econoMAX - latest edition now available
The latest edition of econoMAX, our digital magazine for A Level Economics students and teachers, is now available to subscribers on the econoMAX website. Details of the latest articles below.
School / college subscriptions to econoMAX remain at just £50 per year (for the 7th year running!) - your subscription allows whole-school access and distribution of econoMAX articles, including the entire archive dating back to 2004.
You can order your subscription to econoMAX here.
read more...»Recommended Reading for Economics (February 2012)
Here is my regularly revised and updated selection of thirty books designed to enhance and enrich your understanding and enjoyment of Economics perhaps as part of an application process for university. I try to ensure that no author appears more than once; some books are due for publication later this spring and summer. Inevitably I have had to leave out many very good books but I stick to my thirty limit! I hope that you enjoy some of them!
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Economics (Part-time) at John Lyon School (Harrow)
Many thanks to Stuart Foster for pointing out this nice part-time opportunity for a tutor2u economics teacher to join the thriving Economics department at John Lyon School. Need to move quickly on this one folks!
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - HOD Economics and Business Studies - City of London Freemen’s School
Many thanks to Penny Brooks for letting us have news of this terrific HOD role for Economics/Business Studies in the beautiful Surrey countryside…
read more...»Economics and Business News Quiz 6 February
Here is our weekly ten question quiz on economics and business in the news powered by Zondle. See who can get the highest score on the Space Destroyer game. Just register for free to try the quiz
read more...»Daniel Kahneman on decision-making
Here is a quick link to a guest blog on the Economist website provided by Daniel Kahneman - a handy overview of some of his key insights concerning psychological explanations for departures from rationality. Follow this link
Unit 3 Micro: Video Resources on Carbon Taxation
The crucial issue of how best to tackle climate change and make significant progress towards a low-carbon economy is one that gives students tremendous opportunities to hone their analysis and evaluation skills. A few weeks ago the Australian government was successful in getting through the Senate proposals for a new carbon tax and in this blog we link to some excellent video reports on the background to this decision.
read more...»Unit 1 Micro: Winning the War on Deforestation
Justin Rowlatt from the BBC has been investigating some of the remarkable progress being made in controlling deforestation in Brazil. The battle focuses on an area known as the “arc of destruction” and the video reports here show the impact of a government making a clear commitment to tackling the issue and backing it up with force and with incentives.
read more...»Unit 3 Micro: Richard Wilkinson on Inequality and Economic Harm
I have been using this talk given at TED 2011 by Richard Wilkinson when teaching the topic of poverty and inequality and the risks that a growing chasm between low and high income groups can have for society and economic performance. Students and teachers familiar with the work of Pickett and Wilkinson and their recent book “The Spirit Level” will know well the approach that these authors take.
They use published data on inequality and link to wide differences in a range of economic and social outcomes. Their work has been criticised by many on the right, not least because their argument is strong and clear - namely that we need to reduce inequality to tackle some of society’s deepest and most corrosive problems.
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - HOD Economics & Business Studies at Cheltenham College
Many thanks to tutor2u’s Amy Chapman for letting us have first news of this teaching opportunity in the lovely spa town of Cheltenham.
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Principal Teacher of Business Education - George Heriot’s School (Edinburgh)
A wonderful opportunity to teach economics and business at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh here…
read more...»Richard Sennett on Cooperation
How many strangers have you met today? Did you meet your 5-a-day stranger target? In an orchestra or dance-troup made up of a team of egos, how do they eventually perform to a high standard night after night? Here are some notes from a talk given at the RSA tonight by the renowned sociologist Richard Sennett on complex cooperation. I took many ideas from this in terms of considering teaching techniques and the use of language in the classroom. Richard Sennett was talking about some of the themes in his new book “Together: The Rituals, Pleasures, and Politics of Cooperation.”
read more...»Unit 2 Macro:Video Resources on Human Development Data
Here is a short collection of short video resources on measuring human development with specific reference to the annual human development report and to progress in improving welfare in countries such as Kenya and Brazil
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Economics & Business at Canford School
Many thanks to Stephen Grant for letting us have details of an opportunity to teach in a thriving Economics & Business department in a quite simply stunning part of the country - Canford School. Applications need to be in by 1 February 2012, so move quickly!
