CLC: Callahan Learning Community

What should we do about the US safety net?

2012-02-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

Following links form blogs I am reading this day before Valentine's Day, I came across this piecefrom the New York Times. It is very interesting to read others' perspectives on government taxing and the social safety net in this country.

In some cases the individulas appear to understand just how they will be affected by their own political positions and in other cases one cannot help but think that these people do not understand the consequences.

Several citizens want to grandfather seniors over 55 to the old benefits. They expect anyone under 55 to have the time and fortitude to save enough to survive in old age with less government assistance. Is this a reasonable assumption? I have my doubts. I truly believe that people will need to make belt tightening decisions much earlier than age 55. As young people they must start saving with 401K plans at work and private IRA savings accounts. As I talk to young people I encounter, I find they often do not even know about these incentives to save.

Also, personal debt and family size have a major effect on income available for savings. To implement less generous safety nets, society must address these early choices households and individulas make and the effect they have on future financial security.

Stimulus efforts and deficit

2012-02-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

As my macroeconomics classes end, we explore the current political discussion of the federal deficit and how to reduce it. This recent article I encountered online explains the Federal Reserve Chairman's concern about the efforts to reduce the deficit also creating set-backs for an economic recovery.

This is an example of economic trade-offs. Economists tend to sound unsure or even obtuse when they make recommendation or respond to lay questions. This is because there are often no easy answers.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch!" I would credit the originator of this phrase but I cannot ascertain to my satisfaction who that was. I do know we used it extensively in economics classes in the 60's. I believe it was a phrase popular with the late Chicago economist, Milton Friedman. Somehow someone pays for everything!

US losing high tech jobs to Asia

2012-01-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

This Washington Post article explains that we are losing professional, scientific jobs to Asian countries, particularly China. One reason is the sheer numbers, but also because of massive Asian governments' investment in education and research.

I believe there is a lesson here for the US government with respect to measures considered for reducing the budget deficit - do not reduce spending on education or research! It is just these areas that are integral to economic growth for our country. The good news is that the article also says US workers are more productive. Highly productive well educated scientists coupled with research dollars can produce innovations that could be the key to our future economic success!

Note should be taken that math and science are primary areas for educational investment. As the article points out, we need only so many generalists; and we need more specialists in the areas of technology and science. One of my pet positions is that everyone should know their multiplication facts and that's only scratching the service of this iceberg!

Should Wall Street bail out Main Street?

2012-01-18T07:15:00.001-08:00

Alan Sloan writes about a plan to reduce the interest rates on government backed mortgages that would benefit homeowners and cost investors who have already been bailed out by the US government. What do you think? Is this an unfair changing of the rules in the middle of the game or a leveling of the playing field?

As usual in economics, one needs to think about the opportunity costs and the unintended consequences that may occur.

Questioning Senior Discounts

2012-01-18T06:20:00.000-08:00

There are several reasons an article on senior discounts in USA Today caught my eye.

* By most accounts I am a senior. I am eligible for Social Security, but I continue to work full time.
* I live in Florida where there are an abundance of seniors and discount programs to provide incentives to spend.
* In our microeconomics class we discuss discriminatory pricing. In our macroeconomic class we discuss the funding of Social Security and Medicare versus reducing the federal deficit.

This USA Today article raises a lot of interesting questions for us to ponder. However, I see it as a response to the relative frugality of seniors compared to a youth culture that heavily discounts the future(savings).

I completely understand that I am over generalizing. My parents were survivors of the great depression and far more frugal than my husband and me. My daughter who is in her late 20's is also frugal (could be genetic)! My husband and I have been married 40 years and have a comfortable nest egg (let's see what the market does to it next), but we are discussing how to budget for his fast approaching retirement. We are a very savings conscious family of three generations. So perhaps attitudes toward savings are more about experiences and family tradition. If so, it will be interestingt to examine how this next generation reacts to the lessons of the great recession. The housing market will be a good sector to watch.

Following Inside Job; regulator gets hired by those he once regulated

2012-01-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Our macroeconomic class jsut viewed "Inside Job" and today I am reading Matt Taibbi in RollingStone: Revolving Door: From Top Futures Regulator to Top futures Lobbyist.

