Macro Data Quest Worksheet Exercises
Summary
Macro Data Quest Worksheet Exercises
In a series of worksheet exercises students will examine and collect current data relating to key economic indicators that are typically discussed in a principles of macroeconomics course. By completing the hands-on worksheets covering significant components of an economy students will explore and analyze current macroeconomic conditions in a "foreign" country and make comparisons with current macro conditions in the United States and other countries.
The instructor has the flexibility to allow students to choose a country to compare, or alternatively to assign countries as part of a group or team-based learning exercise. To facilitate discussion the mix of countries should be diverse: OECD, BRICs, sub Saharan Africa, etc. As the course progresses students are able to practice economics by discussing the relevance of various macro measures and detecting trends in the global economy.
Students can be given credit for simply completing the exercises. Peer grading can be utilized. The exercises can be used as the foundation of class discussion questions, group projects, team based learning, etc. The Macro Data Quest exercises are designed to encourage are designed to offer the student the opportunity to collect and interpret macro data. The assessment strategies can vary depending on the format of the class.
A final synthetic report/post can be assigned which utilizes the information developed on the worksheets to summarize the state of the economy and to discuss the implications of these measures. The worksheets can be adapted to fit the requirements of a particular course. These worksheets can be assigned to individual students as homework. They are suitable for group work and team based learning as well as class presentations.
These exercises can be utilized as the empirical base to develop a country case study in which students compile a comprehensive profile of a particular country utilizing the terminology and concepts that are developed macroeconomics. The information that is collected can be employed to make comparisons of macroeconomic conditions in countries at different stages in economic development.
For example in my Honors Principles of Macroeconomics classes I suggest that students imagine that a multinational corporation has hired them to write a country profile to determine the riskiness of a large investment in a particular country afer they have completed the data quest exercises. Alternatively students could envision that they have been hired by an economic think tank or an NGO to prepare a report on a particular country. Mark Maier suggests context-rich problems where students are assigned to write a summary of the economic conditions in country X for the study (or volunteer) abroad program at their college.
After they have completed the worksheets I have students locate and incorporate at least one recent significant and substantial online article/post/report (more than 2000 words) which covers current macroeconomic conditions and challenges in their country. Combining their research with class discussion students can then address a variety of questions:
-What are two key drivers of economic growth for your country? What are the key growth constraints?
-Identify the most significant macroeconomic type challenges confronting your country based on your research. Students should have some ability to discuss the severity of these problems in quantitative terms.
-If you were an entrepreneur would you invest in this country?
-Would you like to live in your country?
-What will life in your country be like in 30 years?
My plan is to develop five data quest worksheet exercises which relate to key measures of macro performance and economic development:
I. Key Macro Data Worksheet/Exercise
II. International Trade Worksheet/Exercise
III. International Finance Worksheet/Exercise
IV. Worksheet/Exercise on the Role of the Government
V. Development and Competitiveness Rankings Worksheet/Exercise
Learning Goals
Student Learning Outcomes and Essential Competencies
The Macro Data Quest exercises are congruent with the five competencies identified in Student Learning Outcomes in Economics published by the Social Science Research Council:[1] These competencies include applying the scientific process; analyzing and evaluating behavior and outcomes using economic concepts; using quantitative approaches; thinking critically about methods; and communicating economic ideas.
http://highered.ssrc.org/projects/measuring-college-learning-project/economics/
On the Matrix of Essential Concepts and Competencies these exercises are closely aligned with "Essential Concept 3: The Aggregate Economy" and "Essential Competency 5: Communicate Economic Ideas in Diverse Collaborations":
The specific competencies that are encouraged include:
-Know how to access credible sources of economic statistics
-Collect and present data
-Interpret and critique key economic statistics
-Explain what information an economist would like to have to provide a more complete analysis of a current issue
-Demonstrate fluency in economic terminology and graphical tools.
-Demonstrate knowledge of major economic institutions and familiarity with magnitudes of common economic statistics.
-Use training to discuss economic issues and policies in ways that promote mutual understanding and inquiry.
I teach at Saddleback College which is a large, transfer-oriented community college located in southern California. The Macro Data Quest exercises are directly linked to the first SLO at for Principles of Macroeconomics at Saddleback College which states that students should develop the ability to describe the economy in quantitative terms. The exercises are designed to offer the student the opportunity to collect and interpret data prior to taking a formal statistics or econometrics course.
[1] Allgood, Sam, and Amanda Bayer. 2016. "Measuring College Learning in Economics." In Improving Quality in American Higher Education: Learning Outcomes and Assessments for the 21st Century, edited by Richard Arum, Josipa Roksa, and Amanda Cook, 87-134. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Context for Use
These flexible activities are designed to be homework exercises or in-class projects for students in a Principles of Macroeconomics course. The activities would work well in smaller in-person classes of up to 45 students. The exercises could also be adapted for a hybrid or on-line course.
To complete this activity students should have met the prerequisites to enroll in a Principles of Macroeconomics course. Students should have access to a macroeconomics text in order to understand measures of aggregate economic activity.
Students should also have regular access to a computer with a broadband connection to the internet.
Description and Teaching Materials
Key Macro Data Worksheet Exercise (Acrobat (PDF) 254kB Mar22 17)
Assessment
This activity can be assessed if students turn in their worksheet or post on a discussion board. Students can be given credit for completing the worksheet exercises as a part of their homework grade. Peer grading can be utilized. The exercises can be used as the foundation of class discussion questions, group projects, team based learning, etc. The Macro Data Quest exercises are designed to encourage are designed to offer the student the opportunity to collect and interpret macro data, and the assessment strategies can vary depending on the format of the class. An exam question could be given which asks students to interpret economic data in the context of a real world situation.
A final synthetic report/post/test question can be assigned which utilizes the information developed on the worksheet exercises to summarize the state of the economy and to discuss the implications of these measures. The worksheets can be adapted to fit the requirements of a particular course.
These exercises can be utilized as the empirical base to develop a country case study in which students compile a comprehensive profile of a particular country utilizing the terminology and concepts that are developed macroeconomics. The information that is collected could be employed to make comparisons of macroeconomic conditions in countries at different stages in economic development.