Concept: Resources and Wealth Consumerism in the Australian Mixed Market Economy Outcome 1 Analyze the social and

environmental consequences of living in the Australian mixed market economy based on consumerism. a. Investigate the goods and services produced in the local economy and the consumers of those goods and services (e.g., hospital, hairdressers, manufacturers, farmers, exporters). 1. What are goods? Services? GST? Generally, goods and services are the outcomes of human or nature efforts. In economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible 2. What are the occupations of your family members?
Council

3. Do they provide goods or services? What is the difference?

survices

4. What goods and services are provided in our community? 5. What reasons can you give for buying products locally?
b. Categorize the producers of goods and services in the local economy as belonging to the

public or private sector, and define the differences of the two groupings.
c. Identify the purpose and characteristics of:

public enterprise private enterprise. 1. What are private sector businesses? What are public sector businesses? 2. Give local examples of each. 3. Should all businesses be private sector? Public sector? Or is it important to have both?

d. Represent the characteristics of a mixed market economy including the roles of the

producer, consumer, and government.

1. What is a mixed market economy? 2. What are the dangers of a single (undiversified) economy? 3. What is the difference between a producer and a consumer in a mixed market economy? 4. What is the role of the producer and consumer? 5. Is there a need for government regulation in a mixed market economy? Or should free enterprise supply and demand? e. Illustrate the elements of a mixed market economy present in the lives of students. 1. Make of list of items that you consume as a teenager?

2. 3. 4. 5.

Make of list of items consumed by your family in a typical week? How does price dictate your decision making when purchasing? Do you think important to support local businesses ? Why? Are there other factors to consider when making a consumer purchase?

f.

Appraise the role of advertising in the mixed market economy. 1. Give examples of different kinds of advertising that you see regularly? 2. Do you purchase products based on the advertising youve seen? Trends
and styles issues. Give examples that support your answer.

3. Parts of products are often produced in several different places and

assembled in another- usually determined by cost. Name a product which would have parts produced in many places. www.howsitmade.com -discovery 4. Activity a. Bring a product from home and prepare to become a salesman for that product. As the salesman you must research where the product produced, the features of your product, brand names, materials used to make, assembly, packaging, cost, and major competitors. You need to produce an advertisement for your product (commercial radio/TV, a magazine ad, flyer, etc) g. Determine the positive and negative social and environmental consequences for family,

school, and community in the Canadian mixed market economy. 1. The Story of Stuff (You Tube) 2. Analyze as a class natural resource ( ie potash, oil, farmland) identifying
both positive and negative social and environmental consequences in a T-Chart focusing on impacts on family, school and community. h. Recognize the impact of living in situations in which assets are collectively or communally

owned (e.g., First Nations, Hutterian communities). 1. Students will explore the interactive website
http://www.hutterites.org/ and develop 10 inquiry questions about living on a Hutterite colony.

Outcome 2 Assess the implications of personal consumer choices. a. Determine the effects on the local community of the purchasing patterns of its members (e.g., the origins of products used in daily life). 1. Students track a log of their personal and family purchases over a period of two weeks (Unit) including where purchased. 2. Which consumer products do you purchase that are produced locally. b. Create a catalogue of locally-produced products and of fair-trade products available in local businesses.

1. Check with Town for a list of local businesses and have students generate a catalogue of locally produced products and services. 2. What is a Farmers Market? Why would people prefer to shop at a Farmers Market rather than a store? How are prices determined in a Farmers Market? 3. Create a definition of fair-trade products.
c. Assess the advantages and disadvantages of buying locally, buying fair-trade products,

and buying mass-produced products. 1. As a class generate a grid identifying advantages and disadvantages of
these three areas. d. Illustrate the effects of excessive consumption in personal, community, and national

contexts. 1. Refer to The Story of Stuff http://www.storyofstuff.com/

e. Propose a definition of responsible consumerism, and publish a list of strategic actions

leading to responsible consumerism. 1. http://www.wastebook.org/respons.htm

f.

Represent a personal change related to responsible consumption integrated into personal life. Write an essay identifying your habits as a consumer indicating if you support local businesses and how you can become a more responsible consumer.