Economics

Describe the organization and role of the firm, and analyze the various types

 of market structure in the United States economy.

Compare and contrast the following forms of business organization:
soleproprietorship, partnership, and corporation.
Identify the three basic ways that firms finance operations
(retained earnings, stock issues, and borrowing), and explain the
advantages and disadvantages of each.
Explain ways that firms engage in price and non-price competition.
Identify laws and regulations adopted in the United States to promote
competition among firms. Explain how the effects of these laws has
sometimes reduced competition.
Describe the benefits of natural monopolies (economies of scale)
and the purposes of government regulation of these monopolies
(such as utilities).
Define cartels, and explain how cartel collusion affects product
price and output.

Study the stock market and have older students teach younger
students about the fundamentals of the stock market.
Bring to class the financial section of a local paper or the Wall
Street Journal. Discuss factors mentioned in the newspaper which
affect the price of stocks and commodities. Give each student $1,000
to invest. Track the success of the investment for 30 days.
Interview a business owner. Ask how he/she raises financial capital,
sets prices, hires labor, responds to competition, etc.
Analyze advertisements to identify how firms engage in competition.
Write to a company for a recent annual report, and prepare a brief
overview of the company's organization, recent earnings, and growth prospects.
Research the breakup of AT&T and write an essay on the reasons and effects
of the breakup.
List ten businesses in their community and analyze the kind and level of
competition each faces.
Research how the OPEC cartel influenced oil prices in the 1970's and
how OPEC influences oil prices today. Research examples of other successful
and unsuccessful cartels.