1) Explain why increasing the government budget deficit can decrease investment spending. In what circumstances would you consider budget deficits appropriate/inappropriate? Think about the flip side to that as well: budget surpluses?

2) Use the rule of 70 (or also called the rule of 72) to illustrate how small differences in growth rates can have a large impact on how rapidly the standard of living in a country increases.

3) Discuss financial intermediaries and how they function in financial markets. How do financial intermediaries affect risk in the financial market?

4) How might have the educational system of the United States contributed to the productivity slowdown of the mid 1970s to the mid 1990s? (this is an open-ended question; feel free to comment at will)

5) Discuss some of the various economic aspects of globalization (positive and/or negative).