ECONOMICS
GRADE 8
BELLRINGERS
(FOR REVIEW OF CONTENT)                                                            Prepared by Paulette Cefalu-Walkwitz



1.  Explain the meaning of scarcity.


2.  Explain how a business uses "costs and benefits".


3.  What is the basic difference in goods and services?


4.  List some economic wants.


5.  When would a business refer to opportunity cost/ trade offs?


6.  List some producers.  How are producers related to consumers?


7.  How does specialization affect our economy?


8.  What affects productivity?


9.  Identify and briefly define the three types of economic systems.


10.  Identify and define the two types of productive resources.


11.  What is the role of government agencies?  Identify a few of them.

12.  Identify the four forms of business ownership.


13.  Explain bartering.


14.  Whare the are functions of money?


15.  What are the characteristics of money?


16.  Is it good to have a monopoly?  Why or why not?


17.  Is competition good or bad?  Explain.


18.  How does socialism impacy the prices of goods?


19.  What determines the growth of the economy?


20.  Who are entrepreneurs?


21.  How does an incentive motivate people in a market economy?


22.  Identify the source of the following taxes:
          a.  Corporate income taxes
          b.  Sales taxes
          c.  Excise taxes
          d.  Personal income taxes
          e.  Property taxes
          f.   Social security taxes
          g.  Estate and gift taxes
          h.  User fees
      

23.  Explain the meaning of worldwide interdependence.


24.  Create a diagram to explain supply and demand.


25.  Use a diagram to explain the circular flow of goods and services.


26.  List factors affecting production and allocation of goods/services.


27.  Briefly explain the following:
          a.  mechanization
          b.  assembly line
          c.  division of labor
          d.  automation
          e.  robotics


28.  How do economic risks influence investments or decisions to produce

29.  How do opportunity costs influence investments or decisions to produce?


30.  How do incentives influence investments or decisions to produce?


31.  Identify a regulatory agency.  What is its purpose?


32.  Briefly explain the following:
          a.  Progressive tax
          b.  Regressive tax
          c.  Proportional tax


33.  Identify some of the major taxes.


34.  List some economic indicators.


35.  How is inflation determined?


36.  How is the employment rate and unemployment rate determined?


37.  Explain what is meant by the Gross Domestic Product (GPE).


38.  How is the per capita income determined?

39.  What is the Dow Jones and why is it important?


40.  How does inflation influence unemployment?