Detective Agency Station Signs
Classified
Goods Division
Case Dossier #01
Station One
The Commuter Dilemma
Your Detective Mission:
Analyze both commuter travel lanes. Determine whether each is Excludable (can you easily prevent someone from using it?) and Rival (does one driver's use reduce space for others?). Then, classify each as a Private, Public, Club, or Common Resource good.
Evidence Exhibit A Toll Lane
The Express Toll Lane
Commuters must pay a steep $5.00 automated fee to enter this clean, barrier-separated high-occupancy toll lane. Because of the high price, very few drivers choose to use it. Consequently, the lane is never crowded, and cars consistently cruise smoothly at 70 mph.
Key Clue: Pay to Enter / No Traffic
Evidence Exhibit B Rural Route
The Open Highway
A toll-free, open interstate running through rural Wyoming. There are absolutely no toll booths, gates, or usage restrictions. Because of the remote location, there is virtually zero other traffic on the road. Anyone can drive on it at any time, and your presence has no impact on anyone else.
Key Clue: Free Access / Wide Open Road
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 1 of your Lab Manual
Classified
Goods Division
Case Dossier #02
Station Two
The Fishing Expeditions
Your Detective Mission:
Analyze these two methods of securing seafood. Evaluate their excludability and rivalry. Determine which scenario faces the risk of overconsumption (the "Tragedy of the Commons") and label both correctly.
Evidence Exhibit A Open Ocean
Deep Sea Cod Fishing
Commercial fishing vessels steam out into international waters to catch wild Atlantic cod. Because these waters belong to no nation, there are no property rights and anyone can throw in a net. However, cod populations are limited. Every fish hauled onto one boat is a fish that other boats can never catch.
Key Clue: Shared Waters / Depleting Stock
Evidence Exhibit B Store Seafood
Supermarket Salmon
A customer walks up to the seafood counter at the local supermarket to purchase fresh salmon fillets. The store clerk keeps the fish locked under glass. To leave the store with the fish, you must hand over cash to the cashier. Once purchased and eaten by your family, that specific salmon is gone.
Key Clue: Price Tag / Sole Ownership
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 1 of your Lab Manual
Classified
Goods Division
Case Dossier #03
Station Three
Entertainment Access
Your Detective Mission:
Compare modern digital streaming and classic over-the-air television. Solve the mystery: How does requiring a password alter a good's economic profile, even if there is plenty of bandwidth for everyone?
Evidence Exhibit A Streaming Service
NetStream Subscription
NetStream is a popular digital platform. To watch their movies, you must set up an account and pay a recurring monthly fee of $15. If you do not pay, your access is instantly blocked. However, when you watch a show, it doesn't degrade the streaming quality or limit availability for the millions of other users.
Key Clue: Login Required / Infinite Views
Evidence Exhibit B Broadcast TV
Over-The-Air Local TV
Local news and network shows are broadcast freely over public electromagnetic waves. Anyone with a basic $15 television antenna can capture the signal and watch on their screen for free. One thousand households tuning in at the exact same moment does not weaken or block the signal for anyone else.
Key Clue: Free Airwaves / Zero Signal Loss
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 1 of your Lab Manual
Classified
Goods Division
Case Dossier #04
Station Four
The Swimming Water
Your Detective Mission:
Crack the case of water-based recreation! Determine if access to these locations can be easily blocked, and if one more swimmer ruins the fun for others. Classify each location.
Evidence Exhibit A Crowded Beach
The Public Beach
A beautiful, wide sandy beach on a lake. It is completely open to the general public for free, with multiple open entry pathways. However, on hot summer weekends, thousands of citizens arrive. The beach gets extremely packed—there is no place to put a towel, and swimmers bump into each other in the crowded water.
Key Clue: Free Entry / Congested Space
Evidence Exhibit B Gated Pool
The Club Pool
An pristine community swimming pool surrounded by a high chain-link fence. The gate is equipped with an electronic reader requiring a keycard. Only neighborhood residents who pay their annual homeowner dues can swipe in. The pool has strict occupancy limits, so it is never crowded or congested.
