Research Card 1: CHIPS and Science Act / Semiconductor Supply Chains
Semiconductors are tiny computer chips, but they power huge parts of modern life: phones, cars, medical devices, military equipment, and artificial intelligence. When chip shortages disrupted businesses and raised concerns about U.S. dependence on other countries, the federal government treated semiconductor production as more than a private industry issue. This case asks you to investigate why the government stepped into a high-tech market and what that decision reveals about economic policy today.
Research Card 2: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act / Transportation Funding
Roads, bridges, rail lines, ports, airports, and public transit systems shape how people travel, how businesses move goods, and how communities grow. When infrastructure becomes outdated, unsafe, or unable to meet modern needs, the problem can affect daily life and the broader economy at the same time. This case asks you to investigate why infrastructure became a national economic policy issue and what happens when the government uses public resources to shape long-term economic activity.
Research Card 3: Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decisions and Inflation
When prices rise quickly, people may feel the effects in groceries, rent, loans, and everyday purchases. One major institution involved in responding to inflation is the Federal Reserve, whose decisions can influence borrowing, lending, saving, and spending across the economy. This case asks you to investigate why interest rates became part of the response to inflation and why a policy meant to create stability can affect different people and businesses in different ways.
Research Card 4: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Taxes shape how much money individuals keep, how businesses plan, and how much revenue the government has for public needs. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made major changes to federal tax law and became part of a larger debate about growth, investment, public revenue, and fairness. This case asks you to investigate how tax policy can be used as an economic tool and why changing taxes can raise larger questions about what the government should prioritize.
Research Card 5: FTC Junk Fees Rule for Ticket and Hotel Pricing
A price can look affordable at first and then become much higher once extra fees appear at checkout. The Federal Trade Commission’s Junk Fees Rule focused national attention on pricing practices in areas such as event tickets and short-term lodging. This case asks you to investigate why pricing transparency became an economic policy issue and what it shows about the relationship between consumers, businesses, and government rules.
Research Card 6: OSHA Workplace Safety Regulation and Enforcement
Workplaces create jobs and economic opportunity, but they can also create risks for the people who work in them. OSHA is connected to federal efforts to address workplace safety and health, which makes it a useful case for thinking about the government’s role in private economic activity. This case asks you to investigate why workplace safety became a matter of economic governance and what tensions can emerge when the government sets rules for businesses.