Teaching Inside Economics
Moody's Talks - Inside Economics
Deep Dive
Why does Alice Kassens use the Inside Economics podcast as a teaching tool?
She uses it to inspire students to learn about and debate economic data releases, improve their data literacy, and create a collaborative classroom environment.
What is Alice Kassens' background and current role?
She is a professor of economics at Roanoke College, specializing in health and labor economics, and has been teaching for 20 years. She is also a research fellow with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
How does Alice Kassens incorporate the Inside Economics podcast into her labor economics class?
Students listen to the podcast when labor reports are released, discuss them in class, and play a simplified version of the statistics game to improve their data literacy.
What is the Virginia Consumer Sentiment Index, and how does it differ from the national survey?
It is a quarterly survey that asks the same questions as the University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Survey but only interviews Virginians, providing a localized sentiment index.
What is Alice Kassens' perspective on the disconnect between economic data and consumer sentiment?
She notes that while economic data shows a robust economy, consumer sentiment has been falling, particularly in Virginia, likely due to lingering effects of inflation and the pandemic.
How does Alice Kassens think teaching economics has changed over the past 20 years?
She believes teaching methods have evolved to include more interactive and engaging approaches, such as shorter lecture segments followed by student participation or group work, to maintain engagement.
What is the significance of the 10-year treasury yield reaching 4.5%?
It reflects rising inflation expectations and concerns about future economic policy, including potential deficits and debt, which could impact investor confidence in the U.S. government's ability to manage its finances.
What is the potential economic impact of a government shutdown?
Typically, a short shutdown has a minor impact, around 0.1% off GDP per week, but longer shutdowns can affect federal workers, contractors, and services like TSA and national parks, potentially causing broader economic disruption.
How does Alice Kassens describe the Inside Economics podcast's impact on her students?
She says it helps students engage with economic data, fosters camaraderie, and makes learning about the economy feel like a conversation among friends, which students find enjoyable and educational.
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