Lawmakers are once again butting heads about raising the debt ceiling, a limit on the total amount of money that the federal government is authorized to borrow. This video looks at the potential economic consequences that could follow if legislators fail to reach an agreement and default on the nation’s debt. 

Questions:

  1. How does debt help drive the U.S. economy?
  2. Why are U.S. bonds traditionally seen as reliable investments? How could that change if the country defaults on its debt?
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April 26, 2023

On Sunday, the once mighty home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond declared bankruptcy after years of poor sales and mounting debt. The company will start closing its 360 locations today and has stopped accepting the big blue coupons that made the brand famous in better days that have long gone. In recent times, Bed Bath and Beyond faced increasingly choosy consumers who avoided the retailer in favor of competitors with better selections and e-commerce capabilities. The company enjoyed a Continue reading

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April 21, 2023

For a few months every year, legions of Girl Scouts across America set out on entrepreneurial adventures to sell classic cookies like Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs. This video looks at the $800 million Girl Scout cookie operation, which aims to teach kids valuable business lessons and people skills that remain for a lifetime.

Questions:

  1. How do the Girl Scouts use scarcity to increase demand for cookies every year?
  2. How has e-commerce changed the Girl Scout cookie selling experience?
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March 30, 2023

The video below takes a long look at Li-Lac Chocolate, the oldest chocolate house in New York that thrives by doing things the old fashioned way. Along with observing their unique production processes, this video examines how Li-Lac made it through the pandemic to continue its century-long tradition.

  1. What value do the antique chocolate molds owned by Li-Lac Chocolates give to the company?
  2. How did the pandemic affect business at Li-Lac Chocolate?
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March 24, 2023

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) does not get much attention unless something goes drastically wrong in the financial world, such as the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). This video explains how the organization covers customers’ deposits in order to prevent bank runs, and how the fall of SVB presented the FDIC with some unique challenges.

Questions:

  1. Why was the FDIC formed, and how does it protect customers’ deposits?
  2. How did the FDIC’s handling of the SVB collapse Continue reading
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March 23, 2023

Although the collapse of SVB and the resulting economic fallout has rattled global markets, many companies are hoping to restore faith among investors by showing signs of growth. The clearest sign of a growing business is one that is hiring people, after all, leading some firms to place job listings with no intention of actually bringing anyone on board. In fact, a recent survey of 1,000 hiring managers found that 27 percent of respondents reported leaving job listings up for Continue reading

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March 16, 2023

The video below provides an in-depth look at Silicon Valley Bank’s downfall, from its heavy investments in bonds to the bank run that has sent shockwaves through the market. (For more information on investigations into potential misconduct at SVB, check out this video.)

Questions:

  1. How did SVB’s substantial investments in bonds backfire on the bank?
  2. Do you think federal regulators should place limits on how much money banks like SVB can invest? Why or why not?
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March 14, 2023

Last Friday, a combination of imprudent decision-making and panicked customers led to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a 40-year-old financial institution based in Santa Clara, California. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) stepped in to prevent further fallout, putting nearly $175 billion in customer deposits under the regulator’s control. SVB’s meltdown represents the second largest bank failure in U.S. history, and the largest one since the 2008 financial crisis. As a result of this chaotic situation, stock prices Continue reading

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March 10, 2023

Prices on everyday products like groceries and diapers have increased dramatically in the last couple of years, with inflation often being identified as the culprit. This video takes a close look at the potential causes of the post-pandemic trend of rising inflation, examining why supply chain issues and plain old markups could be responsible for ever-increasing prices. 

Questions:

  1. What are the potential causes of inflation outlined in this video? Which factor do you think is the most likely cause Continue reading
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March 8, 2023

People around the world celebrate International Women’s Day every March 8th, paying tribute to the achievements of women while also campaigning for greater gender equality. While issues like equal pay and opportunity for women have certainly received a lot of attention in recent years, companies still have a long way to go before they reach total parity. To make matters worse, economists say that women are disproportionately feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis brought on by rising Continue reading

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