The Economics of a Pandemic: The Market for N95 Masks
After completing the activity, you will be able to: 1. Use demand and supply analysis to explore the coronavirus’ effects on the N95 mask market. 2. Assess the impact of a (fictitious) government price regulation in the N95 mask market. Help a medical supply company navigate the uncertain issues of supply and demand during a sudden coronavirus outbreak.
You and a couple fellow managers at Safety Supplies are trying to navigate the uncertain future of the Coronavirus pandemic. Your company makes different types of personal protective equipment (PPE), and you are trying to understand how the current market situation is impacting the demand and the prices for the equipment.
The estimated time to complete the activity is 15–20 minutes. You should start when you have enough time to critically think through the scenario. However, if you need to exit the activity before completion, you will return to where you left off when you re-enter.
Learning Objectives
After completing the activity, you will be able to:
Use demand and supply analysis to explore the Coronavirus’ effects on the N95 mask market.
Assess the impact of a (fictitious) government price regulation in the N95 mask market.
Evaluation and Scoring
You will be asked to respond to a variety of questions as you complete the activity. Your responses may impact both your score and what happens next in the activity, so consider each answer option carefully. You will not have the ability to go back and change your answer.
Scoring is calculated as follows:
1. Points are received based on the answer you select for each question, and questions are tied to multiple scoring categories associated with the learning objectives.
2. Your scores for each category are based on the total number of points you earn for the associated questions.
3. You will receive one final activity score at the end of the activity that combines your results from each category.
Your instructor has assigned a total point value for this assignment. Your assignment grade is calculated based on the final percentage score you earn at the end of the activity.
