Macroeconomics is much more than just what you read in a textbook. It is what happens every day, the sum of everything that affects the well-being of all. In fact, macroeconomics affects everyone throughout the country and the world.

Choose one of the two options below and pay particular attention to any discussion relating to the macroeconomics concepts covered in the current unit. After listening or reading, answer the following questions:

What important new things did you learn?
Did the topics discussed in the article or podcast relate to your personal experience in any way? If so, how? If not, how do you believe it could?
How does this new knowledge relate to the availability and possible governmental use of fiscal policy tools and their likely macroeconomic impact on the economy as explored in this unit?
Based on what you learned, what action(s), if any, do you think the government, or society, should take?
Option 1: Podcast

Choose any podcast related to the macroeconomics concepts addressed in the current unit, then choose a specific current episode of that podcast. Examples of acceptable economic-oriented podcasts include:

NPR’s Marketplace
NPR’s Planet Money
Bloomberg’s Stephanomics
The New Economics Foundation’s Weekly Economics
If you are unfamiliar with podcasts, use any of the above options or just search for economics podcasts. You may also use TED Talks about economic issues.

Option 2: Magazine or Newspaper Article

Using the Library’s Publication Finder, search for a magazine or newspaper that publishes economic-related content. Select a current article related to at least one of the macroeconomics concepts addressed in the current unit.

Examples of magazines and newspapers publishing economic-related content include:

The Economist
Harvard Business Review
New York Times
Wall Street Journal
Checklist:

Summarize your chosen podcast or article.
Identify at least three things from the podcast or article that you believe are relevant to current macroeconomic policy.
Add YOUR personal comments and experience.
Cite your podcast or article in APA format. See the Writing Center’s page on Common Citations and References in APA Style (7th Ed.), under “Audio Works,” for more on how to reference podcasts. Click the Library link under the Academic Tools section of this course to review APA style in the Business Resource Guide, as needed.
Review the discussion rubric linked below to ensure you have addressed all grading criteria.