Living on One Dollar / Micro Loans

Living on One Dollar (2013): This movie is available on Hulu and Netflix, but it's currently also available on YouTube.  (https://youtu.be/tmQujWTMuC8)

LIVING ON ONE DOLLAR (QUESTIONS)

1. What is something important that you took away from this movie?
2. What surprised you about the lives of the poor?
3. What do you think would be the hardest thing for you, living on $1 a day in that village?
4. What were some of the hardest things you saw in Chino’s life?
5. How did you feel when you saw that Chino wanted to go to school but his family didn’t have enough money to send him there?
6. What do you think Zach, Chris, Sean and Ryan learned by living on $1 a day themselves instead of just reading about it?
7. Did Zach, Chris, Sean and Ryan each get exactly $1 to spend every day? Why not?
8. Chino’s family couldn’t afford to send him to school, but Rosa was using the money from her weaving business to go to school, herself. What helped her start her business?
9. What is something in your life that you will no longer take for granted after watching this?
10. What is one small thing you can do today to make a difference for someone around you?

Here's more information on Micro Loans -- a concept being evangelized by actress Natalie Portman.  "Natalie Portman: Small Loans Go a Long Way".
This is an explanation of how programs like FINCA can make a difference in the lives of the worlds poor -- especially for women.
Alternate Assignment: Answer the following questions:

1. What are the economic “productive resources” of the radish farm?
2. What were some of the “opportunity costs” made by the native population?
3. How does the “Traditional Economic System” handle the three basic systems of what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom to produce?
4. Define “Supply and Demand” and give examples from the movie.
5. What are some factors that cause changes in market supply and demand?
6. What is the basic function of money in this society?  Why don’t they trade through barter?
7. How does a "micro loan" help a family out of poverty?
8. Why do "micro loans" help women more than men, typically.

Tennessee Economic Standards: E.1, E.2, E.6, E.11, E.17, E.49

Finally, why give someone a loan when you can give them a donation?