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Economics UPDATE
The monthly Economics Network Email Newsletter
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10 January 2005

Welcome to UPDATE the Economics Network Email Newsletter.  This newsletter
is intended to inform ECON-LTSN subscribers about our activities and to
provide other information that may be of interest. Economics UPDATE will be
distributed on the first Monday of each calendar month.


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CONTENTS
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1. WHAT'S NEW
 Call for Content Authors
 New Case Study

2. AND FINALLY.....
 Giving Gifts And Deadweight Losses
        How To Value A Bottle Of Wine


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1. WHAT'S NEW
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CALL FOR CONTENT AUTHORS
The Economics Network has been given funding to create an online bank of
eLearning materials. We are now seeking to pay economics lecturers on a fee
basis to provide content for two projects over the coming twelve months.

1. PowerPoint for Intermediate Core Economics:
We hope to create a set of animated PowerPoint slide shows illustrating
models in core intermediate micro and macro. Each should be consist of 10-12
slides which should be easily customisable by staff to suit their teaching.
We are looking to create at least two dozen such slide shows, and put them
in the public domain through our Web site.

2. Question Bank:
We will use some of the money to extend our online Question Bank. Needed now
are problem sets (with solutions) in maths for economists, statistics for
economics and core intermediate macro and micro. Submissions will be
accepted in Word or PDF format. We will also be creating a document
management system to handle mathematical formalism and create print-quality
documents on the fly.

To discuss either of these projects, either email [log in to unmask] or
use our feedback form at:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/contact/short.htm

Please include details of courses you have taught and other relevant
experience. Fees will be decided once we have discussed the nature of the
work with specific applicants.


NEW CASE STUDY
‘Blending Chalk, Talk and Accessibility in an Introductory Economics Module’
David Kraithman and Steve Bennett from the University of Hertfordshire cut
their failure rates for an Introductory Economics Module using the SMIRK
multimedia package:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/showcase/kraithman_smirk.htm


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2.  AND FINALLY....
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GIVING GIFTS AND DEADWEIGHT LOSSES
Dr Todd Kaplan defends the tradition of present buying:
http://www.sobe.ex.ac.uk/news/newsfull.php?id=200412140&filter=

HOW TO VALUE A BOTTLE OF WINE
An example of linear regression in action:
http://www.itchysquirrel.com/

On behalf of everyone at Economics Network, best wishes for the New Year.


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CONTACT US
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If you have any suggestions, feedback or comments please contact:
Bhagesh Sachania, Information Officer, Economics Network
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel.: (0117) 928 7071