In 1981, the United States reached a dubious economic milestone--the federal debt surpassed one trillion dollars for the first time. It took more than 200 years to build up that much debt. The federal debt doubled to two trillion by 1986, hit the three trillion level in 1990, and stands at an estimated five-and-a-half trillion for 1998. Just as…

This overview of the telecommunications environment discusses: (1) influences of technology, economics, politics, and government; (2) legal separations and jurisdictions; (3) pricing policies; and (4) bypass of local facilities. Probable changes and impacts on national and local information servers, local telecommunications carriers, and…

"Toxic Waste in Grand Banks" is an assessment task in which students from a high school economics class investigate the issues of economic prosperity, environmental concerns, government intervention in the market economy, and responsible civic participation in solving community problems. Students will demonstrate an ability--both individually and…

Presents guidelines for teachers to help students understand a government based on religious tenets, such as the Islamic republic in Iran. Suggests four avenues of study: Islam and government, comparison of Islamic and western legal systems, problems and conflicts in an Islamic republic, and an enlarged perspective of the Islamic republic. (LC)

Maintains that, although U.S. currency today is pure fiat money and not backed by gold or any other precious metal, students frequently ask, "But what about the gold at Fort Knox?" Describes what is really located at Fort Knox, why it is there, its implications for public policy. (CFR)

Prospects for financing educational reform in West Virginia are grim. Added to the state's high unemployment rate are the following problems: declining sales, income, and property tax revenues and erosion of federal support due to Gramm-Rudman-Hollings. Residents have set other priorities for public funding. Includes five references. (MLH)

Presents an bibliographic essay of recent empirical research in industrial organization. Examines topics such as the econometrics of markets with imperfect competition, technology and industry structure, industry evolution, and industry studies of regulation. (CFR)

This issue explains the concept of externalities (benefits or burdens which accrue to society when there is a difference between the private cost or benefit of an action and the social cost or benefit of that action). These external or social costs of individual actions are often referred to as spillover costs. Three brief teaching units follow…

This teaching guide begins with an explanation of the role of money in the economy, focusing on its circulation or exchange. The use of money as a unit of account, a store of value, and a medium of exchange are explained. Three brief teaching units are included. The grade K-2 unit, "Money Counts," provides games and activities which develop the…

The Student Text and Teacher's Guide examine the government's role in the U.S. economy and how the choices made by the government in Washington affect each individual. The student text is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1, "Government's Role in the Economy," discusses why government gets involved in the economy and examines the social and…

The special relationship between the United States and the Philippines is chronicled, and the potential threats to that relationship are exposed and evaluated. Special attention is paid to imposition of martial law by Marcos from 1972-1981. The human rights of the Filipino people during martial law, development programs implemented by Marcos…

This teacher's guide to an educational unit on economic choices provides motivators, terms and concepts to know, lesson objectives, student activities, student worksheets, and evaluation criteria. One activity requires students to research their family's economic history and answer questions such as: (1) "Do any family members belong to a…

Provides secondary school U.S. history teachers with a beginning bibliography for incorporating agricultural history into their classes. Annotates books covering the social, economic, and political aspects of agricultural history. Identifies works dealing with topical matters such as land settlement, slavery, agricultural policy, and the Dust…

Discusses the use of simulated "public inquiries" in classrooms. Includes factors involved in developing two such simulations. Describes basic components and sample texts for "The Generation Game," which deals with building a nuclear power facility, and "Closing the Foundry," which focuses on the implications of…

Argues that government financing of basic research has failed to keep pace with rising research costs, especially for the funding of university laboratories in many countries. Urges that new sources of funding be sought and that a more flexible structure for allocating resources be established. (TW)