Category 3:
Business Trade and Economics

A. Task:

Produce a website that teaches how multi-national investment and trade promotes better relations and works to improve the overall welfare of the global population.

Read rules and instructions.

B. Learning Objectives:

Students will demonstrate the interdependence which exists within their own community and the multi-national networks that connect goods, people ideas and information.
Students will identify successful international businesses and organizations and describe the contributions those organizations make to their personal lives.
Students will assess economic trends and business opportunities, as they consider their own career path.

C. Discussion Questions:

These discussion questions are provided to introduce the topics multi-national trade, economics and diplomacy.

What goods (products) do you use that come from another country?
What goods does your country or your home town trade to other countries?
Why do countries import and export goods?
What industries in your country are "disappearing?" Why?
How do international banks (i.e. World Bank, International Monetary Fund) help countries?
Why is it important to help countries that are less developed?
Should world leaders focus on their own countries economic problems instead of those in other, needier countries?
How does diplomacy help promote trade and investment?
Explain why "creativity" and "intellectual capitol" can be considered national products.
Discuss the difference between the things students feel they need and things they want. Have the students distinguish the difference.

D. Suggested Starter Activities

Make a list of goods and products that students use most frequently. Create a chart showing the countries that make those products.
Compile a list of goods and services that originate from your local region or country.
Use Want Ads from various sources. Classify the different jobs into various categories, such as Service, Manufacturing, Sales, etc. Make some general conclusions based on this information.
Research the type of businesses or organizations are thriving, such as the service sector, and which appear to be on a decline. Describe how this information will affect how people get jobs and the economy in general.
Interview an officer in a local business organization. Report back on what jobs and careers are available along with opportunities for job preparation.
Make contact with officials at local colleges and universities. Find out what is happening in the work force and how that affects what they are teaching.
Survey parents and school personnel and graph the number of different jobs each held before entering their current field of employment.
Search through various newspaper ads for items we could use in our daily lives and categorize them as "Needs" or "Wants."
Review web projects created by past Doors to Diplomacy participants.