As the world's economy muddles through "the great recession," how will capitalism and the global
economy reinvent itself?
TED speakers -- including Niall Ferguson, Naomi Klein, Alain de Botton, Stefan Sagmeister and many
others -- place their bets and discuss prosperity.
Your role as budding economists and business professionals is to review, research, analyze, and discuss
the principle ideas of one of the contemporary thinkers and their TED Talk, which are listed below:
Niall Ferguson: The 6 killer apps of prosperity.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/niall_ferguson_the_6_killer_apps_of_prosperity.html
Shashi Tharoor: Why nations should pursue "soft" power
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/shashi_tharoor.html
Jacqueline Novogratz on patient capitalism
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/jacqueline_novogratz_on_patient_capitalism.html
Stefan Sagmeister: The power of time off
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off.html
Barry Schwartz on the paradox of choice
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html
Nic Marks: The Happy Planet Index
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/nic_marks_the_happy_planet_index.html
Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/alain_de_botton_a_kinder_gentler_philosophy_of_success.html
Halla Tomasdottir: A feminine response to Iceland's financial crash
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/halla_tomasdottir.html
Naomi Klein: Addicted to risk
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/naomi_klein_addicted_to_risk.html
Paul Collier on the "bottom billion"
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/paul_collier_shares_4_ways_to_help_the_bottom_billion.html
Benjamin Wallace on the price of happiness
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/benjamin_wallace_on_the_price_of_happiness.html
Rachel Botsman: The case for collaborative consumption
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/rachel_botsman_the_case_for_collaborative_consumption.html
Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/chip_conley_measuring_what_makes_life_worthwhile.html
Martin Jacques: Understanding the rise of China
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/martin_jacques_understanding_the_rise_of_china.html
John Gerzema: The post-crisis consumer
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/john_gerzema_the_post_crisis_consumer.html
Auret van Heerden: Making global labor fair
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/auret_van_heerden_making_global_labor_fair.html
Accurately follow the instructions listed below for you and, at your own discretion, with a partner from
the class:
a. Select a video of interest, watch it, and think critically about its content.
b. Explain why you selected this TED Talk? What interested you? Et cetera.
c. Read the "Profile on TED" for the lecturer you viewed, and explain who they are and
why people should listen to him/her.
d. Select your favourite quote by this individual, and explain how it relates to economics or
business.
e. What do you believe to be the lecturers thesis statement?
f. Develop your own thesis statement either for or against the lecturers views.
g. Expand on your thesis statement by utilizing the information from the TED Talk and
other literature to support your claim.
h. Reference your claims by citing both the TED Talk and any literature you utilize.
i. Ensure that any citations and your works cited page are completed using MLA.
j. Your work should be at least 4-5 Pages double spaced.
This research assignment is due to be submitted, complete with an MLA formatted title page and
bibliography, no later than May 31st, 2012. A late penalty of one full level will apply to those papers
submitted after this date.