This just adds to the caution on regulation. For regulation to mean anything, the regulators must be ethical. It is difficult to be ethical when the incentives are so enticing. Does anyone out there know who first said to the effect "Everyone has his/her price."?

Why the middle class is important

2012-01-05T05:13:00.000-08:00

I read an online Washington Post article that rings the alarm for concern about an eroding middle class. Since this has been a concern of mine for some time now, I found it thought provoking.

The most alarming part of this piece for me is found in the last two paragraphs. I have found myself thinking that the Chinese system is attempting to utilize parts of our capitalist system along with their centrally planned government. David Ignatius, in this article, warns me why admiration of this hybrid system is a slippery slope.

Economics Profession Post "Inside Job"

2011-11-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

"Should economists be required merely to disclose who finances their research, as many academic journals already require? Should they have to reveal which corporate clients they advise, consult for or give speeches to? Should they even be allowed to serve as corporate directors and officers, as many business and finance professors do?"

These questions come form a New York Times report that Economics Professional Organizations are considering the formulation of professional ethics. Students of economics who have viewed "Inside Job", What do you think?

More Occupied Wall Street

2011-11-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

I found this link to the Occupied Wall Street Journal!

Creative folks at work! This is the future of the great democracy that is the USA! I read somehere someone had compared the people of OWS to Richard Florida's Creative Class. Whose book, Rise of the Creative Class,/theory I find fascinating.

Austerity versus stimulus

2011-11-10T10:54:00.001-08:00

We can't have it both ways. I read an article titled "Time to Disband the Supercommittee" in the Nation online. It's time to admit that strict means for trimming the federal deficit will only cool the economy during a period of major unemployment. It is true that most Americans are more interested in jobs than budgets.

Occupy Wall Street

2011-11-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

I am a 60's conservative who has morphed into a social (at least) liberal. Back in my college days a leader of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) accused me of being a fascist. Today I find myself enchanted by Occupy Wall Street.

I ask myself why. What has changed in my perspective (because I believe we are all the result of our experiences)? Well, my rose colored glasses are gone for one thing. As a woman of the 60's and 70's I found that when I left the security of my small state and my state university, I was no longer considered an equal or even a person of consequence. Life was not fair for everyone, especially uppity, smart women! First it was grad school and then corporate and political America which burst my bubble of security. Both were hostile environments for a woman during that period. Many of my colleagues left the business world conquered. Perhaps it was just greed combined with a supportive husband (we have been married 40 years this winter), but I did not leave. I stayed to fight leaving 4 jobs in less than 10 years until I settled in our family business for 10 years.

I suppose this is why I follow the 99% and feel such respect for those who will not be ignored! Hooray! This rant was stimulated by an article posted by the author of our textbook for economics. Enjoy!

Paul Krugman

2011-11-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Professor Krugman had a link to this video on his blog.

Since I enjoy reading his commentary in the New York Times, I felt compelled to post this biographical video on my blog.

Talk about Trade-offs!

2011-11-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

I just read an article in the Wasington Post about the extension of an oil pipeline to the Gulf Coast. I believe that Global Warming is a threat and I was alarmed by the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so normally I would be skeptical about this project. However the urgent need for jobs in this economy has me paying close attention to this debate.

Trade-offs make many economic decisions difficult. It is easy to sit back and negate a project that is potentially harmful when the economy is growing briskly and unemployment is low. Yet do we want to ruin the climate and dirty the envirnment in the name of prosperity? Is there a reasonable adjustment that might mitigate the negative externalities of this project? Should this venture be postponed until technology is dicovered that will prevent negative spillovers? Oh, that's right, I have a job. In fact my entire nuclear family is employed.

Choices are liberating until we get to these important trade-offs. Then they become a burden. What a burden for our chief executive to take on himself. It is amazing to me that so many people wish to take up these kinds of burdens.

Running Out of Water?

2011-10-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

I just read an article in Time online about the dwindling supply and increasing demand for clean water in the world.

It brought to mind how we allocate water right here in Sarasota, FL. Questions like disincentives for overwatering lawns; use of potable water for lawn irrigation; incentives for conservation and general resource allocation.