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Economics at Salesian College
Many thanks to David Good for alerting us to this Economics teaching vacancy with our friends in the department at Salesian College.
read more...»The impact of interest rates
The US economy may have grown at nearly 3% in the last quarter of 2011, but the Federal Reserve announced last week that they do not expect to raise interest rates until the end of 2014. It has cut its growth forecast for 2012 from 2.5-2.9%, to 2-2.7%, and says that the economy faced “significant downside risks” and that it “expects to maintain a highly accommodative stance for monetary policy” - which I take to mean expansionary.
This article about that interest rate decision is useful for economics teachers and students as it highlights a couple of results of that announcement; firstly that the dollar’s exchange rate immediately lost value as the interest rate made the US a less attractive place to keep cash, and secondly that government benefited as the cost of its borrowing in markets for 10 years fell from 2.06% to 1.94%, as traders priced in the lower medium-term interest rate expectations.
Economics and Business News Quiz - 29 January
Here is a ten question quiz covering the economics and business news this week - have a go and see who can get the biggest distance using the javelin challenge. To play the full quiz just register for free on the Zondle site! Good luck
read more...»Micro Music Video featuring the Little Mermaid!
We like this - in fact we like this a lot - virtually the whole of the micro course in three glorious minutes - enjoy Microeconomics Music Video- Econ World (featuring the Little Mermaid)
read more...»Economics Teaching: Diane Coyle on Economic Crises
Diane Coyle gave a superb talk on the state of the economics profession and made a powerful case for curriculum reform in a talk in Germany earlier on this week. The transcript of the talk can be found here and this link takes you to the audio file. Excellent CPD for all of us in the school and college economics teaching community. It ends on a very positive note, not least the surge in student numbers and enthusiasm for our fantastic subject!
Unit 4 Macro: Focus on India - Supply Side Issues
The rapid growth of the India economy has been helped by her economy enjoying a number of supply-side advantages. That said there remain structural supply-side weaknesses that will limit her continued competitiveness and development. This blog looks at the plusses and the minuses.
read more...»RES Annual Essay Competition for Students 2012
The 2012 Royal Economic Society Essay Competition for students has been launched. Details below…
read more...»Unit 1 Micro: Can the UK Computer Games Industry Grow
Britain is one of the world’s biggest exporters of creative products - from live TV shows and music to books, arts, architecture and films the economy has built up an enviable global reputation for excellence and a growing trade surplus to aid our balance of payments.
Computer games falls squarely into this category but, according to TIGA - the trade association representing the UK’s games industry - unless there is renewed government support, the future of this sector is at risk. TIGA claims that the British games industry is suffering a significant ‘brain drain’ as talented programmers and artists leave the country to work abroad.
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Economics at St Olave’s Orpington
Five superb teaching opportunities in one night here on the Economics blog! Many thanks to John Greenwood for giving tutor2u first details of this vacancy at St Olave’s.
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Economics at Tiffin School (PT)
A part-time vacancy here at a school with a terrific reputation for Economics. Many thanks to tutor2u blogger Rob Earl for letting us have the details.
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - HOD Economics & Business at Culford School
A HOD vacancy this time - many thanks to our colleagues at Culford School for letting us have first details of this opportunity:
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Economics at Malvern College
Another superb vacancy here - ideal for talented economics teachers who support T2U!
read more...»Teaching Vacancy - Economics at Kings College School Wimbledon
These superb economics teaching opportunities keep on coming and here is another cracker - Kings College School in Wimbledon. Don’t for get to mention that you heard about it here on T2U!
read more...»Unit 3 Micro: 3D Printing and a Manufacturing Revolution
Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is an emerging technology that takes product design data which provides a geometric representation of a product such as a pen and that data is then sent over to a machine that allows products to be manufactured ‘on the spot’ typically using additive materials in liquid or powder format.
This TED talk from Lisa Harouni (co-founder of Digital Forming) looks at examples of intricately designed products made using this new and increasingly affordable manufacturing technology. 3D machines can build structures, build replacement parts and parts within parts - the detailed resolution possible is incredible.
read more...»Video Resources on Rising Inequality
In this blog entry we will be bringing together some short video resources that might be useful when teaching and studying the economics of inequality. Please do add some more resources using the comment box at the bottom and we can add them to the listing.
read more...»Unit 1 Micro: Illegal logging and the human cost
This news report looks at the human cost of an example of the tragedy of the commons - illegal logging in the south Philippines which contributed to tens of deaths from the effects of flash flooding. Ecosystems and economic prospects are damaged at the same time because of failures in environmental management.
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