Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Under the light of Douglas Beal's speech and Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz's piece (Links to an external site.) on Guardian, do you think that GDP is still the best way to measure economic progress in a country? If yes, explain. If not, what other metrics do you think that governments should concentrate on to achieve real economic progress? Why do you think that the 'so-called mainstream economists' and many politicians still put a lot of emphasis on GDP growth?

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Paper Instructions:

Given the probability of all three economic conditions and using expected monetary values (EMVs), calculate EMVs for each node and answer the questions: (1) What's the EMV for not hiring a business analyst and the EMV for hiring a business analyst? (2) What is your recommendation: to hire or not to hire a business analyst?

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Paper Instructions:

Now that you know about GDP and how to calculate GDP, use one of the web sites listed in Module 01 including www.bea.gov and www.bls.gov and do some research. In a 1-2 page paper, do the following:

First, find GDP numbers for the U.S. China, India, and Turkey.
Second, find the level of consumption spending in the U.S. economy for the past 40 years. Also do the same thing for gross Investment spending, government spending, and net exports.
Third, begin to think like an economist and analyze what accounts for the GDP numbers of the U.S. China, India, and Turkey. That is, which one of the four components of GDP did you find in your research accounts for the growth rates of these nations? Also, what accounted for the change in spending in the four components to GDP in the U.S. economy for the past 40 years?

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Paper Instructions:

Poverty: Who is Responsible?

In a well constructed essay, discuss poverty from the point of view from one of the positions outlined below. Develop arguments for and against each position. If you were the government in power, how would you deal with the problem of poverty?

Your essay should be 500 to 1000 words in length and contain a thesis as well as citations for any documentation you use to support your arguments.

Position A:

“Poverty is the result of personal inadequacies. The poor are responsible for their own condition. Some people are poor because they likeit that way – bums and homeless people have chosen poverty as a way of life and have decided not to work. They see it as easier to live off social welfare plans than to get a job. Poor people who are middle-aged or elderly started with the same opportunities as everyone else. They could have worked harder to increase their skills and income, but instead they frittered away their lives. Why should society support them or be concerned about them?”

Position B:

“Poverty is the result of social forces beyond the comtrol of the individual. These forces include racial, religious, and gender-related prejudice; regional disparity; unequal opportunities for education and the learning of employable skills; and rapid technological change that has made some skills redundant. Other people are poor because disease or accident has left them unable to work. The poor are not responsible for their own condition – they are victims. Society should be responsible for them.”

Marking Rubric:

4 Paper

    I have taken a clear stand on an issue and I fully support it with appropriate factual information documented correctly in my Bibliography and within my essay using Parenthetical Documentation.
    I have chosen numerous specific details that more than adequately support my stand and have documented my sources correctly.
    I have an organization that is logical and does not jump around with clear transitions flowing from introduction, to body, to conclusion.
    I make good word choices to help influence the reader to agree with me.
    I have proofread several times for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  There are few errors in my paper (less than 6).

3 Paper

    I have taken a clear stand and I give it some support. The information is presented clearly and documented correctly in my Bibliography and within my essay using Parenthetical Documentation.
    I have chosen enough specific details to support my stand and have documented my sources correctly.
    I have an organization that is logical but it strays a little with a few breaks in flow from introduction, to body, to conclusion. .
    I make some good word choices to help influence the reader to agree with me; however, there are some overused or vague words such as “get,” “really,” etc.
    I have proofread several times for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  There are errors in my paper (less than 12).

2 Paper

    I have taken a stand but I may not have made my position very clear. I tried to support it with some details, but I may not have done a very good job. The details may not be the best ones I could have chosen or they might not even support my stand.  I have some trouble with documenting my sources correctly in my Bibliography and also within my essay using Parenthetical Documentation.
    There are some details but they are too general or may not really help to explain my position.
    I tried to have an organization but I did not do a good job with it and it tends to jump around. There is no clear introduction or conclusion.
    I did not use good word choices to help influence the reader to agree with me.
    I have proofread only once for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  There are many errors in my paper (13 - 20).

