Assignments
and Study Questions

 

GENERAL AND BACKGROUND

  1. Lecture Notes from Class. (Powerpoint)

  2. Read Taking Sides (textbook), "Introduction: Economics and Economists: The Basis for Controversy."

  3. Study questions for introductory material on policy.

MINIMUM WAGE

  1. Read Taking Sides (textbook), "Issue 11. Should Minimum Wage and Living Wage Laws Be Eliminated," pages 214-228.

  2. Read the Washington Post article  "Life at $7.25 an hour" by David Finkel, Washington Post, January 10, 2007..

  3. U.S. Department of Labor information on the federal minimum wage law. 

  4. U.S. Department of Labor information on states' minimum wage laws.

  5. Federal minimum wages rates over the years from Infoplease.

  6. Study questions for minimum wages.

EXECUTIVE PAY

  1. Read Taking Sides (textbook), "Issue 2. Are CEOs Paid What They Are Worth?", pages 20-33.

  2. Study questions for executive pay.

GLOBALIZATION

  1. I will begin lecturing on globalization on Monday. The material on globalization will come primarily from my lecture notes. Lecture Notes (Powerpoint).

  2. Read Taking Sides (textbook), "Issue 13. Is a Fair Trade Policy Superior to a Free Trade Policy?", pages 245-259.

  3. Study questions for globalization.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  1. I will begin lecturing on the Social Security System and its problems. The material will come primarily from lecture notes.

  2. It's Your Money: A Citizen's Guide to Social Security Reform by the Cato Institute, 2005.

  3. Failing by a Wide Margin: Methods and Findings in the 2003 Social Security Trustees Report by Andrew G. Biggs. Cato Institute. April 22, 2003.

  4. Read Taking Sides (textbook), "Issue 8. Should Social Security Be Changed to Include Personal Retirement Accounts?", pages 152-166.

  5. Study questions for Social Security.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

  1. Read Taking Sides (textbook), "Issue 6. Is it Time to Reform Medical Malpractice Litigation?", pages 94-124.

  2. Lecture notes.

  3. Study questions for health care reform.
     

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN AND THE MACROECONOMY

  1. St. Louis Fed website.

  2. Lecture notes.

  3. Study questions for Economic Stimulus Plan and Macroeconomy.