Assignment:
1 Overview
The purpose of this paper is to apply the models we discuss in this class to current events, as well as apply and convey economic reasoning in non-technical terms. Both these skills are important outside the classroom. To paraphrase Alfred Marshall, if you cannot convert the mathematics [models] into plain English, start over.
One never truly knows a subject until s/he must write about it. In this paper, you are to write as though your audience is intelligent but generally ignorant of economics. Therefore, you should seek to avoid using overly technical terms or jargon unfamiliar to the common person. If you must use jargon, be sure to define the term you are using.
2 Task
You will choose one of the following options and write a short essay or briefing paper that is focused, concise, and well-written.
• Choose a country other than the United States and write a briefing paper for the United States Trade Representative that discusses the major trade issues facing this country.
• Choose a trade issue of importance to the United States and write a briefing paper for the United States Trade Representative that discusses this issue and makes a policy recommendation.
• Choose a country other than the United States and write a briefing paper for the Secretary of the United States Treasury that discusses the major international finance issues facing this country-such as exchange rate policy, capital flows, the current account and/or other macroeconomic concerns.
• Write a briefing paper for the Secretary of the United States Treasury that discusses the major macroeconomic concerns that s/he and the President should discuss with the other G8 countries at the Annual Summit meeting. Make policy recommendations where appropriate.
When writing your paper, keep your audience in mind: they are highly intelligent people, but may not know economics. Furthermore, they are busy: imagine your have 30 seconds to state your case and make your main point as concisely as your can in your opening paragraph. The remainder of your paper should be the rationale for your argument.
Be sure to properly cite any outside information you use (including the textbook!). Your citations should be in proper APA format.
Finally, your argument need not be strictly economic, although it should be primarily economic (you are economists, after all). If you believe there to be political or other concerns that need to be discussed, bring them up!
3 Format
Your paper should be 5 to 10 pages, double-spaced (including any graphs you may wish to add, but excluding citations), 12pt font, 1" margins, and Times New Roman font. Citations should be in proper APA format.