1 Paper

    I did not take a stand on the issue. I presented some information but it still is not clear how I stand on the issue.  I have very few sources and have not documented information correctly in my Bibliographyor within my essay using Parenthetical Documentation.
    I have little or no details. My paper is mostly vague opinions.
    I have no real organization. There is no clear introduction, body, or conclusion.
    I did not use any word choices to help influence the reader to agree with me. My words choices are vague.
    I did not proofread my paper.  There are more than 20 errors.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Assignment 2: Lending Institutions, Health Care, and Human Capital
Due Week 9 and worth 200 points

Use the Internet to research one (1) developing nation of your choice. Your research should include an examination of lending institutions, health care, and human capital, as well as the material covered by the Webtext and lectures in Weeks 6 through 9.

Write a three to four (3-4) page research paper in which you:

Explore whether or not funding from international lending institutions like the World Bank and the IMF are helping or hindering the social, economic, or political development of the country that you have selected. Support your response with examples.
Discuss, with examples, at least four (4) substantive ways in which a healthy population strengthens the economy of the country that you have selected.
Ascertain the degree to which the leadership of your chosen country has used foreign aid to improve its health care system. Support your response with concrete examples.
Use at least five (5) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia, blogs, and other nonacademic websites do not qualify as academic resources. Approval of resources is at the instructor's discretion. Resources must also be within the last seven (7) years.
When referencing the selected resources, please use the following format: 

Webtext Format:
Name of the author. Name of title. Retrieved from website url.
Example:
Soomo. Understanding Development [Webtext]. Retrieved from http://www.webtexts.com/courses/9218-cathey.

Lecture Format:
Name of the Author. Name of the lecture [lecture type]. Retrieved from lecture url.
Example:
Strayer University. (2013). Understanding Development [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from /bbcswebdav/institution/SOC/300/1136/Week1/lecture/story.html.

Internet Resources:
Author's Name. (Date of publication). Title of the resource. Retrieved from website url.
Example:
Wuestewald, Eric. (2014). Portraits of people living on a dollar a day. Retrieved from http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/04/living-on-a-dollar-a-day-photos-renee-byer-thomas-nazario.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. 
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Determine how human capital is used and what effect gender disparity has on these decisions.
Determine what role health plays in developing economies.
Examine the role that the International Monetary Fund and World Bank play in transfers and the conditions they set to effect this funding.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in sociology of developing countries.
Write clearly and concisely about sociology of developing countries using proper writing mechanics.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Unemployment
Principles of Economics Assignments

Here are four individuals telling you their stories of how they became unemployed. In a multi-paragraph essay, apply the theories of unemployment to explain the type of unemployment that each of these individuals is facing and explain which of these individuals qualifies for unemployment benefits:

Two months ago, Marcelle used to work full time in an automobile manufacturing firm. "The factory where I used to work has closed because our market contracted so much, and so I was laid off. This is happening to people all over the country-all you see in the papers is that economic growth has fallen and incomes across the country have fallen. I have been looking very hard for a new job, but have had no luck yet."

Until last week, Dominic used to work full time as a hair-dresser in downtown Cincinnati. "I decided to quit my job, because I want to move to New York City."

Until last month, Francine worked part time at a ski resort. "Well, it is summer now, and so the resort is closed. I will apply again in the winter when the snow is back. I am not interested in working until then."

Two months ago, Beauvoir had been working full time as a secretary. "I was a good typist, but I don't know how to use a computer. My boss wanted to upgrade the office to computers, and so I was replaced by someone who is computer-savvy. I have been looking for another job, but it appears that I need to learn some computer skills."

Develop a response that includes examples and evidence to support your ideas, and which clearly communicates the required message to your audience. Organize your response in a clear and logical manner as appropriate for the genre of writing. Use well-structured sentences, audience-appropriate language, and correct conventions of standard American English.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Select a new, realistic good or service for an existing industry.

Write the economic analysis section of a business proposal.  This will include statements about the market structure and the elasticity of demand for the good or service. You need to create hypothetical data, based on similar real world products to estimate fixed and variable costs.


