MATILDAVILLE

When a wealthy benefactor leaves land to the city of Matildaville, economic policy analysts are asked to recommend its best use while considering the benefactor’s wishes and community needs. As the analysts debate a list of possible entities that could operate on the land, a sudden financial crisis forces students to focus their criteria for selection more narrowly around short-term economic concerns. Topics include productivity, public debt, resources, economic growth, income, interest rates, investment (public and private), multiplier effect, scarcity, tradeoff, and opportunity cost.