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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7/28/21, 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.
2/2/23, The Indicator (9:30)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/01/1153569549/the-beigie-awards-all-about-inventory
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: The Indicator’s first “Beigie” Award of the year (best entry into the Fed’s Beige book) goes to the Atlanta Fed! The Sixth District described that firms are reverting back to “just-in-time” inventory management from the “just-in-case” approach they were taking when facing uncertain supply chains. The accompanying numerical exercise links inventory with opportunity costs.
04/4/23, The Indicator (09:31)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/04/04/1168039533/the-inverted-yield-curve-is-screaming-recession
Instructors: Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: The bond market is “risky and frisky” and the inverted yield curve is flashing red! The Indicator chats with Campbell Harvey who suspects the yield curve may not be right this time or that “it is so right, that it may be wrong.” Students will visit FRED and examine whether Campbell Harvey’s suspicion is true…
3/27/23, The Indicator (9:29)
Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: If economics and philanthropy had a baby, it would be Effective Altruism. The Indicator explores this movement to maximize the potential of charitable donations, and also discusses its critiques. In the Teaching Idea, students use an “Impact Calculator” to explore how “effective” of an impact their hypothetical $100 will have.
1/31/23, The Indicator (9:30)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/31/1152940408/the-return-of-chinese-tourism
Click here for link to Teaching Ideas for this episode
Summary: Chinese tourists account for a very large fraction of tourist dollars worldwide. As global travel picks up again, this episode highlights the substantial contribution Chinese tourists make to different economies and it explores what might drive their flow in the near future. Our companion exercise works through how tourism fits into the GDP expenditure approach.
3/16/23, The Indicator (9:02)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/16/1163914233/need-workers-why-not-charter-a-private-jet
Summary: And the “Beigie” Award goes to…. the Minneapolis 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 described both sides of the tight labor market. Employers enlisting private jets to fly workers to construction sites and fed-up hospitality workers starting their own businesses. We describe how you can set-up your own Beigie Award activity in class!
3/13/23, The Indicator (9:44)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/13/1163157993/silicon-valley-banks-three-fatal-flaws
Summary: A discussion of this week’s current events without SVB would be incomplete! The Indicator boils down SVB’s problems to three key points. In the Teaching Ideas exercise, students will use SVB’s actual 2022 balance sheet to learn how a seemingly dramatic and complicated phenomenon like a bank failure still just boils down to the bread-n-butter basics!
5/20/20, The Indicator (9:08)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/05/20/859911696/the-persistence-of-poverty
Summary: Why are some countries rich, and others poor? This episode “digs” into this classic question by looking at the case of Peru and Bolivia and the work Melissa Dell. Her research studies the persistent differences in economic development that can be linked to historical events and economic activity over four hundred years ago. The accompanying Team-Based Learning exercise asks students to put their policy hat on. Detailed Teaching Notes included!
3/2/23, The Indicator (9:23)
Link: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160640017/can-india-become-the-next-high-tech-hub
Summary: The US and India are looking to strengthen their relationship, and fortifying economic ties are at the forefront. India is competing keenly with China to become the next global manufacturing hub, especially for high-tech semiconductor chips. High value-added manufacturing such as this could be a huge boost in economic growth for India. But does the country have the “right” ingredients to fuel the next chip boom and boost its growth?
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