Value of the Case Study Set for an IBDP Economics Classroom
This set of case studies allows students to apply economic theories and concepts to real-world business and policy scenarios. Through the lens of various organizations, students can explore topics such as market dynamics, resource allocation, sustainability, and the impact of government intervention. These case studies encourage critical analysis, foster debate, and provide practical examples of how economics influences decision-making.
List of Case Studies with Summation:
- Federal Reserve - USA: Historical Economic Ideas and Modern Policy
Explores how classical, Keynesian, and monetarist economics shape the Federal Reserve’s modern monetary policy during economic downturns.
- Google - USA: Factors of Production in the Tech Industry
Analyzes how Google allocates resources such as land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship in expanding its data centers.
- Government Housing Agency - Singapore: Market vs. Government Intervention in Housing
Evaluates the balance between market solutions and government intervention in addressing Singapore’s housing challenges.
- National Health Service (NHS) - UK: Scarcity and Choice in Healthcare
Explores how the NHS allocates resources between competing healthcare needs, such as cancer treatment and mental health services.
- Procter & Gamble - USA: Behavioral Economics in Consumer Goods
Examines how Procter & Gamble applies behavioral economics to influence consumer decision-making in the fast-moving consumer goods industry.
- Toyota - Japan: Economic Systems and the Automotive Industry
Compares how Toyota navigates different economic systems—free market, planned, and mixed economies—across its global operations.
- Vestas Wind Systems - Denmark: Economic Growth and Sustainability in Renewable Energy
Investigates how Vestas balances the need for economic growth with sustainability in the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector.
- Agrico - USA: Production Possibilities in Agriculture
Uses the production possibilities curve (PPC) to explore how Agrico allocates resources between wheat and corn production in response to market demand.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - USA: Positive and Normative Economics in Environmental Policy
Differentiates between positive and normative economics in the context of the EPA’s proposed carbon emission reduction policy.
- Walmart - USA: Circular Flow of Income in Retail
Analyzes Walmart’s role in the circular flow of income model, exploring its interactions with households, firms, government, and the financial sector.