EconExtra: Defining "Full" Employment
The Issue
In previous EconExtra posts this past year, we have discussed the Federal Reserve Bank’s “dual mandate” and the pandemic’s impact on both of them: inflation, and employment. This week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting was much anticipated in light of the data released since they last met. Specifically, we have had two months in a row of price level increases not seen in years, and two months in a row of disappointing jobs numbers.
To...
Reading List for June 11-13
By Beth Tallman
|
Jun 11, 2021
|
Investing, Economics, Employment, Paying for College, Taxes, Advocacy
Investing
“The Mystery of the $113 million Deli” provides insight into the mechanics of SPACs while resolving this mystery. (NYT-Sunday)
Here is the CNBC article on adding I-Bonds to your portfolio (following one from the Wall Street Journal in last week’s list.)
Inflation figures haven’t spooked the market as the S&P 500 hit a new record yesterday. (CNBC)
Have you heard of the banking app “Dave?” It is backed by Mark Cuban and will go public via a SPAC....
Question of the Day: Which age group has seen the greatest increase in jobs in 2021?
Questions:
Do you plan on working this summer? Your friends?
Are jobs as plentiful for teenagers as this article suggests? What do you think are the factors causing this?
Are you finding that jobs that are available to teens are also paying more per hour than they were before the pandemic?
Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.
Behind the numbers (NY Times; sub required):
As companies try to go from hardly...
Question of the Day: At which point, if ever, do you feel people should have a concrete decision made on their career path?
Answer: 44% of HS Juniors and 37% of HS Seniors responded "Before graduating high school."
Question:
Do you have an idea of a career path to pursue? If so, what career interests you?
What do you think influences people's decisions about career paths?
For your teacher: when did they decide they wanted to be a teacher?
Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.
Behind the numbers (Junior Achievement):
Committing to a specific...
3 Handy Interactives to Differentiate
Lessons that focus on paying for college can be a bore for students who have no interest in a traditional four-year college path. The time we have with our students is precious and should be used to help them uncover their own paths after graduation. The following three interactives are ideal differentiation resources teachers can use to bring lessons to life for every student.
Lifestyle Calculator
Budgeting worksheets left my students less than inspired when I taught. Students had a tough...
Question of the Day: What percent of jobs are never advertised?
Answer: 70-80%
Questions:
If 70-80% of jobs are never advertised, how do you think that most people find jobs?
For those who have jobs/had jobs, what was your process to find work?
What do you think are the skills needed to be an effective networker?
Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.
Behind the numbers (Payscale) :
“At least 70 percent, if not 80 percent, of jobs are not published, ” Matt Youngquist,...
Question of the Day: What state has the highest minimum wage? lowest minimum wage?
Answer:
Highest: District of Columbia at $15/hour, California at $14/hour
Lowest: Georgia and Wyoming at $5.15/hour ** (only applies to some farm and seaonal workers)
Questions:
What types of jobs typically earn the minimum wage?
The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 and was last raised in 2009. Why do you think that so many states have minimums higher than the current federal rate?
If you start a job earning the minimum wage for your state, when do you think is the right time to ask...
Question of the Day: What percent of businesses fail within the first five years?
Hat tip to the group in the NGPF Virtual PD: 5 Career Resources in 50 Minutes who came up with this question.
Answer: About 50%
Questions:
Do you know anyone who has started a business?
What do you think are the reasons that businesses fail?
Resource to help answer that question.
Does research like this encourage or discourage you from wanting to start a business?
Here's the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom....
Question of the Day: How much can a creator on TikTok make if their video receives 1 million views?
Hat tip to Brian Page for recommending this question:
Answer: Between $20 and $40 (or 2-4 cents per 1,000 views)
Questions:
Have you or any of your friends built an audience on TikTok? How easy or difficult was it?
Are there other ways to make money from having a significant set of followers on TikTok?
Does this information change your opinion of whether you can make a living off of TikTok videos?
⟶ Wondering about the same question for YouTubers? Here's the answer...
Interactive Ideas: 3 Different Ways to Use the Uber Game
Estimates show as much as a third of the working population in some way participates in the gig economy, a pattern that continues to rise. Introducing and engaging students into learning more about the gig economy is becoming a necessity in every personal finance classroom. One of our favorite teaching tools to do so is the Uber Game. Here are three ways you can use the Uber Game in your classroom:
Debate
The future of employer-employee relationships at Uber, Lyft, and other similar services...
NGPF Speaker Series: Ryan Craig and Eric Tyson Discuss Innovative Alternatives To College
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Podcasts, Entrepreneurship, Employment, Paying for College
The NGPF Community was fortunate to have an amazing set of speakers this week for our latest installment of the NGPF Speaker Series. Venture Investor Ryan Craig joined personal finance guru Eric Tyson to discuss both alternatives to college and for those choosing the college pathway, strategies to keep the cost of that degree to a minimum.
Here's some of the feedback from the teachers who attended the live event:
"Incredibly eye-opening session about alternatives to colleges."...
Reading List for July 10-12
Income and Budgeting (pandemic-related)
A survey by Bankrate conducted in late June yielded some dire if not unexpected statistics about the impact of the pandemic on incomes.
49% of those polled said the pandemic has negatively impacted their income.
Of those negatively impacted, only 17% were back to normal at the time of the survey, and 59% feel it will take longer than three months to recover.
45% were not impacted.
This WSJ (subscription) article has lots of great statistics/graphs...
Question of the Day: Does a worker's level of education become MORE or LESS important during an economic slowdown (recession)?
This sharp and sudden economic downturn demonstrates how impacts on employment are felt differently based on the level of education.
Answer: More important
In just two months between February and April 2020, watch how unemployment rates varied dramatically based on level of education:
Unemployment analysis (source: FRED)
Questions
What is the relationship between level of education and unemployment rates?
Why do you think this relationship exists? Why does more education tend to...
Chart of the Week: What industries are most impacted by the economic shutdown due to coronavirus?
Questions:
What 3 industries had the largest NUMBER of unemployed persons in April?
What 3 industries have the LOWEST unemployment rates in April? Why do you think those industries were least impacted by the coronavirus?
In analyzing the change in unemployment rates between March and April, do you think this pandemic has impacted narrow sectors of the economy or had more widespread impact?
The report indicates that about 80% have identified themselves as being...
Reading List for May 8-10
|
May 08, 2020
|
Current Events, Employment, Economics, Investing, Student Loans, Personal Finance
The country took time to recognize some VIPS this week: Teachers and Nurses, and Mothers will have their day on Sunday. “Thank You” seems an inadequate expression of our gratitude, especially now! You (teachers) inspire me with your energy, creativity, and agility in providing quality instruction and heartfelt support for your students during this challenging time.
And now for the reading list:
Unemployment
Unemployment reached historic levels in April of 14.7%....
Teacher Accounts
To get access to NGPF answer keys, assessments, and teacher-only resources: create a FREE Teacher Account
