A Sweet Price for Sugar?

Sugar prices have soared this year, even as the prices of many other commodities have remained relatively low due to weak demand during the economic crisis. Just last year, sugar prices were also low.

What is behind the high and rising sugar prices and what consequences do the rising prices have for the allocation of scarce resources and for three stakeholders in the economy -- producers, consumers, and governments?

The two articles below are so jam-packed with links to the material we have covered so far in our course, they make me giddy with excitement! I'd like you to read the articles, and to look at the video and price chart link that accompany The New York Times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/business/global/05sugar.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-sugar23-2009sep23,0,6252552.story

What connections do you see to our course? Tell us in 10 sentences or less - preferably focusing on one concept or theory. Depth is better than breadth!

How should kidneys be allocated?

After our scored discussion on how kidneys should be allocated, you wrote a reflection to capture your current thinking on the issue. I would like you to now access the following video on the organ trade in India. It is about 10 minutes long. On my computer the Quicktime "large" version works best, but you might have to play around with it.

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2006/07/india_a_pound_o.html

Does this video change your thinking at all?

Write a response to the question, "How should kidneys be allocated?" using what you have learned. I would like you to keep your response to less than 10 sentences.