The article mentions water usage in the extraction of some oil. What should be done? What is the efficient allocation and what is the equitable allocation of this valuable, necessary resource? Is this a role/decision for government or the market?

All of these questions involve normative economics and present policy questions for government. Also,this is a world problem, eventually this could pose national security issues. Countries with clean water might be targets for countries that do not have clean water.

September 2011 Wall Street Protest

2011-10-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting article form the Sunday New York Times about the youthful protest on Wall Street. It brought to mind the anti-war protestors and civil rights protestors in the 60s of my youth. Those displays of outrage had lasting effects on our culture. Will this protest be as significant?

As an instructor of economics, I am torubled by the dark turn our economy has taken. In this article, Kristof refers to "socialized risk and privatized profits". When we as a country allow these maniputlations of our systems, we so so at the great risk of ruin. Lovers of capitalism must stand up and develop acceptable rules of conduct and then enforce them on those who would see to profit from "special" contacts or information.

A society where 99% of the citizens are duped by a few insiders is not stable or safe. Free markets are fine, but not always subject to the complete knowledge necessary for them to be truly free. While we are contemplating fixes to the system, let's at the very least require ethics courses for our business, law and political leaders.

Peter Diamond on fiscal stimulus

2011-09-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

I just watched a video posted on Professor MAnkiw's blog. This distinguished labor economist addresses his failed nomination to the Federal Reserve and the need for both monetary and fiscal stimulus for recovery in today's economy.

This is a must view for all students of macroeconomics and all citizens concerned with unemployment.

Income effect on Demand for fast food

2011-09-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

While reading USA Today online, I saw this article about fast food compainies offering value priced specials. What a super illustration form the real world for our study of supply and demand!

Krugman on recession

2011-09-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

While viewing the Sunday forums on the state of the US and world, I heard Professor Krugman present his analysis of our current economic state. This same perspective appeared in his NY Times editorial.

I respect Dr. Krugman as an astute economist with a strong Keynesian philosophy. While I was not educated in the Keynesian school myself, I have come to embrace it more as I teach economics with the Mankiw text.

That said, I fear this global economy has injected conditions not as condusive to Keynesian solutions. We are definitely facing challenges from a global economy. I am not sure that traditional monetary and fiscal policy is as effective as it may have been in the past. Perhaps twenty-first century economists need to come up with new approaches to aleviating some of the misery that accompanies a cruel recession.

As an educator, I am fond of turning to education for the formation of more human capital, but incentives are needed in this sector also. Potential students need to understand the demands of the labor market and brand themselves with skills and experience that will sell.

My hsuband is in the food service business. In this time of high unemployment, he is having trouble finding workers. He actually found that his managers were resorting to rehiring people they had fired last year for poor performance. Is there a disconnect in some labor markets? Do prospective employees need to be more mobile? Oh that's right,if they own their home they cannot sell it to become more mobile. It seems like this economy is full of "Catch 22's". I show my age with that phrase.

Best Democracy Money Can Buy

2011-08-31T05:15:00.000-07:00

The title of this post is one of my favorite rants. Today I was reading a US News online article that makes my point!

It appears that some new members of congress are wasting no time in rewardig their sponsers! It's just like TV; keep the sponsers happy. In this case they are doing it with our scarce tax dollars or market power.

Just remember that "they" can only buy your vote if you allow it. As voting citizens, we determine who goes to congress.

Alan Kruegor nominated to head CEA

2011-08-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's well past time for me to write a new post. My current Macroeconomics class will wonder why they should read it if I am not actively working on it.

Today I am contemplating the nominee to head the White House Council of Economic Advisors. Both Paul Krugman and N. Gregory Mankiw think he is an excellent choice. This made me wonder, who is this man? For Mankiw and Krugman to both recommend the same Princeton Labor Economist, what has this man done?

My feed from the Washington Post included an interesting overview of a few of Professor Kruegor's recent writings. They range from a study of the minimum wage to the Economics of Rock Music!

Perhaps my students will find these interesting also.

