Focus on the Headline Unemployment Rate

This lesson plan explains why the composition effect makes it difficult to describe diverse populations with a single statistic. It provides instructions on building the graph below and includes prompts for both in-class and out-of-class assignments.

Storytelling with Data and FRED Interactive Modules

Data Citations: Learn how to use FRED® to create good data citations. The FRED Interactive modules can be embedded in your learning management system.

Quiz Yourself on the Composition Effect

The graph above shows the labor force participation rate of men and women veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The men’s rate is the solid orange line; the women’s rate is the solid magenta line; and the average across both genders is the dashed red line

Q1. Whose labor force participation rate was the highest?

Q2. Briefly explain why the labor force participation rate of all veterans is closest in value to the labor force participation rate of men veterans.

The graph above shows the year-to-year growth rate of average home prices in the United States (blue bars) in its 20 largest metropolitan areas (red bars).

Q1. Do the blue bars and red bars generally extend in the same direction or in opposite directions?

Q2. Briefly describe what happened in 2010 to overall home prices and home prices in the 20 largest metropolitan areas. Briefly explain how that illustrates the composition effect.

You can share these graphs with your students using this dashboard. To customize this dashboard, just click the “Save to My Account” button at the top of the dashboard.

Focus on Residential Segregation

This Page One Economics essay explains redlining was the practice of selectively classifying neighborhoods as most likely to default on repayment of a mortgage loan.

Focus on Home Values

This lesson plan provides instructions on building the graph below and includes prompts for both in-class and out-of-class assignments.

Storytelling with Data and FRED Interactive Modules

Mind the Units: Learn how to use several FRED® features for formatting graphs and customizing the data units. The FRED Interactive modules can be embedded in your learning management system.

Quiz Yourself on the Economic Consequences of Redlining

Q1. Between 1994 and 2020, which two racial and/or ethnic groups had the lowest rates of homeownership?

Q2. Between 1994 and 2020, which racial group had the highest rate of homeownership?

Q1. Between 2003 and 2019, which racial group’s estimated market value of owned home was the lowest?

Q2. Between 2003 and 2019, which racial group’s estimated market value of owned home was the highest?

You can share these graphs with your students using this dashboard. To customize this dashboard, just click the “Save to My Account” button at the top of the dashboard.

Focus on Royalties and License Fees

This assignment provides instructions on building the graph below and includes writing prompts for out-of-class assignments.

Using GeoFRED® to Compare Granted Patents Across States

This assignment provides instructions on creating the map below and suggests prompts for in-class discussion. See how you do on our sample discussion question below.

Click on the map above to view an interactive version.
Question: Name three states with more than 10,000 granted patents during 2019. Don’t overlook Hawaii and Alaska!

Storytelling with Data and FRED Interactive Modules

Doing Basic Math: Learn how to use several FRED® features for transforming and visualizing data and apply basic mathematical formulas to the data. The FRED Interactive modules can be embedded in your learning management system.

Quiz Yourself on the Economics of Innovation

Q1. Between 1992 and 2020, which was the most frequently granted type of patent in the U.S.?

Q2. Between 1992 and 2020, which was the second-most frequently granted type of patent in the U.S.?

Click on the map above to view an interactive version.

Q1. Name three foreign countries originating more than 5,000 granted patents in the U.S. during 2020.

Q2. Name three foreign countries originating between 500 and 1,000 granted patents in the U.S. during 2020.

Q1. In 1992, which country originated the largest number of granted patents in the U.S.?

Q2. In 1992, which country originated the second-largest number of granted patents in the U.S.?

Q3. In 2020, which country originated the second-largest number of granted patents in the U.S.?

Now that you’ve aced this quiz, give it to your students using this dashboard. To customize this dashboard, just click the “Save to My Account” button at the top of the dashboard.

Focus on Real Output per Hour Worked

This assignment provides instructions on building the graph below and includes writing prompts for out-of-class assignments.

Using GeoFRED® to Compare Labor Productivity Growth Across States

This assignment provides instructions on creating the map below and suggests prompts for in-class discussion. See how you do on our sample discussion question below.

Click on the map above to view an interactive version.
Question: Name the state with the highest labor productivity growth during 2020. Don’t overlook Hawaii and Alaska!

Storytelling with Data and FRED Interactive Modules

Index Numbers: Learn how to use several FRED® features to use index numbers to measure growth in prices: changing the data units and applying a formula to the data. The FRED Interactive modules can be embedded in your learning management system.

Quiz Yourself on Productivity

Q1. Between 1955 and 1961 where did total factor productivity at constant prices grow faster—in the U.S. or in China?

Q2. Between 2000 and 2008 where did total factor productivity at constant prices grow faster—in the U.S. or in China?

Q3. Compared with the previous decade, between 2009 and 2019 did the growth in total factor productivity at constant prices in the U.S. and in China increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Q1. Between 1988 and 2008 where did labor productivity grow faster—in the durable or in the non-durable manufacturing sector?

Q2. Compared with the years between 1988 and 2008, between 2009 and 2019 did labor productivity in both durable and non-durable manufacturing increase, decrease, or stay the same?

The graph above shows the growth rates of output per unit of capital services, or capital productivity.

Q1. Between 1992 and 2000 where did capital productivity grow faster—in the durable or in the non-durable manufacturing sector?

Q2. Consider the growth rate of capital productivity in both durable and non-durable manufacturing between 1988 and 2019 during recessions –the shaded areas in the graph. Did it increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Now that you’ve aced this quiz, give it to your students using this dashboard. To customize this dashboard, just click the “Save to My Account” button at the top of the dashboard.