Message from Clay Dube

[clay dube]

Looking for a way to interest students in discussing current economic news and international trade? Photos of how the economic downturn has affected vehicle imports might do it. The LA and Long Beach ports are full of cars that they can't move elsewhere as no one is buying. Toyota, Nissan, and Mercedes Benz are all looking for more land to rent to store the cars they've already brought to America. Here's a slide show from the NY Times on the subject:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/11/17/business/1117-PORTS_index.html?adxnnl=1&ref=multimedia&adxnnlx=1227389182-XrErCYmzizbkQaXxhmX5wQ

Here's the accompanying article. It includes a great graph showing how many days supply of cars the manufacturers now have. Hyundai in 2006 had a 59 day supply, now it has 115 days. Toyota had a 42 day supply and now has 78.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/business/economy/19ports.html?sq=long%20beach&st=cse&scp=1&pagewanted=all

Please share your ideas and experiences teaching about the national and international economy.