Required Elements:

    Identify market structure
    Identify elasticity of the product
    Include rationale for the following questions:
        How will pricing relate to elasticity of your product?
        How will changes in the quantity supplied as a result of your pricing decisions affect marginal cost and marginal revenue?
        Besides your pricing decisions, what are your suggested nonpricing strategies? What nonpricing strategies will you use to increase barriers to entry?
        How could changes in your business operations alter the mix of fixed and variable costs in line with your strategy?

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

The Fed currently has 2 options on the table. to raise interest rates in September or delay the rate rise until 2016. In a 3 pages paper I would like you to research and make a case for either a rate rise in September or to have it be delayed into 2016. Please support your case with economic data/indicators such as retail sales growth, employment numbers, inflation, GDP, CPI, impacts on the US and global economy etc.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Suppose you are a policy advisor for Governor DeSantis. He has just informed you that his constituents would like him to comment on the state of organ donation and address the inability of the current system to meet demand. His office is in charge of finding solutions to the difficult issue of organ trade.

He will be addressing the issue in the upcoming commission meeting and needs an economic analysis of the situation completed before then for review. Refer to the articles Black Market Bodies and Meat Market to help you begin to your analysis. Use the articles and other references you may find to evaluate the limitations that exist with the current ‘solution’ to meeting organ demand in the US.

The governor asks that you draw upon your critical thinking and problem-solving skills in order to break down the complex problem that exists in the market for drugs and help him examine, propose, and support potential solutions. You are encouraged to propose and original solution or contribution even if it deviates from mainstream solutions.

In your analysis you must address the following:

What is the general state of organ donation in the US, according to the 2017 article?
Consider what would happen if the US did allow payment in exchange for kidney donation.  Provide a critical analysis - use the supply/demand diagram to help illustrate and discuss the current state of the market and also what the market would look like in the case of a free market economy (deregulation).
Who gains and who loses when deregulation occurs? Discuss the efficiency and equity of the market before and after the proposed deregulation.
Explore the policies that are currently implemented across the globe (i.e. those discussed in the articles - routine removal, presumed consent, organ donor points, "no give, no take", etc.). Evaluate the limitations of these policies. Also consider how these policies fair in terms of the efficiency vs. equity debate. (you do not need to critique them all, select 2 or 3 that you find interesting/appealing)
Come up with a policy proposal of your own that might help deal with the vast shortage of kidneys in the US. Use the supply/demand diagram to show how the policy will decrease the current shortage of kidneys and analyze the impact to society. 
If you had to pick from one of the policies you described, including your new proposal, which would you recommend for the US? Why? (If you feel strongly that our current policy is the best policy this is a valid argument, however you must defend your "no new policy" recommendation).


Keep in mind, Governor Desantis is not one for 1,000 page policy briefs.  He prefers his analysis to be professional, clear, complete, correct, and most importantly concise. His constituents also require credible sources so be sure to document all references. See GEA Grading Rubric below and Citation Guidelines (Canvas).

Steps to Examine How a Market Change Will Affect Consumers and Producers:

Determine how the supply/demand curves will shift.
Determine how these shifts will change the equilibrium price/quantity and if a shortage exists/changes.
Determine if the market is more or less efficient.
Analyze how these changes will affect the consumers, producers, and society.



Student Assessment
This assignment will be used to assess the required components of the general education curriculum. This course certifies as Creative Thinking and therefore the assignment will access student’s ability to:

Perform critical and analytical thinking
Problem Solve
Provide effective written communication
Evaluate the limitations imposed on any new approach or solution within a discipline to propose original contributions to problems.
Break Down complex problems to examine, propose, and support potential solutions even if those solutions deviate from acceptable, mainstream solutions.

Requirements: 750 words, double spaced, times new roman or calibri font, must have a supply/demand graph for initial US market and another graph for deregulated market.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

You must explain and analyze the article using one of the following theories/official US government policies



1) Public Goods, Negative Externalities, Energy and Conservation

This topic is to be analyzed using supply and demand to show the cost of negative externalities, and the impact of correcting these externalities on price and quantity. And/or you can use MC, MB analysis to assess the degree of cleanliness that is feasible.

