:59 p.m. • Dis cus s ion Que stion 1 (20 points)
o Prompt: Read “YOU’RE THE ECONOMIST: Pulling Back the Curtain on Income and Wealth Distribution” in Chapter 12. After reading the above case, answer the following two questions: (1) What would happen to the Lorenz curve if it also included wealth distribution? (2) Do you think income and wealth are fairly or unfairly distributed? Should we be concerned with this issue? If you think we should be concerned with growing income and wealth inequality, what remedies would you recommend? o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply
• Dis cus s ion Que stion 2 (20 points) o Prompt: Read the assigned Scriptures and use them, or other relevant Scriptures, to discuss what the Bible says about the rich and the poor? What are the differences between the roles of the government in helping the poor in the Bible and the market economy? o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply
Unit Five • Dis cus s ion Que stion 1 (20 points)
o Prompt: Read “YOU’RE THE ECONOMIST: What Kind of Une mployme nt Do Robots and Artificial Inte llige nce Caus e?” in Chapter 16. After reading the case, discuss the following questions: (1) What type of unemployment does technological development cause? Explain. (2) What solution would you propose for any worker threatened by new technologies? (3) Can you think of any public policies that might help offset this unemployment? o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply
• Dis cus s ion Que stion 2 (20 points) o Prompt: Read “YOU’RE THE ECONOMIST: Why the High Cos t of He alth Care ?” in Chapter 17. After reading the case, discuss the following questions: (1) Which of the causes of healthcare inflation discussed here could be considered demand-pull causes? Which are elements of cost-push inflation? (2) Can you think of any other causes for the rising costs of health care?
20 o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply
Unit Six
Discussion Que stion 1 (20 points)
o Prompt: Read “YOU’RE THE ECONOMIST: Was John Maynard Keyne s Right?” in Chapter 20. Was Keynes correct? Based on data in the sidebar, use the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model to explain Keynes’s theory that increases in aggregate demand propel an economy toward full employment. o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply
• Dis cus s ion Que stion 2 (20 points)
o Prompt: Read “YOU’RE THE ECONOMIST: The Laffe r Curve ” in Chapter 21. After reading the case, compare the common perception of how a tax rate cut affects tax revenues with economist Laffer’s theory. o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply ix
Unit Seven
• Dis cus s ion Que stion 1 (20 points)
o Prompt: Read “YOU’RE THE ECONOMIST: Should the Fe d Be Inde pe nde nt?” in Chapter 24. What is the most important function of the Fed? Make an argument why an independent Fed would do a better job at performing its number one role. Make an argument why a Fed under the control of Congress and the president would do a better job at performing its most important function. o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply
• Dis cus s ion Que stion 2 (20 points) o Prompt: Read “YOU’RE THE ECONOMIST: Did the Fe d Caus e the Gre at Re ce ssion?” in Chapter 26. In support of the Fed’s monetary policy prior to the deflation of the home prices bubble, one can argue that the reality is that increasing the money supply and low-interest rates were required to sustain expansion. Based on the Monetarist’s school of thought, criticize the Fed’s policy. o Requirements: 250 words minimum initial post, 100 words minimum reply