This page explains what to do for Assignment 1. These instructions are repeated in Module 5. The assignment demonstrates your ability to find reliable economic data and compare the economic performance of two different countries. You may NOT use the United States as your second country. Any other country is fine.

For data, include at least ten different statistics from the categories provided below. Make sure you use the same statistics for each country. At least one statistic needs to be an interest rate. The data should be from 2019 for both countries. If you can't find the right data, choose another country.

Categories

• Population
• Birth rate and death rate
• Immigration (both leaving and coming to the country)
• GDP (in dollar terms) - nominal
• GDP (in dollar terms) - real
• GDP growth (in %) over the last year or the last quarter
• GDP per capita
• Unemployment rate
• Participation rate
• Natural rate of unemployment
• Exchange rate - between the two countries or both compared to the US dollar
• Inflation rate (currently and recent experience over the last few years)
• Interest rates: prime rate, target rate, bank rate, short term money rate (specify what you are quoting)

Note:Make sure you usedifferentcategories. Three different interest rates don't count as separate statistics - they are all just interest rates.

Sources

To find economic data, use the sources below. You are required to use the sources cited for Canada since they provide the most up-to-date information. You can choose your own sources for the country you have selected. Look for reliable sources similar to similar to what StatsCan offers and make sure the data is current.

For Canada:

• Statistics Canada
• Bank of Canada

For Other Countries: (United States not allowed)

• The Economist
• The World Bank
• The World Factbook (CIA)
• The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSDN)
• The International Monetary Fund
• The Index Mundi

Note:Investopedia and Wikipedia are not acceptable sources. Please find a direct source for your data.

Criteria

This assignment is graded according to the following criteria:

• Providing a data table that compares ten different statistics between two countries. (5 marks)
• Providing a written comparison of the results you found in paragraph format. Comment on which country is superior based on each statistic and explain why. (3 marks)
• Indicating in writing, which country you think will show stronger growth in the next few years. Explain why, using the data you collected and any other information you feel is pertinent.(2 marks)