http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog for students and teachers of AP and IB Economics Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:30:06 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Special report: How our economy is killing the Earth - science-in-society - 16 October 2008 - New ScientistConsumption of resources is rising rapidly, biodiversity is plummeting and just about every measure shows humans affecting Earth on a vast scale. Most of us accept the need for a more sustainable way ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/22/welkers-daily-links-11212008/ This week the CEOs of the "Big Three" US auto makers boarded their private jets in Detroit and touched down in Washington to beg and plead in front of Congress for a "low-interest bridge loan" from the US government to help them avoid bankruptcy. They are asking Congress for $25 ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/21/eight-basic-economic-arguments-against-a-bailout-of-the-auto-industry/ Should the US bail-out their car industry? - Welker's Wikinomics Page Web 2.0 never ceases to amaze me. Over at our class wiki, Zurich International School students regularly debate economic issues that relate to the topics we are studying in IB and AP Economics. The latest hot topic of debate was ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/20/students-debate-the-proposed-bailout-of-the-us-automobile-industry/ FT.com | The Economists’ Forum | The case for forward-looking protectionism in the USFree trade is an ideal. This is a theme of my IB Economics class which I emphasize repeatedly during year two of the course. Free trade, defined as the exchange of goods, services, resources, and financial assets ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/17/a-call-for-protectionism/ This article was originally published on May 12, 2008. It is being re-published since it relates to our current units in AP and IB Economics. The Associated Press: Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear Greg Mankiw has an ongoing series of posts linking to articles illustrating the impact that ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/16/the-winners-from-high-gas-prices/ FT.com | The Economists’ Forum | Imbalances and undervalued exchange rates: Rehabilitating Keynes In our year 2 IB Economics class, we are beginning the part of our International Trade unit on exchange rates and the balance of trade . While the market for a particular currency reflects many of the same ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/14/exchange-rates-currency-manipulations-and-the-balance-of-trade/ Often we need to teach an economic idea that we do not have a thourough, practical understanding of ourselves. The old "Keep it Simple" model is usually the best method with which to confront this dilemma. The idea of good investment strategies crops up from many angles during any economics class. ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/12/monopoly-the-game-of-life-a-guest-post-by-john-m-ostick/ Kite Powered Ship Sets Sail for Greener Futhre - Guardian.co.uk A German engineer has given an old technology new life to help make trans-oceanic shipping greener and least costly. A cargo ship pulled by a giant, parachute-shaped kite will leave Germany on Tuesday on a voyage that could herald a new "green" ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/12/amazing-innovation-in-cargo-ship-technology-wind-powered-vessels/ How can a commercial like the one below decrease the price elasticity of demand for a product like Molson Canadian beer? After this extremely successful commercial was released in Canada, Molson's share of the beer market increased by 3%, while that of Labatt's its largest competitor, shrunk by 3%. [youtube Du-3DZILy2M ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/11/im-proud-to-be-a-canadian-and-i-like-beer/ Consumers are interesting creatures to study. Economics offers us a unique set of tools for understanding the behavior of consumers in various markets. Elasticity is one of those tools, one which helps us understand how consumers will respond to the change in price of some goods more or less than ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/07/from-heart-transplants-to-watermelons-understanding-price-elasticity-of-demand/ The Folly of Obama’s Tax Plan — The American, A Magazine of Ideas "Senator Obama’s proposed ‘tax cuts for the middle class’ are actually marginal rate hikes in disguise. Senator Barack Obama declared recently that he wants to “reform our tax code so that it rewards work and not just wealth.” ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/07/welkers-daily-links-11062008/ A trading bloc is "a group of countries that join together in some form of agreement in order to increase trade between themselves and/or to gain economic benefits from cooperation on some level." Below is a list of some of the regional trading blocs. The assignment is to: Identify the nations involved ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/06/ib-assignment-trading-blocs-and-economic-integration/ Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need | Taxes The following was published in the Chicago Tribune's "Voice of the People" page on October, 29: Redistributing wealth On my way to lunch recently, I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama; I need the money." I laughed. ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/06/obama-the-re-distributor-in-chief-an-illustration-of-the-difference-between-progressive-proportional-and-regressive-taxes/ And this is what he said to the world. ...This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/05/yes-we-can-obama-wins/ In the last three months, the Japanese Yen has appreciated 15% against the US dollar. At the same, the dollar itself has appreciated 25% against the euro. The appreciation of these two major currencies seems strange in a time when both country's economies are experiencing major slowdowns. In most cases, currencies ... http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2008/11/05/up-up-and-away-why-are-the-dollar-and-the-yen-on-the-rise-2/