Audioecon’s Dr. Ishani Tewari will be sharing the latest on how you can use audioecon.com to enhance your economics classroom at the Journal of Economic Teaching Symposium on Economics Teaching (JETSET) on Saturday August 5th. Dr. Tewari will highlight strategies to incorporate current events into your classroom through teaching ideas you can find on audioecon.com
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7/24/23, The Indicator (9:28)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/07/24/1189820482/a-lesson-in-barbie-labor-economics
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: You may have heard lots about Barbie recently. But do you know the history of this doll can give us some intriguing insights into women’s labor force participation? The Indicator speaks with an economic educator who looked back into Census data and Mattel’s archive. Her exercise using these resources is our featured Teaching Idea.
7/12/23, The Indicator (10:21)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/07/12/1187372320/whats-behind-the-china-deflation-scare
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: Inflation in China hit zero last month. Should the world be worried about deflation and a potential recession? The Indicator speaks with an expert and takes a more nuanced look at the data. In the “Teaching Ideas,” students will look at this directly from the source– China’s National Bureau of Statistics. For those used to FRED or BLS, this is an interesting exploration down a less familiar path!
7/6/23, The Indicator (9:06)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/07/06/1186322318/how-shein-became-a-fast-fashion-behemoth
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: etailer Shein is the world’s top fast-fashion brand but has also faced backlash for its labor practices and environmental impact. What is Shein’s secret sauce? The Indicator dives into brand’s the competitive advantage. Our Mini-Case worksheet leverages this to introduce some basics of strategy.
7/28/21, The Indicator (9:41)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1021968141/bts-the-band-that-moves-the-economy
Instructors: Click here for Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: This episode discusses how BTS, a global K-Pop sensation, brings millions of dollars worth of goods and services into the Korean economy. This is both through obvious ways such as sales of music, tickets and merchandise but also more indirect channels like promotion of Korean culture and their loyal fan following.
5/15/23, The Indicator (8:59)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/15/1176335592/do-dollar-store-bans-work
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: There are more dollar store discount stores than Starbucks, Walmart and McDonalds combined. In recent years, several communities, particularly in the South, are trying to slow the proliferation of these stores, stating they deter regular grocery stores and limit the availability of fresh, healthy food options. The Indicator explores how dollar stores bans have worked out in two cities. Our application exercises builds a supply and demand framework to study the situation.
1/19/23, The Indicator (8:54)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/19/1150019642/simon-says-were-stuck-with-the-debt-ceiling-encore
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: It’s “Debt Ceiling Season!” This means that the federal government is on track to reach the limit to which is approved to borrow. Once the limit is reached, it must cut spending or increase the debt limit. This episode delves into the history of the debt and examples of how other countries manage limits on government borrowing. The suggested Teaching Ideas exercise includes use of FRED data to understand the relationship of the debt, deficit and business cycles over time.
5/9/23, The Indicator (9:26)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/09/1175047662/housing-dilemma-in-resort-towns
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: And the “Beigie” Award goes to…. the Boston Fed!! The Beige Book provides a snapshot of economic activity in the different Federal Reserve Districts every six weeks. Importantly, it does in a very qualitatively, often featuring anecdotes or observations from regional businesses. The Indicator’s favorite entry for this edition describes the scramble for seasonal workers as Cape Cod hospitality businesses ramp up for the summer We describe how you can set-up your own Beigie Award activity in class!
05/1/23, The Indicator (09:45)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/01/1173175098/svb-now-first-republic-how-it-all-started
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: First Republic Bank has folded and the Fed has a new “unflinching” report on the regulatory and supervisory failures leading to the SVB failure. SVB’s own mismanagement, the 2018 relaxation to Dodd-Frank plus lax and lethargic supervision are to blame. Our student application exercise gets into some of the specifics here (CAMELS ratings anyone?) while also discussing broad trade-offs that regulators face.
04/11/23, The Indicator (09:18)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/04/11/1169243599/how-one-small-change-in-japan-could-sway-u-s-markets
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: Big Bank of Japan coming up!! As world markets brace for more news, The Indicator describes how changes to Japan’s yield curve control could create ripples throughout financial markets. Our accompanying exercise works through a graphical exercise to strengthen students’ understanding of the yield curve, especially when “kinks” appear…
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