ASSIGNMENT+14

IN THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF THE CLASSROOM EDITION OF WSJ, READ PAGE 10, "MERRY WEALTH DESTRUCTION" (delicious.com/kathy39420). **USE FULL SENTENCES, CORRECT SPELLING AND GRAMMER, AND DETAILED ANSWERS!**

AS ECONOMISTS AND RETAILERS WORRY WHETHER CONSUMERS WILL SPEND ENOUGH OVER THE HOLIDAYS TO SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ONE ECONOMIST ARGUES THAT BUYING PRESENTS FOR OTHERS IS A WASTE OF MONEY.

1. ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PROFESSOR JOEL WALDFOGEL, HOW CAN GIFT BUYERS AVOID WASTEFUL SPENDING DURING THE HOLIDAYS?

2. EXPLAIN WHY MR. WALDFOGEL SAYS SPENDING LESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS DOES NOT HURT THE ECONOMY.

3. HOW OFTEN DO YOU RECEIVE GIFTS THAT YOU DON'T WANT OR LIKE? THINK ABOUT A GIFT YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED THAT YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT FOR YOURSELF. ESTIMATE ITS VALUE. WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE GIFT? THINK ABOUT A GIFT THAT YOU RECEIVED THAT YOU LOVED. WHAT MADE IT SPECIAL? DISCUSS WITH CLASS.