ECON 200 Signature Assignment (100 points)

Due Date: March 14th at 11:59 pm – submit on D2L under the

“Assignments” tab

Weight: 8% of course grade

Description: The signature assignment is an opportunity for you to showcase the economic
knowledge you’ve gained in ECON 200. For this assignment, I ask that you examine an
industry or market of your choice (for example you could look at the automobile industry,
or the market for homes in Tucson) and analyze how current events are affecting that
market/industry. This assignment will challenge you to synthesize your own independent
research on the topic with the knowledge you’ve learned from class. The body of the
assignment should be at least 3 pages (double-spaced, size 12 font) and no more than 7
pages. You must also include in-text citations and a works cited page in MLA format (the
works cited page that does NOT count toward the page count). The paper will be submitted
to a turnitin.com-enabled dropbox on D2L.

To submit the assignment, click the “Assignments” tab and then the “Signature Assignment”
dropbox on D2L to upload your file.

Goal: Demonstrate your economic knowledge by using concepts of supply, demand, market
equilibrium, and any other ECON 200 topic you see fit to analyze a market of your choice.
This assignment challenges you to do original research, think critically, and apply what
you’ve learned in class to produce a thoughtful market analysis based on quantitative and
qualitative data.

Instructions:

1. Select a market/industry where you think demand and supply are changing due to
current events/economic conditions. For example, one could choose the market for gas-
powered cars in the U.S., the global market for lithium, or one of countless others. Tip:
Choose a market that is interesting to you. Your interest usually shows in the research
and produces a higher quality assignment.

2. Research that market along with relevant current events to …

a. Analyze how Supply and/or Demand have changed in the past 3 years and WHY
b. Predict how you think supply and demand will change in the next 3 years and
WHY (You must support your prediction with sound economic logic.)
c. Discuss elasticity of supply and demand in this market
 3. Present your economic logic and accompanying evidence in a well-organized essay that
is 3-7 pages (double-spaced, size 12 Times New Roman font). I strongly encourage you
to use graphs of markets (Supply and Demand curves) in your essay.

Grading: Your essay will be graded according to the following criteria.

Assignments will be evaluated according to the accuracy of the economic content contained
within, the completeness of the assignment, the strength of the arguments made, and overall
readability/grammar.

The assignment is 100 points in total. For transparency, I have included a breakdown of points
which are assigned as follows:

o Assess and explain changes to market supply in the past 3 years (10 points)
o Assess and explain changes to market demand in the past 3 years (10 points)

o Predict, with supporting evidence, changes in supply in the next 3 years (10 points)
o Predict, with supporting evidence, changes in demand in the next 3 years (10 points)

o Quantitative analysis: You must use real, quantitative data as a part of your argument.
Examples include price trends for consumer goods, company profits, quantities of goods
sold/purchased. The goal is to connect quantitative data with ECON 200 concepts (10
points)

o Discussion of elasticity of market supply and any related factors (5 points)

o Discussion of elasticity of market demand and any related factors (5 points)

o Strength of Argument/Economic Logic: Do the current events support the conclusions

drawn in this market? Why? (20 points)

o Grammar and Readability (10 points)

o MLA In-text Citations & Works Cited page (10 points)

Note: If any of the above is missing, you will receive zero points for that category. For
example, if your paper does not have a works cited page and in-text citations, you lose 10
points automatically. Please make sure you include all the above analyses in your essay.

Tips for Success:

- Choose a market that you find interesting or a market in which you are a participant – this
helps figure out factors that could change demand/supply
- Think carefully about how you define your market – “Apartments in Tucson” is a very different
market definition than “Homes in the United States.” Each market definition has pros and cons
for analysis.
- Read news articles about that market/industry
- Choose a market that is clearly changing. It will be easier to analyze than a market that is
stagnant in terms of supply and demand.
- Understand the product/service in the market and how it is produced – this helps you
understand what can alter the supply
- Remember and apply relevant determinants of supply, demand, and elasticity in your analysis
- Find real data! Look at prices, supplier trends, etc. (Is this industry facing mass layoffs right
now? Are wages in this area growing?)
- Create graphs of supply and demand as part of your explanation (optional)
- Review textbook chapters 2-5 for a discussion about supply, demand, market equilibrium, and
elasticity