Unit 2 Lesson 2 Should We Allow a Market for Transplant Organs? Subject: Economics-equilibrium, price ceilings, shortages AP Microeconomics Time: 90 minutes Lesson Estimate: 90 minutes AP Standards: II. The Nature and Functions of Product Markets The study of the nature and functions of product markets falls into four broad areas: supply and demand models, consumer choice, production and costs, and theory of the firm. A well-planned AP course requires an analysis of the determinants of supply and demand and the ways in which changes in these determinants affect equilibrium price and output. In particular, the course helps students make the important distinction between movements along the curves and shifts in the curves. The course also emphasizes the impact of government policies, such as price floors and ceilings, excise taxes, tariffs, and quotas on the free-market price and quantity exchanged Content Summary: The lesson plan describes the free market solution to eradicate kidney transplant shortages. The students analyze four policies for dealing with the shortage of kidneys to transplant and debate the ethical strengths and weaknesses of the market solution. Students will learn relevant vocabulary and concepts such as equilibrium, price ceilings, inefficiency, efficiency, and shortages. The agenda will consist of a brief lecture and then a culminating student activity. After this activity is complete, a class discussion will ensue. Rational: This lesson is a valuable contribution to secondary social studies education because it demonstrates how ethical and political diversity can be embodied in economics. The students that there is a shortage of transplant organs in the United States. They explore ways to reduce the shortage, particularly by increasing the supply. First the students use supply and demand to analyze a market for kidneys. Then they learn how different ethical theories can help us evaluate economic policies for procuring organs to transplant. Finally, the students must decide which of four organ-transplant policy options they would support. This decision making process becomes an exercise in public policy. As a result, students are then introduced to the foundation of public-policy analysis, which usually involves both ethical reasoning and economic analysis. Objectives: Students will know: Equilibrium Price Ceiling Shortages How a free market is more efficient from an economic perspective as opposed to having a government regulated economy with government imposed price ceilings. Students will understand: Different methods can be used to allocate and services.
Unit 2 Lesson 2 Should We Allow a Market for Transplant Organs? Subject: Economics-equilibrium, price ceilings, shortages AP Microeconomics Time: 90 minutes Lesson Estimate: 90 minutes AP Standards: II. The Nature and Functions of Product Markets The study of the nature and functions of product markets falls into four broad areas: supply and demand models, consumer choice, production and costs, and theory of the firm. A well-planned AP course requires an analysis of the determinants of supply and demand and the ways in which changes in these determinants affect equilibrium price and output. In particular, the course helps students make the important distinction between movements along the curves and shifts in the curves. The course also emphasizes the impact of government policies, such as price floors and ceilings, excise taxes, tariffs, and quotas on the free-market price and quantity exchanged Content Summary: The lesson plan describes the free market solution to eradicate kidney transplant shortages. The students analyze four policies for dealing with the shortage of kidneys to transplant and debate the ethical strengths and weaknesses of the market solution. Students will learn relevant vocabulary and concepts such as equilibrium, price ceilings, inefficiency, efficiency, and shortages. The agenda will consist of a brief lecture and then a culminating student activity. After this activity is complete, a class discussion will ensue. Rational: This lesson is a valuable contribution to secondary social studies education because it demonstrates how ethical and political diversity can be embodied in economics. The students that there is a shortage of transplant organs in the United States. They explore ways to reduce the shortage, particularly by increasing the supply. First the students use supply and demand to analyze a market for kidneys. Then they learn how different ethical theories can help us evaluate economic policies for procuring organs to transplant. Finally, the students must decide which of four organ-transplant policy options they would support. This decision making process becomes an exercise in public policy. As a result, students are then introduced to the foundation of public-policy analysis, which usually involves both ethical reasoning and economic analysis. Objectives: Students will know: Equilibrium Price Ceiling Shortages How a free market is more efficient from an economic perspective as opposed to having a government regulated economy with government imposed price ceilings. Students will understand: Different methods can be used to allocate and services.
mullin_unit_2_lesson_2.docx