For example if the article is about fossil fuel, the you can use supply and demand for fossil fuel energy and how the full cost of using this type of energy is not fully paid by the producer and consumer. Then how the suggested solutions to clean up the environment would change the price and quantity of fossil fuel.



2) Agriculture Subsidy
First find/summarize an article dealing with a subsidized agriculture commodity. Then use supply and demand and/or elasticity theories to analyze the problem.
The goal can be to reduce the high cost of the subsidy to the taxpayers and consumers and still support the “small” farmers while keeping in mind previous attempt of the government to reduce the subsidy and still support the farmers.



3) Income Distribution and Poverty

First find/summarize an article dealing with income inequality, then use the Lorentz Curve to assess if inequality is increasing or decreasing so that in part III you can use the Lorentz again to suggest a solution/criticism to narrow the inequality gap

4) International Trade and Foreign Exchange

First find/summarize an article dealing with international trade and/or exchange rate then use comparative advantage, and/or absolute advantage argument to analyze the summarized information.

Note that:

When country specializes in an industry that it has comparative advantage in, then this same country must have a comparative disadvantage in another industry---therefore the necessity of trade.

When a country currency is determined in a free floating exchange market then the value of the currency would decrease if it imports more then it exports.
Countries trade because of comparative advantage. This comparative advantage can be cancelled by manipulating the exchange rate therefore a free floating exchange rate will give all trading partner an equal and fair trade. For example:

If US. Demand Chinese goods they Supply $ which means decrease in the price of the $ which make USA export cheaper and Chinese import more expensive. This will also cause an increase in Demand of the RMB which means increase in price of the RMB which make Chinese export more expensive and USA import less expensive

Part I.  Summary
First, you must find an article that contains an issue that lends itself to analysis by one of the assigned theories. Once you have decided that the article is appropriate, you must then summarize it using your own words.  The information you summarize in Part I will be used in your analysis in Part II.

Part II. Analysis
Second, you must explain and analyze the article using one of the asigned theories:

Part II analysis is essential to be able to draw inferences in part III.

do not use the pronoun I, use the appropriate theory to just analyze the information stated in the summary.
do not add more information in part II, all information should be in the summary.
do not explain/define any theory, you need to use the theory to analyze the information that you placed in the summary.
Part III. Drawing Inferences
Third, draw inferences (also known as making projections and/or providing criticism) based on the issues summarized in Part I and analyzed in Part II using the same economic theories as mentioned in part II above.

do not use the pronoun I, use the appropriate theory to just analyze the information stated in the summary.
do not add more information in part II, all information should be in the summary.
do not explain/define any theory, you need to use the theory to analyze the information that you placed in the summary, and then in the inference  and based on the analysis you are to use one of the assigned theory again to give solution or criticism.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Write a theory essay related to a public finance issue. Please include, abstract, data, and an acknowledgement. 

Structure:The essay NEEDS to clearly state what it is going to do.  Then does it in an ORDERLY series of steps and then summarizes. State what you will be discussing in opening paragraph. 

Economists are interested in relationships among variables, so it is generally better to have MORE than ONE variable. comparisons between countries or provinces are also interesting.

Theory Requirement: The essay must include some clearly presented theory. This could be fairly general - showing that some phe- nomenon can be explained using, say the supply and demand model.

Please include data throughout the essay. [An informative graphical representation of the data used to test a theory or of the theoretical relationships is often a good idea. Numerical data may have features that do not stand out until graphed.]

Meaningfulness: The discussion must be an application of theoretcal thinking to some public finance issue. What is it you want to call may attention to?

References need to be in the CJE (or Chicago) style. Use the style used in the Canadian Journal of Economics.

ALL RESEARCH NEEDS TO COME FROM AN ACADEMIC JOURNAL. 
I have provided the checklist for this theory essay below, please make sure to check the check list. 

