Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Economics for Baccalaureate

The 1929 Great Depression: Origins and Global Impact

The global economic crisis, commonly known as the Great Depression, began in the late 1920s in the United States. U.S. banks had granted numerous loans to a large portion of the population. Investors, believing they could amass great fortunes with little money, invested their life savings. They began purchasing assets on credit, often without sufficient collateral or means to repay. Bank officers, eager to lend, approved these loans without proper security.

Unsecured Loans and Banking Collapse

Banks, in turn, relied on the Federal Reserve's gold reserves. However, as demand failed and investors were left without money to repay their loans, banks could not repay the Federal Reserve, which consequently...

The 1929 Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression

In 1929, the 'crack' (an English term for stock market collapse) in New York triggered a depression that affected almost the entire planet. For John Maynard Keynes, it represented one of the greatest economic catastrophes of modern history.

Real Economy vs. Financial Economy

To understand this complex event, one must differentiate between the real economy and the financial economy. The real economy is valued by the proper conduct of businesses, while the financial economy reflects the quotation of shares in the stock market. There must be a balance between both; the real situation of enterprises should correspond to the value of their shares. At times, this balance does not occur, and that is...

The 4 Rs: A Path to Sustainability

Recycling specialists insist that, beyond refining waste treatment, we must address the failure to reach a definitive solution regarding the drastic reduction of waste.

1. Reduce: Conscious Consumption

We need to prioritize proper purchasing habits. Often, we buy far more than necessary. Green consumption does not mean a diminution of quality of life, but rather a reasonable approach that considers the entire product cycle. This is not about deprivation, but about adapting our environment to our real needs.

2. Reuse: Extending Product Lifecycles

Everything we buy comes from somewhere and will eventually go somewhere else. Choosing rechargeable or reusable versions of products does not adversely affect quality of...