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We'll reach out to gather your micro syllabus so we can tailor EconInbox to what you're teaching, when you're teaching it.
We've searched high and low for resources that will engage your students: news articles with clicker questions, podcasts, videos, nerdy blog posts, games and more. Check out our working spreadsheet for details.
You’ll receive a weekly email with vetted content matched to the topic you’re teaching that week, for free.
See a sample!
Elasticity: Curated Media
Massive response to sale prompts Build-A-Bear to shut down lines, offer vouchers
(CNN) 7/12/2018
The "overwhelming" response to a sale at Build-A-Bear prompted the retailer to turn away customers waiting in long lines outside its stores. Ask your students if they can infer anything about elasticity of demand.
Resources: Multiple Choice Questions
Most Netflix users would pay a lot more for their subscription, survey shows
(Yahoo! Finance) 5/15/2018
Are your students addicted to Netflix? Then this example might resonate with them. While the headline is a bit misleading, you can use the information given in the article about demand at different price points to calculate (a rough) elasticity of demand for Netflix (FYI — Netflix has around 125M subscribers). You could even create a poll for your class and construct the class’ elasticity of demand for Netflix for a more personal example.
Facts about (Facebook) Friends
(Marginal Revolution) 7/25/2017
An oldie, but a goodie. Does distance make the heart grow fonder? Tyler Cowen provides some stats on social connectedness and links to a working paper on the topic. Transfer of learning, anyone?
An Economist Gets Stoned*
(Planet Money)
What happens to the price of drugs if we legalize them? Well, it depends on elasticity of demand. For more background on the research in this episode, check out Jeffrey Miron’s paper on drug prohibition’s budgetary implications.
*No economists were stoned in the making of this podcast.
Resource: Rebecca Moryll has a class discussion question and a written assignment for this episode at audioecon.com.
Characteristics that Determine Elasticity
(MJM Foodie)
Using the example of gas to fuel her car, Dr. Mary J. McGlasson gives
a quick overview of the contributing factors to whether an individual’s demand for a particular good might be elastic or inelastic. So, is Dr. McGlasson’s demand for gasoline elastic or inelastic?
Elasticity and Slave Redemption
(MRU)
Slave redemption is one of the starkest examples of unintended consequences that we’ve ever heard of. It drives home the point for students that even when you’re trying to do good in the world, understanding economics, including elasticities, is crucial!
Welcome back to EconInbox — your weekly round-up of the best free and engaging econ teaching resources out there.
This week: elasticity. Students often have trouble with elasticity, especially applying it outside of economics. In fact, most people are pretty bad at learning transfer – taking a concept from one area and applying it to another. And yet, it’s arguably one of the most important skills. Below, you’ll find a few examples of learning transfer in action, but please send others our way!
Have resources to share?
We'd also love to hear any other comments you have!
Drop us an email at
A weekly email of news articles and resources tailored to what you’re teaching.
BETA
How it works
1. Sign up for EconInbox by
giving us your Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, or Intro to Economics course schedule.
2. We sync tailored resources to your syllabus schedule.
3. You receive one weekly email of resources based on what you’re teaching that week.
What educators are saying about EconInbox
"I'm honored to say EconInbox is my best teaching assistant."
— Dr. Maryam Moeini, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
"I am just so happy with EconInbox. It's been such a great resource - I've used it to improve my lectures, build better reading response questions, and inspire ideas. I look forward to it every week!"
— Dr. Emily Beam, University of Vermont
"EconInbox has been a fantastic aid to teaching AP Micro this year. This is my 7th year teaching and these resources have allowed me to change up my curriculum and have students make more real world connections than ever before."
— David Golden, Chicago Public Schools
Money & Banking
The Fed holds interest rates steady for third consecutive time | CNN Business
Dec. 13, 2023
The Fed held rates at 5.25-5.5% for the 3rd time, following 11 rate increases since March 2022. In characteristic Fed speak, Powell indicated rate cuts may be coming in 2024 prior to inflation falling below 2%.
Argentina’s New President Wants to Adopt the U.S. Dollar as the National Currency | MSN News
Nov. 20, 2023
With inflation above 140%, Javier Milei won the Argentine election on a platform to eliminate the peso and switch to dollars. Here's a primer on what's required to dollarize, how dollarization outsources monetary policy, and a quick look at what dollarization in other countries has looked like.
ECB keeps interest rates steady amid eurozone recession fears | The Guardian
Oct. 26, 2023
The ECB held rates steady amid recession concerns in the 20 country block and indicated rates would remain high until inflation cools to its 2% target.
ECB’s €5 Trillion Problem Forces a Rethink of How Policy Is Run | Yahoo Finance
Oct. 23, 2023
As the ECB unwinds its balance sheet, it must reconsider how it implements monetary policy.
World's Borrowers Fret on How Long Fed and Peers Will Keep Interest Rates High | Bloomberg
Sept. 17, 2023
Is the new R* higher than it used to be?
