The official CPI and bias
Grace Eau, Georgia State University
This activity aims for students to gain insights about the problems in measuring a price index.

How do imports affect GDP?
Brandon Sheridan, Elon University
Imports are perhaps the most misunderstood portion of the GDP identity (Y=C+I+G+NX). This exercise uses real data to have students explore this issue and learn the nuance behind the numbers.

US China Trade War - An Application of the AD/AS Model
Ann Werboff, Northern Arizona University
In this activity, students will analyze some of the events in the US China Trade War in 2018 using the AD/AS model and discuss the implications of tariffs.

Macrosimulation: What to do in stagflation?
Mark Maier, Glendale Community College
Based on an online macroeconomic simulation for an economy with stagflation, teams choose from a selection of fiscal and monetary policies for one year. The simulation then shows the results of the choice that can ...

Protectionist versus Free Trade Policies
Jimena Gonzalez, Manhattan College
Prior to class, students listen and read the following: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/china-eat-americas-jobs/. In this episode, Steven Dubner, Freakonomics host, interviews David Autor, an MIT economist, about ...

The Volatility of Gross Private Domestic Investment Spending
Laurence Malone, Hartwick College
An applied exercise that shows students how to use National Income and Product Account (NIPA) data for the Consumption and Investment components of real GDP, and the significance of capital formation for economic ...

How can we adjust student college benefits for the cost of living?
Mark Maier, Glendale Community College
Student teams predict the impact of college proposal to adjust financial aid based on inflation measured by the CPI. Students must use concepts related to the construction of price indices.

The evolution of federal budget surpluses and deficits in the U.S. since 1970.
Natalia Smirnova, University of Connecticut
Students analyze the United States federal budget surplus/deficit as a fraction of gross domestic product (GDP) and discuss the evolution of federal budget surpluses and deficits since 1970. Students propose ...

Are Imports Bad for the Economy?
Ishani Tewari, Curry College
Students learning the expenditure approach often conclude that "imports reduce GDP." The activity attempts to dispel this misconception and pushes students to think about imports as an accounting variable ...

The Civilian Unemployment Rate and the Natural Rate of Unemployment
Laurence Malone, Hartwick College
The Unemployment Rate Activity Exercise helps students to appreciate the relationship between the Civilian Unemployment Rate and the Natural Rate of Unemployment, and how tight labor markets can benefit wage ...