Welcome to CW Economics!

The study of economics is challenging and rewarding. Use this site to check up on topics covered, homework assigned, and assignments given.

Upcoming Assignments and Tests

  • Grade 12 Book Club Monday, January 16. Journals due Tuesday, January 17
  • Grade 12 essays due Tuesday, January 24 at 10:24am (2 COPIES)
  • Grade 11 Final Summative Game due Tuesday, January 24 at beginning of class.
  • Monetary Policy - Interest Rates due Tuesday, January 10
  • Banking Assignment due Friday, December 23

Friday, May 21, 2010

Banker to the Poor


Don't forget to keep reading! Here are some preliminary thoughts on essay topics for you to look at:

Your essay should be minimum of 5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, normal margins. This doesn't include the title page and list of references used.

1. Describe the differences in women's experiences in Bagladesh compared with Canada.
2. - or between poor women's experiences in Bangladesh compared with Canada.
3. Would you want to take a job as a bank staffer with the Grameen Bank? Are Canadian young adults suited for this type of job?
4. How is Yunus different than many business people, adults, and traditional ways of thinking that you see in Canada today? In your opinion, should Canadian business people be more like him, or less? Would his attitudes work in Canada?
5. What do the recipients of Grameen loans do with the money they borrow? Would you consider them to be more or less entrepreneurial than people in North America today?
6. Is it easier to start a small business today in Bangladesh than in Canada?
7. See p. 149-151. Is credit a human right? Yunus has a new way of looking at people - he sees them as creative entrepreneurs and he sees micro-credit as an empowering, liberating force. This is different than the traditional economic view that sees people as consumers and labourers and results in credit being an enslaving force.
8. See p. 140-142 and p. 161. Why are the poor poor? Is this similar to the way people here view young people? Do they already have skills or do they need more and more training? Is the Ontario Summer Company program similar to Grameen?
9. See p. 176-188. Could micro-credit work in Canada?
10. See p. 201-212. What is actual economic growth? Is profit maximization the way to go? Look at our local businesses here and the value they place on trust and relationships. Are small town businesses in Canada similar to the ones described in this passage? Has Yunus changed the way you think about economics?