Homework
Homework
Part one
3) Protestors often oppose large companies that wish to erect large buildings on open rural
land rather than expensive city centers. The protestors regard this as a destruction of the
environment rather than use of natural resources. Explain opportunity cost with the
illustration of above statement? 4 marks
Part two
Case Study
The concept of supply and demand is often called the heart and soul of economics. It is the
foundation for much of what is studied in the field, and understanding how supply and demand
affect the economy can help us to recognize economics everywhere in our daily lives. (The
British classical economist J.R. McCulloch is attributed with the famous saying that you can make
a parrot an economist if you only teach it to say “supply and demand.”) The supply and demand
infographic highlights basic concepts such as the laws of supply and demand, changes in demand
and supply versus changes in the quantity demanded and the quantity supplied, the
determinants of demand and supply, and market equilibrium.
1. Define the law of demand. Define the law of supply. Describe these terms in your own
words and make sure to include an explanation of the relationship between price and
quantity
2. When prices change, how is that reflected on a given supply or demand curve?
For instance, if the price of a particular chocolate bar increases, will demand or
quantity demanded change? Explain.
3. List the determinants of demand.
4. List the determinants of supply.
5. What happens to a given supply or demand curve if one of the determinants of
supply or demand change? Using one of the determinants you listed for questions 3
and 4, provide an example for demand and another one for supply and illustrate the
examples by drawing correctly labeled graphs. (Do not use the examples from the
infographic.)
6. Define market equilibrium and explain how it is determined.
Activity
This activity connects supply and demand to the real world. Students will read articles that show
changes in supply or demand, or simply analyze the articles’ summaries and translate the
content to the analysis of demand, supply, quantity demanded and quantity supplied, and
market equilibrium.
1. DVD sales are sliding because more consumers are watching content digitally. (This
involves two markets.)
Article: bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-06/u-s-dvd-sales-continue-to-slide-as-
digital- viewing-soars
2. Drought and demand from Arby’s creates a brisket shortage; the article also
mentions the increase in the popularity of brisket.
Article: cbsnews.com/news/brisket-shortage-has-texas-barbecue-lovers-facing-rising-costs/
4. New cage laws for chickens decrease the number of chickens (and therefore the
number of eggs).
Article: cbsnews.com/news/why-egg-prices-will-likely-rise-in-2015/
6. Piano stores close down as fewer young people are taking up the instrument. The
article also mentions that technology has improved so that pianos last longer.
Article: lehighvalleylive.com/music/index.ssf/2015/01/piano_stores_closing_sales_plu.html
Article: newsmax.com/health/Health-News/sugary-processed-
foods- pastries/2014/12/29/id/615359/
Article: cnn.com/2015/01/21/living/feat-tortilla-chip-history-tailgating-eatocracy/
Article: today.com/health/hold-fries-were-eating-less-fast-food-study-says-1C8463926
12. Dry weather has decreased Ghana’s cocoa production by 22% from last
year. Article: money.cnn.com/2015/06/23/investing/chocolate-cocoa-
prices-go-up/
Market What Demand Supply Curve shift Equilibrium
changed? price and
quantity
Chocolate
bars
Activity 2
Suppose that you are a writer for the blog All Things Chocolate and are writing a post that
illustrates how principles from your economics class can be illustrated by the market for
chocolate candy bars. You want to include some headlines from recent news stories. Find actual
news articles using chocolate to illustrate each of the following concepts, or if none are
available, create your own detailed headlines. You may draw a graph to illustrate the changes in
equilibrium.