Thursday, September 15, 2016

Every vote counts... or does it?

With the Presidential election looming in the near future, people are gearing up to exercise their all-powerful ability to vote.  Citizens have been made to believe that each and every vote is important in determining the success of our future.  While voting is an essential part of a functioning democracy, there are some economists that feel that the act of voting is the single greatest waste of time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/magazine/why-vote.html

http://mentalfloss.com/article/59873/10-elections-decided-one-vote-or-less

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/opinion/should-everybody-vote.html

http://reason.com/archives/2012/10/03/your-vote-doesnt-count/ 


As you read through the articles in the above links, you should answer the following questions:

1) Explain two reasons why you believe that people feel so strongly about voting.

2) Explain the main conclusion that is reached in the article "Should everybody vote?"

3) Explain 3 reasons why economists suggest that people should NOT vote.

4) After reading the articles, do you believe that every citizen of voting age should vote?  Why or why not?

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

AP Papers for Panel Session C

Below are the links for the Panel Session C papers.  Remember to write 3 questions for each paper and make sure I get those index cards tomorrow morning so you can get credit.

Also, I don't subscribe to the old adage "There is no such thing as a stupid question" so make sure you put thought into your questions!

Due to technical difficulties, the HSE paper (mscience) is not available so if you haven't read that paper yet, don't worry about it.  You will not be penalized.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwOR-FAEH0fbTTNTc1NhV09rb0U/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3INxzWCq5z0cmdBb3RHZ0U5RjQ/view?usp=sharing

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Does Uber undestand the laws of Supply and Demand?



Many of us have been, flailing our arms around hoping that a cab will stop to pick us up.  Maybe if I walk down one more avenue.  Maybe if we cross the street.  Catching a cab can be an exercise in futility.  Even worse is the experience inside the cab as your driver attempts to get you from point A to point B while trying to cut off as many cars as possible.  It is almost as if every driver is competing for "most aggressive cabbie" and they are all winning.

Wouldn't it be great if there was an alternative?  A type of car service that you can arrange on your phone and you could rate the experience?  Enter Uber.  But some complain that Uber is Unnecessary.  Others argue that their pricing system is unfair, or that it takes advantage of riders.  Perhaps Uber simply understands the laws of Supply and Demand.  Read the articles that follow and answer the questions.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/08/taxis-v-uber

http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21599766-microeconomics-ubers-attempt-revolutionise-taxi-markets-pricing-surge

http://www.cnet.com/news/detest-ubers-surge-pricing-some-drivers-dont-like-it-either/

http://qz.com/505031/uber-got-two-economics-phds-to-explain-how-supply-and-demand-works/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/05/19/no-uber-drivers-cant-game-the-surge-pricing-system-the-way-one-driver-claims/

Discussion Questions:

1)  Explain Uber's "Surge Pricing."  Is this form of Price Discrimination a good thing or a bad thing?

2) Do you think politicians should limit what Uber can charge?  Explain one argument in favor of capping Uber fees.

3) How has the expansion of Uber impacted the Taxi market?



Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Review Videos

Just in case you haven't been paying attention all year, watch the following videos for a crash course in AP Macroeconomics.




Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Practice Exam Answers

Below are links to the answers to the various Practice Exams that you have completed.  Look over the answers and come to class with questions.

2010 MC
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9GG2MQzguFQdVBydWxOM0dGa00/view?usp=sharing


(Explanations Powerpoint, although the questions are out of order, pretty good intro review)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9GG2MQzguFQRmhMcl9jbUhxVTQ/view?usp=sharing

2005 MC
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9GG2MQzguFQWlltVzg4T2tCRUE/view?usp=sharing


Take Home Practice Test
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9GG2MQzguFQa1JrOVpidkRJbnM/view?usp=sharing