Unemployment, saving and investment spending, or income and consumption and its multiplier effects any one of the three is fine
Paper details:
Course paper is worth 15%, (detailed below). For this assignment student are to critically analyze a current news article related to the concepts discussed in the text and in the class.
This essay should emphasize quality rather than quantity (at least 4 pages, not including bibliography).
The purpose for writing this critical analysis is to evaluate somebody’s work/article on the state of the economy. This is to increase your understanding of economic concepts covered in this class such as Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Balance of Payments, International Monetary Systems, Global Trade, and Global Competitiveness. A critical analysis is subjective writing because it expresses your opinion or evaluation of a text. Analysis means to break down and study the parts. Writing a critical paper requires two steps: critical reading and critical writing. I have provided a relatively recent article by Paul Krugman entitled “Jobs, not fiscal cliff, is real danger to U.S.”. Use this article only as a sample (cannot choose this article for your course paper). Read the article and use it as a guideline, also use the outline below to help you complete your paper.
Critical reading and writing: Using Paul Krugman’s article as an example.
1. Identify the author’s (Krogman’s) thesis and purpose; according to him “Problem is mass unemployment and not budget deficit”.
2. Analyze the structure of the passage by identifying all main ideas. Is unemployment the problem and not the budget deficit? Is the author correct? Why or why not.
3. Make an outline or summary of your work.
4. Evaluate the means by which the author has accomplished his purpose.
5. Has the material presented by the author make economic sense to you? Look for evidence, logical reasoning, and contrary evidence using concepts we have discussed in the course.
6. Critically evaluate the work. Make a critique of the article if you want to disagree with it using your own views. For example: Budget deficit, as recommended by Paul Krugman, can increase interest rates and cause slower growth and worsen unemployment, Tax hikes could retard investments, etc.…
7. Other possible questions to consider: Is there a current controversy surrounding either the passage or the subject that it concerns?
Remember:
1. What are its strengths and weaknesses?
2. Support your opinion with evidence from the text. Do not forget to document quotes and paraphrases.
3. Remember that the purpose of a critical analysis is not merely to inform, but also to evaluate the worth, utility, truth, or validity of the work.
4. You should give your work an appropriate title. Use your own words to express other’s ideas unless a quotation is necessary.
5. Use font Times New Roman, size 12 and double space.