New Great Wall web site

2011-05-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

In 2010 I wrote about marketing US products in China. The first link I inserted was for Great Wall Advertising. The owner has changed the name to Great Wall Advisors and updated his online presence.I wanted to add this new information becasue this site will go live Monday May 9. I believe he has done an excellent job of explaining the benefits of his service and making his promotions user friendly. This is marketing but also creating demand. As one studies economics, one learns about the size of markets having a great effect on demand. For a company to expand its market to include such a large population as China's, would be a giagantic boost to demand for their product or service.

The articles and examples my friend includes on this site cite reasons for careful placement of products and use of effective slogans and wording in ads. Anyone looking to take advantage of this potential market would be wise to peruse this site and perhaps utilize the expertise of Great Wall Advisors.

Are US farm subsidies still necessary?

2011-03-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

While reading my online Washington Post articles this morning, I came across this interesting piece regarding world demand for food and its scarcity. I couldn't help but wonder if now is not the time to eliminate farm subsidies. This change would help reduce US federal budget deficits and increase production for world markets.

Why isn't Wall Street in jail?

2011-02-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was watching one of my favorite cable programs, Real Time with Bill Maher, and was fascinated by his guest, Matt Taibbi, who had recently published an article in Rolling Stone Magazine. I went to my computer and found the article online.

Wow! I am planning to use it in the Money and Banking class I teach next month! So many questions are raised about moral hazzard, private incentives and of course regulation of the banking industry.

After reading this article, I find that being pro-regulation is not enough. Where do we find effective regulators who will not be seduced by those private incentives?

Is it more understandable why Elizabeth Warren is reluctant to be "vetted" for the top job at the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

Do we all have a price? What is it?

America Still #1 in manufacturing!

2011-02-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

As I was reading the online news from my home state, Delaware, I noticed this strange headline. I found it difficult to believe that the US remains the world's top manufacturer. My perception was that most manufacturing jobs had been outsourced to countries with lower labor costs. At the end of this article it is apparent that China is quickly gaining on us and we will not hold this position much longer.

For my Economics students this article addresses comparative advantage. It also reitierates the need for US workers to enhance their human capital. To compete in the new US labor market, workers will need more technical skills and basic education to allow them to be flexible and meet the demands of the business sector.

I particularly liked the analogy of this change to the change which occurred when we moved from a laobr based agricultural economy to an industrial economy. Big agriculture is still here in the US, but it is far less labor intense, utilizing technology and science to produce great output with less labor.

As we navigate the changing economic landscape in the US, let's not forget that education and experience will be out gateways to success.

Amerrica's Vanishing Middle Class

2011-01-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

Paul O'Brien, Business Program coordinator, at the school where I teach, sent me a video of Harvard Law Professor, Elizabeth Warren, addressing a group at UC Berkeley about the troubling demise of the American middle class.

She traces much of the problem to the vanishing "safety net" that was in place prior to the 1970s. She mentions the labor in reserve of the "stay at home" wife/mother, the generous health insurance provided by employers, the free/public gateway-to-the-middle-class (K-12 education). Her data explaining where the cost of living is impacting families is particulary interesting also.

What do we do?

What can be done?

I believe this a combination of social and economic issues that combine for a dangerous mix. To think that many/most American middle class families are a divorce/illness/job loss away from bankruptcy is very scary. Is there a hidden mass tradgedy resulting from this recent recession with all the job losses?

Blogging Once Again

2011-01-19T06:29:00.000-08:00

I am motivated by a current student who responded to a post to begin adding to my blog once again.

This morning I was reading some op-ed articles in the Washington Post and came across one that speaks to incentives and influence in the political arena.

Like the writer, I find this Supreme Court decision very dangerous to our democracy. Balance of power is at stake here. Do we want a government run for the citizens or for special interests? In an economy where wealth is already becoming concentrated and the middle class is disappearing, do we want to give political power as well over to the market? Remember, in the market, the buyer who can pay the higest price receives the resources.

This doesn't seem like the country I was taught about in history class. Perhaps it does resemble the countries many of our ancesters fled where "royals" took all and the rest were serfs.

What do you think?

New Documentary Movie

2010-10-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Today I learned of a new movie while reading an op-ed piece by Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post online. It is Inside Job and is critical of Washington insiders, Wall Street players and even academia.

Needless to say, I am more than a bit skeptical of the "powers that be" and their motives. Reading articles and books that attempt to explain resons for our recent macroeconomic woes, has increased my desire for more information that doesn't come from "experts" but from "fresh eyes".

