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Economics UPDATE
The monthly Economics Network Email Newsletter
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6th June 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
New Handbook Chapter
New Teaching Case Study
2. NOTICEBOARD
Learning and Teaching Awards Deadline
Lecturer Survey Finished
3. AND FINALLY.....
The Economics of Sumo Wrestling
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1. WHAT'S NEW
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NEW HANDBOOK CHAPTER
The latest chapter of our Handbook for Economics Lecturers has been added to
our web site. "Plagiarism: Deterrence, Detection and Prevention" by Dr
Jeremy B. Williams considers the motivations for student plagiarism and
illustrates a multi-pronged approach to deterring and preventing it. Along
with many practical tips, the guide has concrete examples including an
"authentic assingment" in managerial economics and a declaration of originality.
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/handbook/plagiarism/
NEW TEACHING CASE STUDY
‘Tutorial Teaching in Economics’ by Richard Mash, New College, University of
Oxford
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/showcase/mash_tutorials.htm
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2. NOTICEBOARD
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LEARNING AND TEACHING AWARDS DEADLINE
Nominations for our annual economics learning and teaching awards are still
open. There are three categories this year: Outstanding Teaching, Student
Nominated and eLearning. Additional information, including submission
guidelines and on-line nomination forms are available at:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/awards/
The closing date for nominations is Friday 17th June 2005. The result will be
announced on Monday 4th July 2005. Winners in each category will receive GBP 250
in gift vouchers.
LECTURER SURVEY FINISHED
Congratulations to:
Prof Richard Harris, University of Glasgow; Prof Derek Leslie, Manchester
Metropolitan University and Dr Robert Ackrill, Nottingham Trent University;
who were randomly chosen to win Palm Zire handheld computers after answering
our biennial survey of economics lecturers. Many thanks to all of you who
took part. The data are now being analysed, with a report to be published
later in the year, and the exercise will help us focus our efforts to
support economics lecturers.
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3. AND FINALLY....
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THE ECONOMICS OF SUMO WRESTLING
From Michael Shermer's review of Steven Levitt's book "Freakonomics":
http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/eskeptic05-05-19.html
"Levitt discovered that Sumo wrestlers were fixing some of their matches. In
order to rise in rank and earn more money, a wrestler must finish a
tournament of 15 matches with a winning record. Levitt found a pattern of
cheating whenever a 7-7 wrestler (with a lot to gain) was pitted against an
8-6 wrestler (with little to lose) on the final bout of a tournament. A 7-7
wrestler's predicted win percentage against an 8-6 opponent is 48.7%,
whereas the actual win percentage was 79.6%. The next time these two
wrestlers met when there was nothing at stake, however, the 7-7 wrestlers
won only 40 percent of the rematches. "The most logical explanation," Levitt
concludes, "is that the wrestlers made a quid pro quo agreement: you let me
win today, when I really need the victory, and I'll let you win the next time."
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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
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