May 18/19
Students gave their development study presentations.
Homework: None (reading the investment articles postponed–see below.)
Posted by: yamada | 05-19-2009 | 03:05 PM
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Revision:
We will complete the activity below in class on May 20 and 21 27 and 28 (Wednesday and Thursday). The readings will be assigned as homework on Monday and Tuesday.
Analysis of Socially Responsible Investing
Before class read both of the following articles for homework:
1. Article by in favor of Socially Responsible Investing:
2. Article by critical of Socially Responsible Investing:
In class, you will be assigned one of the following socially responsible mutual funds:
Fund Name Ticker Symbol
1. Ariel Appreciation Fund (CAAPX)
http://www.arielinvestments.com/aaf/
2. Calvert Social Index (CSXAX)
http://www.calvert.com/sri-issuebriefs.html
3. Domini Social Equity Fund (DSEFX)
http://www.domini.com/GlobInvStd/index.htm
4. Green Century Balanced Fund (GCBLX)
http://www.greencentury.com/shareholder/
5. Pax World Fund Balanced (PAXWX)
http://paxworld.com/investment-approach/esg/
6. Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund (NBSRX)
https://www.nb.com/public/DMA/html/mf_performance_ins_inv_equity_daily.html
(Click on name of fund, then click on “prospectus.” Description of fund is near end.)
7. Parnassus Fund (PARNX)
http://www.parnassus.com/how-we-invest/investing-responsibly/default.aspx
8. Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund (MYPVX)
http://www.sentinelinvestments.com/sustainable_investing.php
Go to the Social Investment Forum web site’s screening and advocacy page:
http://www.socialinvest.org/resources/mfpc/screening.cfm
Find your fund on the list. Use the screening criteria listed and the information from the fund’s web site to answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper:
1. How do the managers of your fund decide what to invest in?
2. Which criteria take the highest priority?
3. Which take the lowest?
Go to Yahoo Finance:
Enter the ticker symbol for your fund and click “Get quotes.” On the page select a chart on the left hand side (interactive or basic). Click on “compare.” Select the S&P 500 index (^GSPC) and enter the Russell 2000 index manually (^RUT). Examine the performance of this fund compared to the two benchmarks.
Next, click on “performance” on the left hand side of the screen.
4. Based on what you have observed on the last two screens, how has this fund performed…
a. …in the past three months?
b. …in the past year?
c. …in the past five years? (Give percentage gains or losses on a separate paper.)
5. Has the fund performed better or worse than the non-socially responsive benchmarks? Explain.
Now click on “holdings” on the left hand side and scroll down to “sector weightings.”
6. Are the sectors relatively balanced, or are certain industries overrepresented? What kinds of risks or benefits may these weightings produce?
7. Based on the articles you have read, the description of your fund, your analysis of the fund’s performance and your own values, evaluate whether the fund would be a good buy for building up your own college savings or retirement. Express your view in a well-developed paragraph.
Posted by: yamada | 05-17-2009 | 03:05 PM
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May 14/15
Students explored the risks and potential benefits of credit cards.
Homework: Final development study folder and presentations due May 18/19.
Posted by: yamada | 05-14-2009 | 03:05 PM
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May 12/13
Groups worked on the development study and prepared for presentations.
Homework: None for next class. Final development study folder and presentations due May 18/19.
Posted by: yamada | 05-14-2009 | 03:05 PM
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May 7/11
Mr. Yamada explained requirements for the development study presentation. We watched segments from the film Black Gold and identified connections with economic concepts.
Homework: None due next class. Begin work on Development Study assignment 5. We will work on presentations next class.
Posted by: yamada | 05-07-2009 | 03:05 PM
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May 5/6
Mr. Yamada gave a brief explanation of export-oriented growth versus import substitution and introduced the functions of fair trade and micro lending institutions. Students worked on the development study in class.
Homework: Complete Development Study assignment 4.
IB Economics Test:
Paper 1 — Monday, afternoon of May 11
Paper 2 — Tuesday, morning of May 12
Posted by: yamada | 05-05-2009 | 01:05 PM
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May 1/4
Today we learned about two growth models and examined conditions embedded in loans from the International Monetary Fund.
Homework: Complete sections one and two of assignment three. The rest of the assignment will be completed in class on May 5/6.
Posted by: yamada | 05-01-2009 | 03:05 PM
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April 29/30
We debriefed initial findings about our developing countries and formally introduced the barriers to growth and development.
Homework: Complete Assignment 2 of the country study (20 points), read chapter 32.
Posted by: yamada | 04-29-2009 | 03:04 PM
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April 27/28
We met in the library today to start work on the development study. See the previous post for the materials handed out in class.
Homework: Complete development study assignment #1 (20 points).
Posted by: yamada | 04-27-2009 | 12:04 PM
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Instructions for the Development Study
HIV/AIDS Addendum
Posted by: yamada | 04-26-2009 | 11:04 PM
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