Key Clue: Keycard Locked / Plenty of Space
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 1 of your Lab Manual
Classified
Elasticity Division
Case Dossier #05
Station Five
Life-Saving vs. Luxury
Your Detective Mission:
Determine how much buyers care about price hikes based on Necessity vs. Luxury. Evaluate which item has Elastic demand (buyers will run away if prices rise) vs. Inelastic demand (buyers must purchase it anyway).
Evidence Exhibit A Medical Tech
EpiPen Auto-Injector
An EpiPen is a portable medical device that delivers a critical dose of epinephrine to instantly halt severe, life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). If a child has a deadly peanut allergy, parents must buy this device. If the pharmacy raises the price by 100%, parents will still sacrifice other goods to purchase it.
Clue: Essential / No Choice
Evidence Exhibit B Fashion House
Designer Silk Scarves
These are luxury Italian silk neck scarves, printed with beautiful patterns. While stylish and popular with fashion enthusiasts, they do not provide protection from weather or physical harm. If the designer boutique raises the price from $100 to $180, customers will easily walk away and buy other brands or skip scarves entirely.
Clue: Optional / Easy to Avoid
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 2 of your Lab Manual
Classified
Elasticity Division
Case Dossier #06
Station Six
Monopoly vs. Choice
Your Detective Mission:
Investigate how the Availability of Substitutes controls market power. Identify which good has highly elastic demand and which has highly inelastic demand due to alternative options.
Evidence Exhibit A Condiment Aisle
Heinz Tomato Ketchup
A premium, well-known brand of tomato ketchup. If Heinz decides to increase the price of its standard squeeze bottle from $3.50 to $5.50, shoppers standing in the grocery store aisle will instantly spot Hunt's, Del Monte, and supermarket store-brand ketchup sitting right beside it for cheaper.
Clue: Packed Shelves / Many Brands
Evidence Exhibit B City Infrastructure
Municipal Tap Water
The municipal clean tap water piped directly into every household sink, shower, and toilet. There are no competing water pipe networks connected to homes. For drinking, cooking, cleaning, and hygiene, citizens have no alternative supply. If the city utility raises rates by 40%, consumption barely changes.
Clue: Only Supplier / Essential System
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 2 of your Lab Manual
Classified
Elasticity Division
Case Dossier #07
Station Seven
The Ticking Clock
Your Detective Mission:
Determine how the Time Horizon dictates consumer flexibility. How does having 10 minutes to make a purchase versus 10 months to adapt affect a consumer's price sensitivity?
Evidence Exhibit A Immediate
The Empty Tank Today
A commuter is driving home on a cold night. Suddenly, their dashboard low-fuel indicator flashes red. The gauge indicates only 2 miles of range remaining. The driver pulls off at the next exit and spots a single gas station. The station is charging an exorbitant price of $5.80 per gallon, but they cannot wait.
Clue: Zero Warning / Instant Need
Evidence Exhibit B Long Run
The One-Year Commute
A worker has a long commute and notes that fuel costs are steadily trending upward across the entire country. Over the next year, they evaluate their options: purchasing a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle, organizing an office carpool, or transitioning to taking the local commuter light rail.
Clue: Time to Plan / Adaptable Habits
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 2 of your Lab Manual
Classified
Elasticity Division
Case Dossier #08
Station Eight
Wallet Percentage
Your Detective Mission:
Compare how a household responds to price shifts on a tiny purchase versus an immense investment. How does the Budget Share alter a buyer's vigilance and flexibility?
Evidence Exhibit A Micro Spend
Canister of Table Salt
A family purchases a single canister of iodized table salt for $1.50, which sits in their pantry and lasts an entire year. Even if the supermarket doubles the price of the salt canister to $3.00, it represents a tiny fraction of their annual budget. The family buys it without a second thought.
Clue: Tiny Cost / Ignored Change
Evidence Exhibit B Macro Spend
A New Family Car
A family is buying a $30,000 electric crossover SUV, which represents nearly 40% of their annual household take-home income. They closely negotiate interest rates, compare five different dealerships across three counties, and if the sticker price rises by just 5%, they will actively delay the purchase or buy used instead.
