個案總覽

In early 2022, the economy was in a precarious situation. After a pandemic-induced recession that saw the global economy grind to a halt, the U.S. entered a phase of recovery. Unemployment was nearing record-lows and GDP surpassed its pre-covid levels. However, prices had been rising for months and unexpected factors, including a disruption of global supply chains, the threat of new covid variants, and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, meant a variety of goods were not making it to consumers without major delays, driving prices to even greater heights. In fact, inflation in February climbed to 7.9%, marking the biggest annual increase in four decades. Calls on the Fed to take decisive action to tame inflation intensified, however any decision would be closely scrutinized, and the Fed was wary to repeat past mistakes.

Spreadsheet supplement for case CU370.

In early 2022, the economy was in a precarious situation. After a pandemic-induced recession that saw the global economy grind to a halt, the U.S. entered a phase of recovery. Unemployment was nearing record-lows and GDP surpassed its pre-covid levels. However, prices had been rising for months and unexpected factors, including a disruption of global supply chains, the threat of new covid variants, and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, meant a variety of goods were not making it to consumers without major delays, driving prices to even greater heights. In fact, inflation in February climbed to 7.9%, marking the biggest annual increase in four decades. Calls on the Fed to take decisive action to tame inflation intensified, however any decision would be closely scrutinized, and the Fed was wary to repeat past mistakes.

First emerging in China in early January 2020, the lethal COVID-19 virus quickly spread throughout Europe and to the US east coast, with New York City as the epicenter. In March the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Policy makers agreed that a vaccine would be necessary to control the virus, however, interim measures would be necessary until a safe vaccine could be developed, manufactured and distributed. The key initiatives undertaken in "flattening the curve" of the virus's spread included voluntary social distancing, frequent sanitation of hands and surfaces, and, in some instances, mandatory lockdowns. These measures forced many businesses to operate at limited capacity and also reduced the supply of some inputs such as labor. By December 2020 several vaccines had been developed and the world awaited mass distribution, while thousands of people continued to succumb to COVID-19 every day. In this environment, despite regulatory, monetary, and fiscal responses to the crisis, there was both uncertainty about the short-run path to economic recovery as well as the long-term impact of COVID-19 for the global economy. In this case, students will work with a Microsoft Excel-built simulation tool to help understand how disease dynamics work and how it affects the economy.

This case details the competitive and macroeconomic challenges that faced the automobile giant before and after the onset of the 2008 financial crisis-including continually rising commodity prices, looming declines in demand for its automobiles, high fixed costs, and the financial exposure that resulted from dependence on its financing division to remain profitable. Students are asked to analyze data (provided in a supplementary spreadsheet) to recommend what the best course of action for GM would have been in response to the approaching financial crisis.

Spreadsheet Supplement for Case CU322

Spreadsheet supplement for Case CU312

Durabuild Inc., a US-based, family-owned construction company with affiliates in France, wants to recapture the high growth levels that it enjoyed in France in the decades following World War II. The founder's grandson reflects on the economic factors that affected growth there and in the United States during that midcentury period and beyond, and he discusses with the current president (his father) whether the company should now consider expanding into China. This case introduces students to the Solow Model and how various economic factors affect productivity. In a related assignment, students are asked to explain why France grew so quickly and why growth slowed down and never fully caught up to that of the United States.

Durabuild Inc., a US-based, family-owned construction company with affiliates in France, wants to recapture the high growth levels that it enjoyed in France in the decades following World War II. The founder's grandson reflects on the economic factors that affected growth there and in the United States during that midcentury period and beyond, and he discusses with the current president (his father) whether the company should now consider expanding into China. This case introduces students to the Solow Model and how various economic factors affect productivity. In a related assignment, students are asked to explain why France grew so quickly and why growth slowed down and never fully caught up to that of the United States.