Videos - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

[VIDEO] Meet the Last Disco Ball Maker in the United States

July 8, 2016

As a bit of an antidote to the tragic violence and uncertainty that has dominated recent headlines, this short, fun video looks at the last producer of disco balls in the U.S. and the ways they’re struggling to stay relevant.

Questions:

Why would you purchase a Kentucky-made disco ball for $125 when one produced in China runs for as little as $30?

What stage of the product life cycle does the disco ball currently fall under?

Continue reading →

Manufacturing, Product Development, Disco Balls, Product Life Cycle, Kentucky

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[VIDEO] How the Euro Caused the Greek Crisis

June 29, 2016

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In the aftermath of the Brexit, many non-European observers have been left wondering why a majority of British voters opted to leave the EU. While a number of factors contributed to the historic ‘Leave’ decision, this video specifically looks at the euro’s role in plunging the Greek economy and how the crisis turned into a cautionary tale for other EU countries.

Questions:

Should wealthy EU countries send regular financial support to poor nations in the union?

Will the euro last as a continent-wide currency?

Euro, EU, Greece, Economic Crisis, Global, Europe, Currency, Brexit

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[VIDEO] Britain Is Leaving the EU. Here’s What That Means

June 24, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Last night voters in the United Kingdom elected to part ways with the European Union. While the full consequences of this historic decision will not be known for a long time, this video explains the immediate impact of the “Brexit” and how the situation could play out in the coming months.

Questions:

Did UK voters make the correct decision?

What are the benefits and drawbacks of membership in an economic community like the European Union?

Regulation, Brexit, European Union, United Kingdom, Global, Ethics, Europe, Immigration

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[VIDEO] What Is The ‘Real’ Unemployment Rate?

June 16, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

While the government’s official unemployment rate has been hovering around 5 and 6 percent lately, that number doesn’t tell the whole story about joblessness in the U.S. This video summarizes the concept of the “real” unemployment rate and the different ways that the government defines joblessness in its statistics.

Questions:

Why isn’t the “real” unemployment rate used as the official measure of joblessness?

What does the large amount of underemployment in the U.S. say about the current state of the economy?

Human Resources, Unemployment, Joblessness, Underemployment

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[VIDEO] It’s Not You. Claw Machines Are Rigged

June 1, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

With summer here at last, people across the country will be looking to fill up their free time with some fun. But if your idea of a good time includes trying your hand at a claw machine, you may want to pick up a more reliable hobby. As this video shows, many claw machines are designed to ensure that players continuously lose. So beware, those who frequent arcades and boardwalk midways, Continue reading →

Games, Claw Machines, Ethics, Product Development, Entertainment, Gambling

Videos

[VIDEO] The Explainer: Disruptive Innovation

May 6, 2016

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This week we looked at the startups that have tried to follow in the disruptive footsteps of the on-demand car service Uber. The following video explores how small companies can disrupt large firms and the ways that the big boys respond.

Questions:

Why can it be dangerous for companies to focus on small but lucrative customer bases?

Will startups like the parking service Luxe or even the gasoline delivery company Filld become disruptors like Uber?

Entrepreneurship, Product Development, Cars, Uber, Disruption

Videos

[VIDEO] The Fed Machine

April 19, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

To go along with last week’s video about the debt versus the deficit, here’s another quick piece that sums up a complicated financial concept using striking visuals. In this video, The New York Times constructed a Rube Goldberg machine that illustrates the consequences of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. In fact, the segment’s running time is so short that you might consider showing it twice just to get the point across (and Continue reading →

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[VIDEO] Never Mix Up The Debt And Deficit Again

April 15, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

For years Americans have heard about the dangers of the national debt from TV talking heads as well as politicians on both sides of the aisle. But what exactly is the national debt, and how does it differ from the deficit? And just how frightening are these figures that top out in terms of billions and trillions of dollars? Along with defining “the debt” versus “the deficit,” this quick video also explains why GDP plays a major role in any Continue reading →

Economics, GDP, Debt, Deficit

Videos

[VIDEO] Unions Win Big in Supreme Court Split Decision

April 1, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

This week, America’s labor lobby scored a major victory thanks to a split Supreme Court decision that upheld unions’ right to collect membership fees from public sector workers. The short video linked below brings clarity to this complicated story and focuses on the perspectives of both sides.

https://on.wsj.com/1VSf1RU

Questions:

Is it ethical to require teachers like Rebecca Friedrich to pay for membership to unions they oppose?

What benefits do union members receive from the dues they pay?

Labor Relations, Regulation, Supreme Court, Ethics, Unions

Videos

[VIDEO] A History of Oil’s Booms and Busts

March 25, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Gasoline prices are lower than they’ve been in decades, but this is far from unique. Throughout oil’s volatile history the commodity has experienced several surges and sharp declines in value. This short but informative video tracks some of the biggest petroleum price jumps over the last century.

Questions:

Why does the price of oil change so frequently?

Should world governments invest more money into alternative energy sources in order to decrease their dependence on the unpredictable oil industry?

Global, Pricing, Energy, Oil, Petroleum, Commodities, The Middle East

Videos