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Lessons About Recessions

Consumer Skills

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1. What is a recession?

a. A time when businesses are making a lot of money

b. A time when the economy is not doing well

c. A time when people are spending more money than they used to

d. A time when interest rates are high

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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1. What is a recession?

a. A time when businesses are making a lot of money

b. A time when the economy is not doing well

c. A time when people are spending more money than they used to

d. A time when interest rates are high

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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2. What are some problems that can occur during a recession?

a. Higher unemployment rates and less money for people to spend

b. Lower unemployment rates and more money for people to spend

c. More job opportunities and higher wages

d. Lower stock market prices and more savings for people

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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2. What are some problems that can occur during a recession?

a. Higher unemployment rates and less money for people to spend

b. Lower unemployment rates and more money for people to spend

c. More job opportunities and higher wages

d. Lower stock market prices and more savings for people

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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3. What’s the difference between being laid off and getting fired?

a. Getting fired is the employer's fault while being laid off is the employee's fault

b. Getting fired and being laid off are the same thing

c. Being laid off is the employer's fault while getting fired is the employee's fault

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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3. What’s the difference between being laid off and getting fired?

a. Getting fired is the employer's fault while being laid off is the employee's fault

b. Getting fired and being laid off are the same thing

c. Being laid off is the employer's fault while getting fired is the employee's fault

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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4. What should people do to stay informed about the state of the economy during a potential recession?

a. Ignore the news

b. Watch TV shows instead of reading the news

c. Keep an eye on the news

d. Don't do anything

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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4. What should people do to stay informed about the state of the economy during a potential recession?

a. Ignore the news

b. Watch TV shows instead of reading the news

c. Keep an eye on the news

d. Don't do anything

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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5. What does the government usually do to help during a recession?

a. Increase interest rates

b. Give people money to spend in the form of stimulus payments

c. Decrease taxes

d. Cut funding for social programs

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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5. What does the government usually do to help during a recession?

a. Increase interest rates

b. Give people money to spend in the form of stimulus payments

c. Decrease taxes

d. Cut funding for social programs

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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You’ve completed the exercise, now it’s time to learn

more about the current event:

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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Discussion Prompt:

How might a recession impact you and your family? Do you know anyone who has been personally affected by a recession in the past?

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE

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Extend Your Learning

Three Relevant Resources from NGPF:

  • Savings Account (Semester Course Lesson)
  • COMPARE: Select a Savings Account (Activity)

What percent of teens have opened a bank account? (Question of the Day)

References:

  • U.S. Economy May Be Heading to a Place That Must Not Be Named (NY Times)
  • A recession is coming — and stock markets won’t come through it unscathed (CNBC)
  • Vanguard: The housing market downturn is ‘why we view a mild U.S. recession (Fortune)

LESSONS ABOUT RECESSIONS APRIL 28, 2023 EDITION | NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE