Videos - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

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

June 1, 2016

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 →

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

Videos

[VIDEO] The Explainer: Disruptive Innovation

May 6, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

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 →

Debt, Economics, GDP, 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?

Ethics, Unions, Labor Relations, Regulation, Supreme Court

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?

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

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[VIDEO] The Rocky Revival of Vinyl Records

January 19, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Although vinyl records sales are higher than they have been in decades, companies are having trouble meeting demand due to their reliance on old, antiquated machinery.

https://youtu.be/mHJQJbrvOd0

Questions:

Will demand for vinyl records drop if companies fail to maintain a steady supply?
With music and movie streaming sites now commonplace, do vinyl records and other forms of physical media have a long term future?

From The New York Times

Entertainment, Economics, Manufacturing, Music, Developing Products, Production, Vinyl

Videos

[VIDEO] What Happens When You Win the Lottery?

January 14, 2016

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

This short video shows what happens to a person’s money in the very, very unlikely event that they win the lottery.

Questions:

As the video says, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning than win the lottery, so why do people play it?
Which option ensures that a lotto winner gets the most money from their prize: the cash payout or the annuity jackpot?

From CNN Money

Money, Interest, Banks, Lottery, Ethics

Videos