Unit Description:
In addition to teaching fundamental economic principles, this unit is an excellent crossover into the study of local government and community issues. In Matildaville, students must decide how a city ought to use vacant land, and solve an allocation problem. In trying to find an acceptable solution, students discover that there are a number of ways in which cities (and individuals, countries, etc.) can make investments. Students also discover that the type of investments made determines the level of both short run and long run economic growth. By gaining an understanding of the links between investment and growth, students add a temporal dimension to the question: What is produced and in what quantities?

Time Required:
4 - 5 days