As I write this, I must confess that there is profit motive at play here also. Afterall, this documentary is a commercial venture. That must be kept in mind, since the film makers must have a hook to reel in paying consumers. I will want to keep my eyes and ears to the ground to find objective reviews of this film. It is difficult to find parties who will not benefit in one way or another from a specific perspective on this issue.

In fact everyone benefits from knowledge. Full knowledge is a major assumption in most basic economic models. The main problem here is lack of full knowledge by all but those who seem to have exploited their knowledge edge. Then again isn't that the means for creating profit. Profit being the primary motivator in our capitalistic model.

It all comes down to what we want from our system. Are we in fact getting exactly what we want? Or are only a few getting what we all want? Is there enough to go around? Good questions to ponder for the study of US macroeconomics! Remember: economics is "the study of how society manages its scarce resources" (Mankiw glossary).

Breaking news: White House considering tax break for business

2010-09-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

In a late breaking Washington Post story it is reported that The Obama administration is looking for ways to reduce uunemployment in the US. Political sentiments aside, this is reasonable since more prolonged unemployment will certainally stall recovery at the least and possible even push our economy into a double dip recession.

The double relief of a payroll tax holiday amd extended tax credits for R&D may or may not increase the demand for labor. The first does decrease, temporarily, the cost of labor for firms. Will it be enough to increase the quantity demanded? The incentive for investing in research and development is hopefully a grand effort to spur innovation and send the US economy back to the forefront of the world market on the supply side.

I hope this is enought to reduce the dismal unemployment rate. I fear, that due to particsan politics, a more agressive stimulus package would not pass. As a skepticle American voter, I fear that both political parties, due to incentives, will do their most to prevent the opposition from scoring any points vis a vis the economy prior to the mid term elections in November.

Readers, what do you think?

Happiness

2010-08-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

This month the class I am teaching is Microeconomics. It is fitting to post interesting discussions pertaining to the studey of microeconomics. Daniel Sgroi asks "Does happiness affect productivity?"

Do you readers have any personal experience with this relationship? Hve you found that being happy improves your job performance? Do you feel that you "slack off" when you are sad or angry? If you supervise others, have you noticed any relationship between happiness and productivity in your subordinates?

Does this work have implications beyond the workplace? What about news delivered to our homes constantly by 24/7 news stations? I have long believed that constant financial news filtered through optomistic reporters enhances market booms. While pessimistic reporting exacerbates rundowns in the stock market.

Of course macro connections are quite possible to make. The current economic slowdown and unhealthy labor market are prime contributors to happiness/unhappiness; are they also reflective of a collective mood?

Interesting topic. Any comments?

Walmart to make business loans?

2010-07-07T05:34:00.000-07:00

While browsing my Washington Post web news this morning, I read that Walmart is making plans to enter the lending market. Students in an earlier Money and Banking course will remember our debate based on Walmart's efforts to compete in the banking industry. At that time, the consensus was that it was unwise to allow the king of retail discounting to enter such a sophisticated and hallowed realm.

Well, now we flash forward to 2010. Banks have almost free money from the Federal Reserve and based on recent experience and perhaps major risk aversion, they are being mighty stingy with their loans. Does this change the American perspective enough to change our position? If Walmart is willing to lend; businesses are in need of loans; and the macroeconomy would benefit, do we want Walmart to fill this gap?

Creating Demand for US products in China

2010-06-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine has started an advertising service for US producers who wish to market their products/services in China. He has traveled to China several times and has connections to people in the local economy. His ideas are pure capitalism and his innovation is motivating.

Today I read in USA Today about Asian consumers embracing the use of credit and debit cards. Will these markets open more quickly with the convenience of easy money/credit access? Is this to be a repeat of the American experience? If so, are US producers situated to gain market share?

Apparently General Motors is well on its way to capturing market share in China as reported in the same edition of USA Today. What about your company? Do you have something to market in China? The university where I teach is already positioning itself to serve students in China and not just online.

Finding a job in the new labor market

2010-06-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

Today I read a blog I located through a Linkedin group. The blogger describes the path she discovered as she searched for a professional position in this difficult labor market.

