Welcome

Welcome to the learning community designed and managed by Ms. Rita Callahan, instuctor of economics and mathematics. Most of you are current or former students from my classes. I trust you will enjoy this attempt to connect our studies to the real world. From time to time I will make observations on my experiences and things I read. I hope you will comment and add your observations as well.


There is much to learn form others, especially those whose experiences may differ from our own. As I mention elsewhere in this blog, this is my attempt to incorporate 21st century learning formats into the educational experience of my students. Perhaps this will invite some interesting discussions.





Thursday, September 29, 2011

Peter Diamond on fiscal stimulus

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


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!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Krugman on recession

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.