Learning Economics Through Current Issues 2
Teacher guideline
A. Aims:
Through this activity, students can:
1. organize news content systematically;
2. analyze current issues with learnt economic concepts;
3. go further for inquiry;
4. apply related economic concepts to news issue and daily observation;
5. enhance thinking skills.
B. Learning Process:
After finishing the activity, teachers should:
1. assess students’ work.
2.
3.
4.
evaluate students’ performance.
give feedback: discuss/analyze students’ work, point out how students can
improve.
modulate the worksheets according to students’ progress.
C. Use of worksheet:
In order to facilitate a more flexible use of current issues in class discussion with
students, the format of the worksheets is not standardized. Teachers can adopt
the worksheets and reschedule the order of questions according to students’
ability and teaching schedule.
D. Citation and References
Teachers should emphasize the importance of citation. Students are required to
cite every reference at the end of each piece of news commentary.
News Commentary Worksheet_ Teacher Guideline
Page 1
E. News Summary
(1) Minibus Accidents
Materials
： Minibus Accidents & Worksheets
Source
： 1. 「薪酬制度或與意外有關」
，蘋果日報，2009 年 8 月 26 日。
2. 「規定受僱營運商 杜絕「走多轉」加速」
，文匯報，2009 年
8 月 26 日。
Supplementary
Materials
： 1. Motor vehicle involvements and involvement rates by
selected class of motor vehicle (2008) (extract).
Transport Development: Summary of Key Statistics
(Table 3.1)
http://www.td.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_20
15/08fig3.1e.pdf
2. LCQ12: Safe driving is the proper attitude of PLB
drivers. Legislative Council, Press Releases
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/22/P20
0602220195.htm
3. 「保險蝕本 保費飈六成」，明報，2009 年 7 月 28 日。
Abstract
Related Concept
： Reasons causing many minibus accidents.
： Opportunity Cost, Different Wage Payment systems,
private benefit, private cost, external cost and Demand
and Supply.
No. of Lesson
required
： Two consecutive lessons
(2) Standard Chartered Commemorative Charity Banknotes
Materials
： Standard Chartered Commemorative Charity Banknotes
Source
： 1.
Paggie Leung, “StanChart marks anniversary with HK$150
note”, South China Morning Post, September 9, 2009
2.
Alfred Liu and Adele Wong, “New $150 notes are real bang
for the buck”, The standard, September 9, 2009
Supplementary
Materials
Abstract
： Diana Lee, “Banknote rush hits a sour note”, The Standards,
July 15, 2008.
： Explore the problems of shortage in the sale of commemorative
banknotes and possible solutions.
Related concept
： Demand & Supply ,Opportunity Cost and Function of Money
No. of Lesson
： Two consecutive lessons
required
News Commentary Worksheet_ Teacher Guideline
Page 2
(3) Local Retail Industry
Materials
： Local Retail Industry
Source
： 1.
2.
Supplementary
： 1.
Materials
2.
「港島『有工無人做』
」，星島日報，2009 年 9 月 14 日。
「好老闆培訓員工保送大學 實惠擴五分店增聘 200 人」
，星島日報，2009
年 9 月 14 日。
A summary of Turnover Rates and Vacancy Rates in
the First Quarter of 2009 (by business sector).
HKIHRM survey shows employee turnover at record
low
for
first
quarter
of
2009
(Chart
2)
http://www.hkihrm.org/common_files/press/english
/files/12865.7311201096trvrQ109_pr_e_web_v2.pdf
A summary of Turnover Rates and Vacancy rates (First
Quarter of 2003-First Quarter of 2009). HKIHRM
survey shows employee turnover at record low for first
quarter of 2009 (Chart 1)
http://www.hkihrm.org/common_files/press/english
/files/12865.7311201096trvrQ109_pr_e_web_v2.pdf
： Explore the retail industry in Hong Kong with reference to
Abstract
the example of Pricerite.
Related concept ： Labour Mobility, Labour, Productivity and Hong Kong
Economic Situation
No. of Lesson
： Two consecutive lessons
required
(4) Income Inequality in Hong Kong
News
Source
： Income Inequality in Hong Kong
1.
「6 個港人 1 個貧 10 年新高」，香港經濟日報，2009 年 9 月 28
日。
2.
「港貧窮人口高達 123 萬 貧富日益懸殊 社聯促撥 17 億扶貧」，
星島日報，2009 年 9 月 28 日。
Supplementary
3.
「2009 年最新貧窮及失業數據分析」香港社會服務聯會
1.
Poverty Population in Hong Kong (Thousands) (99-first half
Resources
of 09). 2009 updated poverty and unemployment data
analysis, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
2.
The
median
monthly
income
between
High
income
households and low income households (89-first half of 09).
2009 updated poverty and unemployment data analysis,
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
Related concept
： Efficiency, Equity and Trade off between efficiency and equity.
News Commentary Worksheet_ Teacher Guideline
Page 3
Abstract
： Investigate the problems of income inequality in Hong Kong.
No. of Lesson
： Two consecutive lessons
required
F. Teaching Procedures:
1.
Before the lesson:
Students are strongly recommended to study the news beforehand. They can
highlight some crucial words that are related to economics or they have come
across in economics when they are reading the news article. This can prepare
students for later economic analysis.
2.
After the lesson：

Students need to prepare a 400-word report (e.g. news commentary,
proposal) with reference to the worksheets. Teachers can refer to the
suggested reports in the worksheets for this part. (The number of words
required is subject to the ability of the students.)

Teachers can assess students’ work and give feedbacks to facilitate students’
improvement.
News Commentary Worksheet_ Teacher Guideline
Page 4