ECONOMICS SCATTERGORIES
Try this version of the popular game as a starter or revision exercise in economics
Basic rules
Here are the simple rules for playing Economics Scattergories
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Teams: Choose whether students are playing the game on their own or in small teams of 2 or 3 (the game
works best with between 5-7 teams per class)
Each player / team fills out a category list (e.g. List 1, List 2 etc.) with answers that must begin with the
same letter
Score points if no other player matches your answers
To win the game, score the most points
Game can be played in 1, 2 or 3 rounds depending on the time available – choose how long a team will
have for each round.
Choose a letter for the round – this can be done randomly or a letter chosen by the teacher
All players quickly fill in the first column of their answer sheets
Answers must fit the category, and must begin with the key letter
When the timer stops, all players must immediately stop writing
Players, in turn, read their answers aloud – they can only read what they have written down!
They mark their answer sheets by circling acceptable answers that do not match any other players’
answers
Score an extra point for using the key letter more than once as a first letter in your answer e.g. derived
demand scores two points and purchasing power parity scores 3!
Creative answers can be acceptable but if one player challenges the answer, the group must vote on its
acceptability!
In case of a vote, the majority rules – in the case of a tie, the teacher decides!
List 1
1. A currency
2. A retailer
3. A professional sports team
4. A product brand
5. A good or service with an inelastic demand
6. Name of a manufacturing business
7. Type of junk food
8. A developing economy
9. Magazines
10. Economic growth
List 2
1. A service sector business
1. Property market
2. Items in a vending machine
3. Microeconomics
4. Foreign cities
5. Commodities or commodity markets
6. Items you might save up to buy
7. Leisure activities
8. Housing market
9. An Economist (surname only)
List 3
1. Aspects of money
2. The music industry
3. Externalities
4. Things you throw away
5. Transport
6. Name of a sponsor of a sporting event
7. Something you can get for free
8. A city in the European Union
9. A luxury product
10. Any occupation / job
List 4
1. Something you might buy from a local market
2. Pair of complementary goods (only one to begin with chosen letter)
3. A consumer durable
4. Something the British economy has to import
5. A magazine or other publication
6. A word associated with the economic cycle
7. A business with some monopoly power
8. An innovation / invention
9. An item of government spending
10. An advertising slogan
List 5
1. Something that is taxed
2. A merit or de-merit good
3. An example of a variable cost of production
4. A foreign-owned business operating in the UK
5. A holiday resort or business
6. An inferior good
7. An economic concept
8. Pair of substitute goods (only one to begin with chosen letter)
9. Inflation and deflation
10. A brand of clothing
List 1
List 2
List 3
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List 4
List 5
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