Managerial Economic Principles - Course Modules	Example Case Analysis Discussion Questions
Unit 1: Conduct Cost Benefit AnalysisRemember the Business Operating Rule: MC=MR	What are example costs of the Littleville town? Provide specific examples. What are example revenues of the Littleville town? Provide specific examples. What are example potential benefits of the Littlevile town? Provide specific examples
Unit 2: Consider Opportunity Costs	What are example trade-offs on the Littleville town? Provide specific examples.
Unit 3: Analyze Total Economic Costs, Not only Accounting Costs	What are example economic costs of the Littleville town? Provide specific examples. What are example accounting costs of the Littleville town? Provide specific examples.
Unit 4: Apply Economic Theory of Unintended Consequences	Explain/describe some unintended consequences of the Littleville town. Provide specific examples.
Unit 5: Find Your Comparative Advantage	Make a discussion on what was the Littleville town's comparative advantage? Provide specific examples.
Unit 6: Remember Economic Theory vs. Economic Practice	Consider examples of economic theory diverge from economic practice. Provide specific examples.
Unit 7: Diversify Business Strategies to Minimize Risks: Balanced Approach	Explain/describe sharing of costs (balanced approach) to solve the Littlevilles town's problem. Provide specific examples.
Unit 8: Engage in Critical Economic Thinking: Always Have Evidence/Data to Support Decision Making	What data, evidence would the Littleville town need to support decision- making process? Provide specific examples.

Littleville was a river town consisting of farmers, a few merchants supplying goods and services, a few churches, a police station, a courthouse, and a community hall. All the people worked hard to earn money, but the money in the town simply circulated among the townspeople, with the merchants and city workers buying food from the farmers, the farmers buying goods and services from the merchants, and the farmers and merchants paying taxes, which paid the city workers. The town was poor, with little prospect for growth.

The city also had a sewage service. Each house had a sewer pipe that joined a larger pipe under the street. Each of the street pipes was connected to an even larger pipe that carried the waste to the river. And that was the end of the line. The waste dumped directly into the river.

Over time, the river became more and more polluted. Several town members, sickened by the foul river, urged Littleville leaders to build a sewage treatment facility, but the leaders said they would not spend the town's limited money on sewage; there were more important services to provide, like twice-weekly trash collection. After all, it was a very poor town.