MINDS ON - VIDEOS

 

Inflation (CPI) and cost of living: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3XlD-JZQoM

Why I chose it: Inflation is one of the biggest “everyday economics” issues because it changes what people can afford and how governments/central banks respond. This connects to real consumer decisions, wage pressure, and overall economic stability.
Discussion questions:

• Which items are rising fastest, and why might that be happening?

• Who gets hit harder by inflation: low-income households or high-income households? Why?

• If inflation rises, what policies could be used to slow it down?

 

 

Trade Surplus (China) and global impacts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI_A2IP4wyo 

Why I chose it: A trade surplus is a real-world example of how countries’ production and global demand affect jobs, prices, and political decisions like tariffs. This is exactly the kind of “surplus” news story your teacher meant.

Discussion questions:

• Why would a country want a trade surplus? What are the benefits?

• Who might be harmed when one country runs a huge surplus for years?

• How could tariffs change trade patterns and consumer prices?

 

 

MINDS ON - ARTICLES

Article 1 — Canada: government surplus (real fiscal data) 

https://www.investmentexecutive.com/news/canadian-general-government-posts-4-1b-surplus-in-q3/

Why I chose it: This ties directly to fiscal policy and how governments manage spending vs revenue. It’s also useful because it includes real numbers (surplus amount, debt direction) you can reference on your site.
Discussion questions:

• What’s the difference between a government surplus and a trade surplus?

• Is a surplus always “good”? What could be the downsides?

• Where should governments invest extra money during a surplus?

Article 2 — Supply chain dependence and economic risk 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/16/over-reliance-on-china-could-hit-uk-energy-supply-chains-putting-9000-jobs-at-risk

Why I chose it: Supply chains are a major modern economics topic. This article links real supply-chain dependence (especially critical minerals/clean tech inputs) to jobs, production, and costs—showing how markets can be disrupted even without demand changing.
Discussion questions:

• How can supply disruptions affect prices even if demand stays the same?

• Why do some countries try to “diversify” supply chains?

• Should governments stockpile key resources? Why or why not?