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Welcome!��Start a new paper titled: �Economic Decision Making��Answer this: What is one decision you made today? How did you decide what to do?��

2. Apply the Economic Decision-Making Model (EDM) to guide your choices.

5. Identify the opportunity cost in a given decision.

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Intro

to

Economic

Decision

Mak

ing

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List all the decisions you’ve made today.�(hint: start with waking up)

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ANALYSIS

Basic Decision Making

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Little mermaid clip here.

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Benefits

(Advantages)

Costs

(Disadvantages)

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Economic Decision Making�(EDM)

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The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

Goal

What do you want to accomplish?

Alternative 1

One option for accomplishing your goal.

Alternative 2

Another option for accomplishing your goal.

Choice

Your chosen alternative

Disadvantages

AKA costs

Advantages

AKA benefits

Disadvantages

AKA costs

Advantages

AKA benefits

Opportunity Cost

The alternative you didn’t choose

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The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good-natured, she thought: still it had VERY long claws and a great many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect.

 

'Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider.

 

'Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and she went on. 'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

 

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

 

'I don't much care where--' said Alice.

 

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

 

'--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added.

 

'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long

enough.'

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The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good-natured, she thought: still it had VERY long claws and a great many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect.

 

'Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider.

 

'Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and she went on. 'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

 

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

 

'I don't much care where--' said Alice.

 

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

 

'--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added.

 

'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long

enough.'

Answer the following in complete sentences.

  

  1. What does this conversation tell you about the importance of goals?

  • Do you agree with The Cat that if you don’t have specific goals for your future it doesn’t matter what you do now? Why?

  • Alice tells The Cat she just wants to get SOMEWHERE. Is that enough of a goal for a young person to be successful? Why?

  • What does the last line tell us about working hard?

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The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

Goal: Purchase a new video game system

Alternative 1 Xbox Series S

Alternative 2: PlayStation 5

Xbox Series S (duh)

Not the most powerful, can’t play Ratchet and Clank

Benefits

Own many games, GamePass, good controller, HALO, Bethesda games

Costs

Controller made for tiny hands, slow downloads, expensive games, no Elder Scrolls 6

Benefits: Play exclusives like Ratchet and Clank, Horizon, kids will think I’m cool

PlayStation 5

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Never Have I ever clip here.

  • There are some long YouTube clips, but I’ve yet to find a good, short edit. Sorry!

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GOAL: Pick the best boyfriend

ALTERNATIVES

Choice:

Opp Cost:

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

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The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

GOAL: Do as much good as possible

Alternative 1: Rachel

Alternative 2: Harvey

Choice:

Harvey

COSTS

Engaged to another dude, not particularly useful to the city

BENEFITS

Known since childhood, have a crush on her

COSTS: Could become a super villain if he loses Rachel, not marriage material

BENEFITS: Helps me fight crime, important figure in the city, good dude

Opp Cost:

Rachel

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The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

GOAL:

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The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

GOAL:

Help the little guy

Alternative 1

Stay in school

Alternative 2

Go to Germany with Tony

CHOICE:

Go with Tony

Costs

Can’t save people

Disappoint Tony

Benefits

Get his education

Make Aunt happy

Costs

Can’t do homework

Dangerous

Benefits

Travel

Become an Avenger

Opportunity Cost

Stay in school

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The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

GOAL:

Create an EDM to help you decide what to do after high school.

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The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

GOAL: Go to a college to be a teacher

Costs:

Not as prestigious, longer commute

Benefits:

Lower cost, known for teaching, best friend going there

Benefits: Great education, close to home

Costs: don’t know anyone, expensive

Choice:

CSUSB

Opportunity cost:

UCR

Alternative 1

CSUSB

Alternative 2

UCR

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Think of a choice you need to make or will need to make soon. Complete the Economic Decision-making model for this choice.

The Economic �Decision-Making �Model

Goal/Decision

What do you want to accomplish?

Alternative 1

One option for accomplishing your goal.

Alternative 2

Another option for accomplishing your goal.

Choice

Your chosen alternative

Disadvantages

AKA costs

Advantages

AKA benefits

Disadvantages

AKA costs

Advantages

AKA benefits

Opportunity Cost

The alternative you didn’t choose

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Reflection Qs

  1. How can you make better decisions on a daily (or hourly!) basis?
  2. Do you take time to truly consider your costs and benefits when you make a decision? Why or why not?
  3. Why does every decision have a cost, even if there is no money involved?