You and the Recession

As you are all very much aware, the current recession (or the recently ended recession, for those of you that were persuaded by articles last week) is having a very direct impact on newcomers to college and the university system as a whole. This week's blog asks you to consider the impact of the recession on your generation as it relates to options in higher education and post-professional training programs.

Read any two articles from the list below and summarize them in no fewer than 150 words (total/combined- not separately) and answer TWO of the following questions reflecting analysis and synthesis (comparisons) of the articles in an additional 150 words - this blog must be a minimum of 300 words total.

Blog due Tuesday, March 1

Questions:
1) What's the good news? Explain what insight the articles give that shed some positive/ hopeful light on the opportunities for your generation as you move on to (and from) college.

2) Why are tuitions recesison-proof? Explain why in spite of financial hard times college costs continue to rise.

3) What advice do the articles give for those presently in or applying to college? How/ does this advice impact your perspective on college financing and planning?








A) Recession is Forcing Many to Lessen Hopes for College
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5DF1530F93AA35751C0A967958260

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/09/us/recession-is-forcing-many-to-lessen-hopes-for-college.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm

B) What the Recession Means To College Students

http://media.www.thechaparral.com/media/storage/paper570/news/2008/04/07/Politics/What-The.Recession.Means.To.College.Students-3308397.shtml

http://media.www.thechaparral.com/media/storage/paper570/news/2008/04/07/Politics/What-The.Recession.Means.To.College.Students-3308397.shtml

C) Why College Tuition Rises in a Recession:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/why-college-tuition-rises_n_277957.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/why-college-tuition-rises_n_277957.html

D) Community Colleges Booom in a Recession:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=6968514&page=1
- Show quoted text -

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=6968514&page=1
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E) Surviving a Recession: What Soon to be College Grads Need to Know
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1582672/surviving-recession-what-soontobe-college-grads-need-know.jhtml

Is the worst behind US? Tracking the recession and economic recovery.

2008 is cited as the year in which we entered the current financial crisis; potentially one of the worst in US history. This week's assessment asks you to evaluate the progress of economic recovery in the US and consider how our nation will overcome this crisis.


a) http://norris.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/the-american-economy-bigger-than-ever/?scp=7&sq=recession&st=cse

b)http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2044918,00.html

C) http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2011/02/11/GOP-Cuts-Budget-with-an-Axe-Instead-of-a-Scalpel.aspx

Respond to all of the following questions in a blog or typed statement of no fewer than 250 words. Responses may be posted, turned in or emailed to me at: bridgettefranciscsi@gmail.com

1. Based on these three articles, what is the current state of the U.S. economy? In your opinion, is the economy on the rise or still in a period of stagnation (no growth)? Explain.

2. What do you see as the greatest barriers to economic recovery in US Society?

3.Many state the reason why the US' economy can't recover is the amount that the government is spending. Explain why the solution to cut spending is more complicated than many believe - (use article B to help.)

4. Make a proposal for enhanced economic recovery over the next two years in the USA.

Assessent #1: Trade-offs in US Economic History

Consider the FIVE MAIN ECONOMIC QUESTIONS and the terms TRADE OFF and OPPORTUNITY COST as they are defined below while completing this week's assessment.

The Five Main Economic Questions :
What goods and services should be produced?
How should these goods and services be produced?
For whom should these goods and services be produced and distributed?
How can the economy adjust to changes in society?
How should the economy support growth?

Trade-off
Every time a nation, group or individual faces the ECONOMIC QUESTIONS, a choice is made that has a direct impact on individuals and the potential for a trickle-down economic impact (on industry, society, the economy as a whole, etc.)When choices are made (collectively or by an individual) to accept having less of one thing in order to get more of something else, the results are called trade-offs. For example, when one is allocating (limited) funds, the trade-off usually involves reduced spending for some purposes in order to be able to spend more for other more urgent purposes. However, the concept does not apply only (or even primarily) to decisions involving money. A student faced with the choice of spending Saturday studying for a Political Economy exam or shopping at The Mall makes a trade-off of shopping time for study time in deciding how many hours to study and how many to spend shopping. Society also makes trade-offs -- such as, for example, between its need for a more plentiful supply of energy and its need to prevent excessive deterioration of the environment caused by energy production technologies. Evaluating trade-offs, when done carefully and systematically, involves comparing the costs and benefits of each of the available alternatives with each other.

Opportunity cost
is defined as the value of the sacrifice involved in a trade off – in other words what you give up in a an economic decision. Most choices are not all-or-nothing decisions; rather they typically involve small changes at the margin -- a little more of this at the cost of a little less of that. Consumers continuously practice marginalism and make trade-offs as they consider whether to buy one more unit or one unit less of a good or service in their efforts to obtain a mix of goods and services that afford them the greatest satisfaction for their available buying power. Producers must constantly be deciding (and reevaluating) their trade-offs in choosing whether to produce somewhat more or somewhat less of a particular product, whether to add a few more workers or lay a few off, whether to invest in more plant and equipment or whether to close down some of existing capacity, and so on -- in their efforts to maximize profits.

This week's choice assessement asks you to look at key trade-offs in US history and evaluate the wisdom of those decisions on a policy level and matters of popular (citizens) choice.

Directions –
1) Actively read the “US Economy: A Brief History” summary at:

www.countrystudies.us/united-states/economy-3.htm


2) Identify TWO moments/ periods in US history wherein individuals in US society and/ or the government as a whole participated in or was affected by an economic trade off.

-What was the opportunity cost of this decision?

-Did it advance or restrict social and economic progress at time when this decision was made?



Your assignment may take the form of:

a - 

A blog or typed reflection of 250 words or more
OR
'
b- 

A visual chart/ graphic organizer/ comic strip or timeline reflecting all of the ideas above

OR


c-A media analysis blog, poster or paper that summarizes the information in a minimum of 150 words and connects the information in the article to that of a recent newscast (include time and date of broadcast or article)