Bring a bag of candy to school like M & M's or Hershey's Kisses. Tell the students ot pas the bag around the room and take what they want. Do not set any rules . The bag will probably be emptied before it gets arond the room. Ask students why it was depleted so quickly: Some people did not get any candy although there was enough candy for everyone to begin with. Then ask students how they would treat the candy if they owned it.
Answer: They would control its use and use it in their interest. For Example, they would allocate the candy so everyone got a share, or they might decide to save some candy, for future use. People take batter care of things they own.
Market economy - Governed by supply and demand. Altered by governemental regulation.
Command economy - Owners of production (ususally the government) force production based on available resources and need.
Keys are ownership, competition. Availibility of Supplies can be increased either through production or through conservation.
Which is cleaner; Your school's corridors or your living room?
People litter because it reduces their waste disposal costs but it imposes on others. Mose home owners will pick up litter in their living room Fewer people will pick up litter in the school corridors.
Which stuff that you own do you take very good care of?
Which stuff that you own do you not take very good care of?
Should discuss ownership and the idea that some things are more important than others. People take better care of the things they value or things they have that other people value.
How does the way you clean your room differ from the way your mom or dad clean your room?
Your room may be messy because you value orderliness and cleanness less than adults do but you do value the stuff in your room. Parents may throw out some of your precious things because they do not see the value.
What would hapen if your valued resource was water. You are allowed to use up to 100 gallons of water per week. You will be chared $1 per gallon whether you use the water or not, so the total cost of wter per week is $100 to anyone on the water line. But you are allowed to sell any or all of your 100 gallons water allowance. How would you choose to use the water if you could sell it for $.10, $10.00 or $100.oo per gallon?
Students should realize that at $.10 per gallon , little incentive exists to save and sell the water. At $10 and $100 per gallon people would dramatically conserve their water use in order to reap the benefits of extra income by selling the water.