ECB raises interest rates to all-time high | Financial Times
Sept. 14, 2023
Forced to choose between prioritizing growth or curbing inflation, the ECB raised rates again.
Did you know? Teachers can get free access to the Financial Times here.
US banks pull back on loans as Fed hikes rattle the financial sector | Quartz
May 8, 2023
About half of banks polled by the Fed are tightening lending due to the Fed’s rate hikes and liquidity concerns following the failure of SVB.
The forgotten rescue plan that could prevent another SVB-like collapse | CNN Business
March 15, 2023
Here’s a basic overview of the Fed’s new Bank Term Lending Program–what it is, what it does, and how it’s the opposite of quantitative tightening.
How the Fed got so powerful | NPR
The Fed has deployed new and expanded tools in 2008 and again during the pandemic.
How rising interest rates affect your day to day | NPR
This podcast explains the effect of the rising interest rates and provides recommendations on how to handle it.
Jerome Powell’s Ghosts | The Indicator
This podcast covers the recent rate hike and examines previous episodes from the past that influenced Chairman Powell’s decisions. Good for understanding the people behind monetary policy and what drives them.
It’s Called the Bond Taper. Yes, It’s Geeky. But This Is Why You Should Know About It | NPR
Looking for a way to explain bond tapering that’s simple? The Fed’s purchasing of bonds is equated to parents giving kids too much candy.
A conversation with Janet Yellen | The Indicator
Learn about the Fed’s role from the expert. She reminds us that an important role of the Fed is to serve as a safety net, so even if certain programs aren’t used very often, the very existence of those programs bolsters confidence in the economy. And here’s a video about her extraordinary contributions to economics.
What The Fed can learn from the Soviets’ tiny, useless nail problem | Marketplace
“You get what you measure.” Is inflation still a useful measure of economic health? What other metrics could be informative?
The following are charts from the St. Louis Fed on M1, M2, and the monetary base.
Dual Mandate Interactive | MRU
How does a change in the administered rate filter out through the rest of the economy? In this interactive, see how the Fed hopes to influence the economy in theory through an interest rate change. Real life cases are then shown to emphasize the difference between theory and reality.
Market for Reserves Interactive | MRU
Use the reserve market model to understand how the Federal Reserve can influence the Fed Funds Rate in the limited reserve environment.
Welcome back to EconInbox and another week of curated resources for teaching economics! This week: Money & Banking.
Copyright © 2024 Marginal Revolution University. All rights reserved.
Have resources to share?
We'd also love to hear any other comments you have!
Drop us an email at
A weekly email of news
articles and resources
tailored to what
you’re teaching.
Copyright © 2024 Marginal Revolution University. All rights reserved.
Have resources to share? We'd also love to hear any other comments you have!
Drop us an email at
What educators
are saying about EconInbox
"I'm honored to say EconInbox is my best teaching assistant."
— Dr. Maryam Moeini, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
"I am just so happy with EconInbox. It's been such a great resource - I've used it to improve my lectures, build better reading response questions, and inspire ideas.
I look forward to it every week!"
— Dr. Emily Beam, University of Vermont
"EconInbox has been a fantastic aid to teaching AP Micro this year. This is my 7th year teaching and these resources have allowed me to change up my curriculum and have students make more real world connections than ever before."
— David Golden, Chicago Public Schools
How it works
1. Sign up for EconInbox by giving us your Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, or Intro to Economics course schedule.
2. We sync tailored resources to your syllabus schedule.
3. You receive one weekly email of resources based on what you’re teaching that week.
Money & Banking
The Fed holds interest rates steady for third consecutive time | CNN Business
Dec. 13, 2023
The Fed held rates at 5.25-5.5% for the 3rd time, following 11 rate increases since March 2022. In characteristic Fed speak, Powell indicated rate cuts may be coming in 2024 prior to inflation falling below 2%.
Argentina’s New President Wants to Adopt the U.S. Dollar as the National Currency | MSN News
Nov. 20, 2023
With inflation above 140%, Javier Milei won the Argentine election on a platform to eliminate the peso and switch to dollars. Here's a primer on what's required to dollarize, how dollarization outsources monetary policy, and a quick look at what dollarization in other countries has looked like.
ECB keeps interest rates steady amid eurozone recession fears | The Guardian
Oct. 26, 2023
The ECB held rates steady amid recession concerns in the 20 country block and indicated rates would remain high until inflation cools to its 2% target.
ECB’s €5 Trillion Problem Forces a Rethink of How Policy Is Run | Yahoo Finance
Oct. 23, 2023
As the ECB unwinds its balance sheet, it must reconsider how it implements monetary policy.
World's Borrowers Fret on How Long Fed and Peers Will Keep Interest Rates High | Bloomberg
Sept. 17, 2023
Is the new R* higher than it used to be?