Clue: Major Investment / High Scrutiny
Case Status: Under Investigation
Record your findings on page 2 of your Lab Manual
Detective Lab Manual Worksheet
Top Secret
Confidential Case Report
Economic Detective Agency
AGENT: _________________________
DATE: _________ CLASS: _____
Goods Division Briefing: Goods are Excludable if non-payers can be prevented from consuming them, and Rival if one person's consumption reduces the quantity available to others. Check the boxes and classify each station.
Station 1: The Commuter Dilemma
EXHIBITS A & B
EXHIBIT A (Toll Lane)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
EXHIBIT B (Wyoming Highway)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
Clue Reasoning (Explain your classifications):
Station 2: Fishing Expeditions
EXHIBITS A & B
EXHIBIT A (Ocean Cod Fishing)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
EXHIBIT B (Supermarket Salmon)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
Clue Reasoning (Explain your classifications):
Station 3: Entertainment Access
EXHIBITS A & B
EXHIBIT A (NetStream Service)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
EXHIBIT B (Broadcast Local TV)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
Clue Reasoning (Explain your classifications):
Station 4: Swimming Waters
EXHIBITS A & B
EXHIBIT A (Public Beach)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
EXHIBIT B (Gated Club Pool)
Excludable Rival
Type: ______________________________________
Clue Reasoning (Explain your classifications):
Economic Detective Agency | Lab Manual Part I Page 1 of 2
Top Secret
Confidential Case Report
Economic Detective Agency
AGENT: _________________________
DATE: _________ CLASS: _____
Elasticity Division Briefing: Demand is Elastic if buyers are highly sensitive to price hikes (they reduce purchases significantly), and Inelastic if buyers purchase similar amounts despite price hikes. Label each below.
Station 5: Life-Saving vs. Luxury
NECESSITY VS. LUXURY
Detective Agency Teacher Guide
Teacher Resource
Detective Agency Guide
Lesson Facilitation
Active Gallery Walk
Gallery Walk Overview
This lesson gets students out of their seats to practice active economic reasoning. Instead of calculating coefficients, students classify items based on physical characteristics and logical determinants. It is designed to be completed in one standard 50-minute block.
1 Classroom Setup & Layout
Print the 8 Case Dossier Station Signs in full color (8.5x11 in). Place them chronologically around your classroom walls. Ensure generous spatial separation between stations to prevent student grouping bottlenecks. Stations 1–4 belong to the Goods Division; Stations 5–8 belong to the Elasticity Division.
2 Team Assignment & Briefing
Divide the class into 8 small "Detective Teams" (2-3 students per team). Hand each student a copy of the Detective Lab Manual Worksheet. Instruct them that they must work collaboratively to hunt down evidence at each station and justify their theories.
3 Active Investigation Rotation
Assign each team to an initial starting station (e.g., Team 1 to Station 1, Team 2 to Station 2). Provide exactly 4 minutes per station. Use a clear physical chime, timer, or whistle to indicate rotation times. Walk around the room offering guidance but avoiding giving away final answers.
4 Debriefing & Evidence Share
Gather the class back to their regular desks for the final 10-15 minutes. Cold-call teams to share their classifications and defense for each station. Address common student pitfalls immediately using the teacher key on the back of this sheet.
Class Debriefing Prompts
- Why does a private enterprise struggle to provide a purely public good (like over-the-air local TV) without advertising?
- What physical changes can turn a Common Resource (free open beach) into a Private or Club Good?
- In your own words, why is an EpiPen price-inelastic while designer accessories are price-elastic?
Economic Detective Agency | Teacher Guide Page 1 of 2
Top Secret Key
Official Case Key
Reference Manual
Part I & Part II Solutions
Part I: Goods Solutions
Station 1: The Commuter Dilemma
Exhibit A (Toll): Club Good (Excludable, Non-Rival)
Exhibit B (Wyoming): Public Good (Non-Excludable, Non-Rival)
Station 2: Fishing Expeditions
Exhibit A (Cod): Common Resource (Non-Excl, Rival)
Exhibit B (Salmon): Private Good (Excludable, Rival)
Station 3: Entertainment Access