Please note, I use the economic term labor market, not job market. Students in my classes will recognize one of my pet topics. Labor is the resource being bought and sold, not the job. I completely understand why job seekers view this as a job market. Much time and effort is being spent on the supplier's side to land that perfect employment opportunity. It feels like the supplier of labor is actually procurring a job. In our classes we discuss the labor market; households supply labor and firms demand labor. Right now there is decreased demand for labor due to multinational recessionary pressure.

In an executive summary from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, it is reported that by 2018 there will be a shortage of Americans with college degrees. This is a bright spot on the economic horizon for young college graduates who are currently struggling in their search for gainful employment. The article is careful to point out that this increased demand is for labor possessing human capital in the form of college degrees.

Another point deserving attention is the blogger's use of branding and social networking. The CLC: Callahan Learning Community blog addressed branding in the second post. I am hopeful that future microeconomics classes will show an interest in exploring the branding of self as a marketing concept for their own labor. Next week on Tuesday June 22, Keiser University Sarasota Student Services Office is hosting a seminar entilted Managing YOU, Inc. in our auditorium. Patricia Matthews of HR Audits and Workplace Solutions Consultants will address strategically managing a career like you would a business.

Later today I will be "attending" a webinar on putting e in learning. Perhaps this will tie in with the value of social networking to education.

Living on $18,000 a year by choice

2010-06-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

While reading MSN news early this morning, I came across an article about 3 people at various ages who choose to live on only $18,000 per year. The impetus for this article may be the approaching retirement of baby boomers (my generation), many of whom have very little savings.

This artcle makes for interesting dialog for students of both microeconomics and macroeconomics. The obvious interest for microeconomics is choices made by individuals and households. Macroeconomic students might explore the effect on the macroeconomy should many households adopt this personal philosophy.

Reading this article is an interesting follow-up for the video Big Box Mart from Jib Jab and the movie Maxed Out that we view in both economics classes.

Should Mortgage holders be responsible for remaining debt?

2010-06-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

In today's Washington Post there is an article by Dina ElBoghdady titled Lenders Go After Money Lost in Foreclosure. It is a puzzling question about which party should bear the cost of price fluctuations. The family home is involved which probably creates more sympathy for the buyer. There is also the question as to whether the middleman, lender, knowingly encouraged the buyer to overextend with debt. In this case the reader's sympathy often turns to demonizing the lender, but what is the buyer's responsibility? Perspective probably plays into the reader's opinion.

Reading the comments is instructive with respect to popular opinion. What is right? What will result in the best future for the market? Is that the correct goal? I know I am teetering on the brink of ethics, but what is good economics for the U.S. economy?

Fed examines unemployment coming out of recession

2010-06-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

The Federal Reserve of Atlanta has an interesting report on cyclical versus structural unemployment coming out of the 2009 recession. Specific career areas are identified in the graphs. These findings might point the way for students to make career choices. Opportunity costs, demand for labor, human capital, global economy and of course unemployment both cyclical and structural are economic topics that spring to mind for discussion.

The graphs used to illustrate these trends are unusual and new to me. I found the written description confusing, but as soon as I viewed the graphs, I understood them. This offers an interesting point for discussion of learning styles and perception.

Brand You

2010-06-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

While reading information posted on the site of a Linkedin group on behavioral economics, I came across the following article, The Brand Called You by Tom Peters. I thought this might be a grand topic to explore connecting each student to their real, personal world.

Most of the students in my economics classes are there precisely to increase their human capital to enhance the demand for their labor. I first encountered personal branding in a marketing workshop at a career college meeting several years ago. I find the concept fascinating. In a competitive world market each individual needs to take steps to stand out. Like a business product, it would be beneficial to brand ourselves to differentiate us from the competition.

Blog Start

2010-06-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Richard Florida's Rise of the Creative Class, I am starting a blog to facilitate 21st Century learning for students in my microeconomics and macroeconomics classes. The next class will begin in August, but I am starting this in June to get a feel for what I can do with this medium. I am helped by the collaboration of a colleague, Dr. Paula Porter.

Economics is obviously my passion , but so too are mathematics, particularly algebra, and education.

Students of economics might notice how these interests converge in human capital.