ECB raises interest rates to all-time high | Financial Times
Sept. 14, 2023
Forced to choose between prioritizing growth or curbing inflation, the ECB raised rates again.
Did you know? Teachers can get free access to the Financial Times here.
US banks pull back on loans as Fed hikes rattle the financial sector | Quartz
May 8, 2023
About half of banks polled by the Fed are tightening lending due to the Fed’s rate hikes and liquidity concerns following the failure of SVB.
The forgotten rescue plan that could prevent another SVB-like collapse | CNN Business
March 15, 2023
Here’s a basic overview of the Fed’s new Bank Term Lending Program–what it is, what it does, and how it’s the opposite of quantitative tightening.
How the Fed got so powerful | NPR
The Fed has deployed new and expanded tools in 2008 and again during the pandemic.
How rising interest rates affect your day to day | NPR
This podcast explains the effect of the rising interest rates and provides recommendations on how to handle it.
Jerome Powell’s Ghosts | The Indicator
This podcast covers the recent rate hike and examines previous episodes from the past that influenced Chairman Powell’s decisions. Good for understanding the people behind monetary policy and what drives them.
It’s Called the Bond Taper. Yes, It’s Geeky. But This Is Why You Should Know About It | NPR
Looking for a way to explain bond tapering that’s simple? The Fed’s purchasing of bonds is equated to parents giving kids too much candy.
A conversation with Janet Yellen | The Indicator
Learn about the Fed’s role from the expert. She reminds us that an important role of the Fed is to serve as a safety net, so even if certain programs aren’t used very often, the very existence of those programs bolsters confidence in the economy. And here’s a video about her extraordinary contributions to economics.
What The Fed can learn from the Soviets’ tiny, useless nail problem | Marketplace
“You get what you measure.” Is inflation still a useful measure of economic health? What other metrics could be informative?
Demonetization in India | MRU
India conducted a demonetization experiment in 2016. This is how the story ended.
Resource: Practice questions
What gives a dollar bill its value? | TedEd
A great short video on the Fed, money supply, and inflation.
How to manage inflation in video games | Extra Credits
An old video but relevant for students who want to be video game designers. It turns out how the money supply is managed is absolutely crucial to a game’s success.
Welcome back to EconInbox and another week of curated resources for teaching economics! This week: Money & Banking.
Dual Mandate Interactive | MRU
How does a change in the administered rate filter out through the rest of the economy? In this interactive, see how the Fed hopes to influence the economy in theory through an interest rate change. Real life cases are then shown to emphasize the difference between theory and reality.
Market for Reserves Interactive | MRU
Use the reserve market model to understand how the Federal Reserve can influence the Fed Funds Rate in the limited reserve environment.
by MRU
FAQ
1. Signup for EconInbox by
sharing your Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, or Intro to Economics course schedule.
2. We sync tailored resources to your syllabus schedule.
3. You receive one weekly email of resources based on what you’re teaching that week.
See sample email
FAQ
1. Signup for EconInbox by sharing your Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, or Intro to Economics course schedule.
2. We sync tailored resources to your syllabus schedule.
3. You receive one weekly email of resources based on what you’re teaching that week. See sample email
How it works:
Q: It seems like I can only sign up for one course at a time. What if I teach multiple courses?
A: Great question! We’re working on a better solution for this. In the meantime, sign up for one course and then simply add topics for both/multiple classes to that schedule. If you’ve already signed up for one course for fall and would like to add another course, you can update your schedule here. If you have any questions, just reach out to econinbox@mru.org and we’ll help you out.
Q: I really like the concept but I honestly don’t know my schedule for the whole semester. Can I still sign up?
A: Absolutely! It’s ok if you’re not sure what you’re teaching. After you sign up and fill out the first few weeks, you can always return to EconInbox’s syllabus builder app throughout the semester to edit your schedule.
Q: It sounds like you’ll send me these cool resources the week before I teach it. What if I want them a bit earlier than that?
A: No problem! We can adjust your schedule so you receive it two or three weeks in advance. Just let us know! Reach out to econinbox@mru.org.
Q: It seems like I can only sign up for one course at a time. What if I teach multiple courses?
A: Great question! We’re working on a better solution for this. In the meantime, sign up for one course and then simply add topics for both/multiple classes to that schedule. If you’ve already signed up for one course for fall and would like to add another course, you can update your schedule here. If you have any questions, just reach out to
econinbox@mru.org and we’ll help you out.
Q: I really like the concept but I honestly don’t know my schedule for the whole semester. Can I still sign up?
A: Absolutely! It’s ok if you’re not sure what you’re teaching. After you sign up and fill out the first few weeks, you can always return to EconInbox’s syllabus builder app throughout the semester to edit your schedule.
Q: It sounds like you’ll send me these cool resources the week before I teach it. What if I want them a bit earlier than that?
A: No problem! We can adjust your schedule so you receive it two or three weeks in advance. Just let us know! Reach out to econinbox@mru.org.