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Apply macroeconomic concepts to current and personal economic events and decisions.
In addition to writing about macroeconomic concepts, it's equally important to be able to convey your understanding of these concepts by communicating them to others. In the workplace you might do this by writing briefs (like you did for Assignment 1), creating presentations, or writing reports for your manager or team. An example final report and optional template are provided below.

For this Final Report assignment, you can build off your previous economic brief and selected industry from Assignment 1, or you can select another industry such as Finance and Insurance, Health Care, or Manufacturing, and examine one of the macroeconomic indicators or policies below:

GDP growth
Unemployment rates
Inflation rates
Interest rates
Imports and exports
Government fiscal policy and issues related to taxation, government spending, and budget deficits
FED (central bank) monetary policy and issues related to the FED’s mission to stabilize the economy
Example Final Report, Assignment 2 Template, Strayer Writing Standards

Review an example final report.
Use the optional template to help you get started.
Review the Strayer Writing Standards. (See Instructions below.)
Instructions

Use Microsoft Word to prepare a Final Report that is a minimum of two to three (2-3) pages long in which you:

1. Introduce your selected industry with a brief one-paragraph introduction. Refer to the NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) to review the details about your industry.

2. Assess your selected industry’s relative size and growth rate in the economy.

These macroeconomic resources will help you find the size and growth rate of your industry in the U.S. economy and/or relative to GDP:

• Real GDP – Select Section 1, then table 1.1.6 (select MODIFY to change the year range and frequency). Data is from Bureau of Economic Analysis (bea.gov).

• % Change in Real GDP – Select Section 1, then table 1.1.1 (select MODIFY to change the year range and frequency). Data is from Bureau of Economic Analysis (bea.gov).

• GDP by Industry – Steps:

1. Select "Interactive Data."
2. Select "Industry Data Tables."
3. Select "Begin Using the Data."
4. Select "Gross Output by Industry."
5. Select "Real Gross Output by Industry (A) (Q)."
6. Select “Quarterly” or “Annual.”
7. Select "Next Step." Data is from Bureau of Economic Analysis (bea.gov).

• % Change in GDP by Industry - Steps:

1. Select "Interactive Data."
2. Select "Industry Data Tables."
3. Select "Begin Using the Data."
4. Select "Gross Output by Industry."
5. Select "Percent Changes in Chain-Type Quantity Indexes for Gross Output by Industry (A) (Q)."
6. Select “Quarterly” or “Annual.”
7. Select "Next Step." Data is from Bureau of Economic Analysis (bea.gov).

3. Identify one newsworthy macroeconomic indicator or policy (e.g., GDP, unemployment, inflation rates, interest rates, government taxation and spending decisions, and/or FED decisions) that the industry should monitor and explain why it’s important and how it might impact your selected industry.

These resources are available to help you measure and track macroeconomic indicators and outcomes of macroeconomic policies.You’ll use one or more depending on the macroeconomic indicator selected.

• Unemployment rates – Data is from Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov).

• Inflation rates as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Data is from Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov).

• % Change in Real Exports and Imports - Select Section 4, then table 4.2.1. (Select MODIFY to change the year range and frequency.) Data is from Bureau of Economic Analysis (bea.gov).

• Government receipts, expenditures, and savings – Select Section 3, then table 3.1 for total government and table for 3.2 for federal government. (Select MODIFY to change the year range and frequency.) Data is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (bea.gov).

• FED Funds Interest Rates. Data is from Trading Economics (tradingeconomics.com).

4. Describe a recent trend in the macroeconomic indicator or policy. Include a graph, chart, or table that illustrates the observed trend.

5. Summarize how you think this industry will perform in the future. Provide support for your rationale.

6. This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different compared to other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details. (Note: You’ll be prompted to enter your Blackboard login credentials to view these standards.)

Your brief should include a cover page.
Your brief should be a minimum of two to three (2-3) pages in length (not including the cover page), double-spaced, 12-point font.
Your report should include a minimum of two (2) references/citations in the text.