World Geography
Rock, Paper, Scissors & Karl Marx
Purpose: The game is played to demonstrate Karl Marx’s view of capitalism and the free
market system (economies in which the government has little/no control).
Rules:
1. Each student is given two paper clips (units of money).
2. One paper clip is the minimum necessary for your survival. Any more than one paper
clip allows you to do with what you will.
3. Everyone has the same opportunity to earn more money by challenging others to a
game of rock, paper, and scissors.
4. You may accept or refuse a challenge to play, except from a player with more units of
money, in that case you must accept the challenge.
5. You may go at it alone, pool resources, divide winnings or create alliances.
6. The winner of each challenge takes one unit from the loser.
7. Once a player has no units and loses a match, they become the employee of the
winner of said match.
a. As an employee, the individual must challenge others on behalf of their boss.
Once two units are earned for the boss, the employee keeps one unit, gives
one to the boss and gains their independence.
8. If an employee with nothing loses to another, he becomes the employee of the new
winner, unless the new winner is also an employee. Then both work for the original
employer. (The employee plays with his labor, not the units of the employer. If your
employee loses, you lose your employee to the person who won, and he works for the
new employer.)
9. Employees may not challenge their boss.
Rock, Paper, Scissors Cheat Sheet
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scissors win over paper
paper wins over rock
rock wins over scissors
Name:
Date:
Core:
World Geography
Post Simulation Discussion Questions…
Directions: Answer the following questions based on your experience during the simulation.
1. What was it like for students who were employees during the simulation? _________________
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2. Why did people become employees instead of bosses? (Was it a choice - explain) __________
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3. Was it easy for most employees to gain their independence? ____________________________
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4. Was it easy for most students to become a boss? _____________________________________
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5. Was it easy for most bosses to stay in power after they gained a couple of employees? _______
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6. Describe the distribution of wealth (paperclips) at the end of our simulation. ______________
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