Chapter 2: Economics - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

More than 40 Percent of Renters Are at Risk of Eviction

July 28, 2020

Last Friday, a federal moratorium on evictions for tenants in government-assisted housing expired. With eviction moratoriums in many states also at an end, experts fear that millions of Americans could be kicked out of their homes in the coming months. According to one estimate, as many as 40 million people could be evicted during the pandemic. “It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen,” said John Pollock of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel.

Mass unemployment as a result Continue reading →

Economics, Ethics, Human Resources, Real Estate, Health, Legal, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

Millions of People Filed for Unemployment over Last Two Weeks

July 16, 2020

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Nearly four months into the pandemic, millions of Americans are struggling to remain employed. Last week more than 1.5 million people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time, an increase of almost 109,000 from the previous week. The total number of unemployment claims stood at 17.3 million for the week ending in July 4th, with many people also collecting expanded benefits that could soon expire.

“What we’re seeing is continued, historic elevated rates of job loss in the Continue reading →

Economics, Ethics, Human Resources, Unemployment, Regulation, Health, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] The Economic Ripple Effect of Retail Sales, Explained

July 9, 2020

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Retail sales plummeted during the coronavirus lockdown, which is bad news for more people than just business owners. This video shows how retailers drive economic growth by creating a ripple effect of sales across many different sectors.

Questions:

How do retail sales help drive economic growth?
Why have online retailers seen sales skyrocket during the pandemic?

Economics, Marketing, Operations Management, Retail, Product Distribution, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Videos

Investors Prepare for Stock Market Volatility

July 2, 2020

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During the first six months of 2020, U.S. stock markets went through their biggest quarter-to-quarter swing in more than 80 years. March saw share prices plummet as businesses across the country closed or altered their hours. Then an unprecedented round of economic stimulus from the federal government both halted the sell-off and sent stocks soaring to their best quarterly performance in nearly two decades.

With much of that relief now set to expire, however, where the markets go next Continue reading →

Economics, Ethics, Human Resources, Regulation, Health, Stock Market, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

U.S. Billionaires Have Made $584 Billion During the Pandemic

June 30, 2020

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According to experts, the coronavirus pandemic has deepened economic inequality and expanded the racial wealth gap across the U.S. While the unemployment rate for white workers sits at 12.4 percent, the rate among black and Hispanic workers has gone up to 16.8% and 17.6% respectively. But while many poor Americans struggle to make ends meet, the wealth of the nation’s 614 billionaires has increased by $584 billion.

These top-end earners make most of their money on the stock market, which Continue reading →

Ethics, Unemployment, Regulation, Health, Stock Market, Coronavirus, Income Inequality

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 19: Securities Markets

Nearly 1.5 Million More People Filed for Unemployment for Last Week

June 26, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

For the 14th week in a row, more than 1 million people filed for unemployment benefits as fallout from the pandemic continues to hurt workers across the nation. The last three weeks have each seen the number of newly unemployed Americans hover around the 1.5 million mark, an ominous sign that economic recovery could still be a long time coming.

Although some people have returned to work as states reopen, the rising number of coronavirus cases threatens to once Continue reading →

Economics, Ethics, Human Resources, Unemployment, Regulation, Health, Layoffs, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

Uncertainty Abounds as States Reopen But Coronavirus Cases Rise

June 25, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

After months on lockdown, states across the country have relaxed stay-at-home orders and allowed businesses to gradually resume operations. This slight return to normalcy caused the stock market to rally over the last few weeks to levels approaching its January 2020 highs. But even though many Americans are desperate to return to something resembling normal life, coronavirus remains a dangerous threat to public health. In fact, cases of infection have been steadily rising as states and businesses reopen.

As a Continue reading →

Economics, Operations Management, Global, Ethics, Regulation, Health, Product Distribution, Recession, Stock Market, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 19: Securities Markets, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

1.5 Million People Applied for Unemployment Last Week

June 11, 2020

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Tens of millions of Americans have filed for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic. This historically high number increased by another 1.5 million last week as many people continue to struggle to make ends meet. Although the gradual reopening of businesses has sent some back to work, nearly 21 million Americans are still receiving unemployment benefits. All together, more than 44 million people have applied for unemployment over the course of the pandemic.

“That means 29 percent of the workforce Continue reading →

Ethics, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Unemployment, Regulation, Federal Reserve, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] How Airbnb Fell From Successful Startup to Crisis Mode

May 27, 2020

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A couple of weeks ago, we looked at how Airbnb hosts are struggling after the travel industry came to a standstill due to widespread stay-at-home orders. This video explains in greater detail why the once successful startup was so vulnerable to an economic downturn and what that means for both Airbnb and its hosts in the long term.

Questions:

What factors made Airbnb so successful for nearly a decade?
Do you think Airbnb will be able to recover from this Continue reading →

[VIDEO] Explaining America’s Current Unemployment Crisis

May 21, 2020

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With tens of millions of Americans currently out of work, the U.S. is experiencing an unemployment crisis on a scale not seen since the height of the Great Depression. This video looks at the devastating effects of rising joblessness while also explaining how several European governments intervened to avoid disastrous unemployment rates.

Questions:

Why is the U.S. unemployment insurance system not equipped to face the current crisis?
Do you think the U.S. should take a more active role in Continue reading →

Economics, Operations Management, Global, Ethics, Labor Relations, Unemployment, Regulation, Health, Coronavirus

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law