Economics 100 Analysis: Annual Real GDP Growth Rates

I. Compare the economic performance of Germany to that of another nation. Each student must locate and analyze at least three (3) annual economic indicators for each economy. The 3 indicators may be chosen from:
• Annual real GDP growth rates from 2006-2016.
• Per capita real GDP from 2006-2016.
• Inflation rates from 2006-2016.
• Unemployment rates from 2006-2016.
• Government debt/GDP ratio from 2006-2016.
• Trade deficits or surpluses from 2006-2016.
II. GUIDELINES: For each data series, discuss whether it indicates strength or weakness in the economies. Graph each data series you have selected. How did the two economies perform during the global financial crisis (2008-2009) and during the aftermath? Include additional context to enrich your analysis. You must develop at least two hypotheses which provide potential explanations for similarities and differences in performance across economies. For example, “Portugal is on the periphery of the EU and likely to underperform Germany, an economy at the core.”
Be sure you include an overall assessment as well as your own opinion.
III. RECOMMENDED SOURCES:
IMF (especially Article IV reports)
World Bank
Eurostat
IV. You may select any country, subject to my approval, so long as you can locate the appropriate data.
Suggestions: South Africa, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Latvia, Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, China, Ireland, India, Italy, France, Russia, South Korea, Canada.
V. Length of paper: 6-8 pages, double-spaced, using a 12-pt font. Graphs can be included in the text or presented in an appendix. Either way, they do not count against the page limit. Also, you should include a list of references and footnotes as appropriate. Late submissions will be assessed a 10% penalty.