BUS400 – Group Presentation and Paper

Country Comparison Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to have you become more familiar with other countries of the
world and to use statistical information as a basis for insightful analysis. In order to obtain the
necessary information you are asked to use the internet to conduct research. You will find that in order to
more fully understand some of the content you are asked to research, you will have to locate additional
material online pertaining to your assigned country.

Once you have accumulated all the information, you will use the data to draw conclusions about:

1. The economic structure of that country (i.e. How does that country answer the four important
questions covered in Chapter 1? [Command economy (Communism)/Socialism/Free Market
Enterprise (Capitalism)]
2. Your assigned country’s position in the world in terms of selected variables (see table below).
Canada.

The results of your research on these two topics will form the basis of your IN-CLASS
PRESENTATION.

You will have to do a considerable amount of reading and research on the internet to discover the
answers to some important topics relating to your assigned country. Do not leave this to the last
minute. This assignment is an important part of the grade in this course (25%).

Instructions

1. Research and Understanding

Your group has to come to an understanding on the type of economic structure used in your assigned
country. You will be given one country that you are required to research for this part of the assignment. You
will have to determine where you think that country falls on the spectrum of organization. You will learn this
by READING and RESEARCHING your country on the internet. Be sure to gather information to support
your conclusion. You will be using this information in your powerpoint slide show to share with the class.
You will also include this information in your written submission (it should not take more than one or two
paragraphs to describe this).

2. Collection of Data

As a starting point, access the CIA World Factbook OR a similar online encyclopedia or fact book to fill in
the required information on the chart (handout provided). Include your chart in your written submission.
3. PRESENT the results of your research (Value: 12.5%)

In your powerpoint slide show, you will present your findings to the class. I am interested in several
specific variables, but if your group finds something that is unique or especially interesting about that
country, please include it! IT IS UP TO YOU TO DETERMINE HOW YOU WISH TO PRESENT YOUR
FINDINGS.
 PLEASE REMEMBER – Most audiences will stop listening if you make up powerpoint slides with
150 words and READ them from the front of the classroom. If that is the case, I will ask you to stop
and we will move on to the next presentation. KEEP IN MIND that there are many ways to organize
and present your findings, tables, charts, pictures, etc.
 AS FEW WORDS AS POSSIBLE should be included on the powerpoint presentation. It should be
visually appealing and easy to interpret. (For example, one graph that compares six variables is far
more difficult to interpret than six separate graphs, each illustrating how one specific aspect of your
assigned country).
 Your group members will have to really KNOW THIS STUFF. You cannot read from slides, you can
use the slides to help relate your findings. You can have words on the slide to trigger your memory –
you are not expected to memorize all your findings. BUT YOU DO HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT
YOUR COUNTRY. YOU CANNOT JUST INCLUDE EVERYTHING ON A SLIDE AND STAND
AT THE FRONT OF THE CLASS AND READ THE SLIDES.
 YOU WILL NOT NEED TO COMPARE YOUR ASSIGNED COUNTRY TO CANADA. IT IS
EXPECTED THAT YOU WILL KNOW THE KEY FEATURES OF THE CANADIAN
ECONOMY. YOUR PRESENTATION SHOULD FOCUS ON PRESENTING MATERIAL ON
THE COUNTRY YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED.

4. Discuss your insights and conclusions (Written Component) (Value: 12.5%)

Have an insightful look at all of the information and draw conclusions about these countries. Your group is
required to write an organized report on your findings. PLEASE NOTE – THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY
VARIABLES TO WRITE ABOUT EACH ONE IN YOUR WRITTEN REPORT.

I ask that you select the SIX MOST INTERESTING/UNIQUE/DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

of your assigned country and compare each of these to Canada.

Examples of this might include:

 An extraordinarily high external debt (i.e Greece)
 Extremely high and persistent inflation that makes daily life a struggle
 Access to high quality natural resources
 An exceptionally LOW literacy rate
 A very low GDP per capita that translates into a poor standard of living
 A worthless currency
 An aging population
 An unskilled or highly skilled labour force

These are just a few examples. As you learn about your assigned country you will also begin to understand
what is unique about it and how this affects every day life of its citizens.

You can organize your material in a few subheadings, use charts, and graphs, etc. in your submission. There
MUST BE at least 4 pages (but no more than 6 pages) of written analysis. You must use double space,
Times New Roman 12pt. font.
You will have to think about the statistics that you learned about, and how they compare to Canada, and
present a thoughtful analysis on your findings. Please do not just type out all the statistics you discovered in
your research. I know those and I will listen to them when you deliver your presentation. I am looking for
YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THIS INFORMATION. Why is it important? What does it mean for the
country? How life in Canada is better/worse compared to your assigned country in this regard?

You may use as little or as many tables, charts, diagrams, etc. in your submission, but please remember there
has to be a significant written component with your thoughts and analysis.

Include a properly formatted bibliography of your sources of information. You can use either APA or MLA
format.

Countries Comparison Chart

LOCATION CANADA Egypt

Population 35,362,905 (July 2016 est.) 94,666,993
Population below poverty 25.2%
Land mass (compared to Canada, 9,093,507 sq.km 995,450 sq.km
how big is this country)
Life Expectancy 81.9 years 72.7 years
Birth rate 10.3 births/1,000 population 30.3 births/1,000 population
(2016 est.) (2016 est.)
Population Growth Rate 0.96% (2016) 2.51% (2016 est)
Literacy Rate 42% 73.8%
Literacy Rate Male 82.2%
Literacy Rate Female 65.4%
Ethnic groups Canadian 32.2%, English 99.6% Egyptians, other 0.4%
19.8%, French 15.5%, Scottish
14.4%, Irish 13.8%, German
9.8%, Italian 4.5%, Chinese
4.5%, North American Indian
4.2%, other 50.9%
Religions Catholic 39%, Protestant 20.3%, Muslim 90% , Christians 10%
Orthodox 1.6%, other Christian
6.3%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 1.5%,
Sikh 1.4%, Buddhist 1.1%, Jewish
1%, other 0.6%, none 23.9%
Languages English 58.7%, French 22%, Arabic (official), English and
Punjabi 1.4%, Italian 1.3%, Spanish French widely understood by
1.3%, German 1.3%, Cantonese
1.2%, Arabic 1.1%, other 10.5%
educated class
Natural Resources Agriculture, energy, technology, Cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans,
services, manufacturing fruits, vegetables; cattle, water
buffalo, sheep, goats

Environmental Issues metal smelting, coal-burning water scarcity, air pollution,

utilities, and vehicle emissions damage to historic monuments,
impacting on agricultural and animal welfare issues.
forest productivity; air
pollution and resulting acid
rain severely affecting lakes
 and damaging forests; ocean
waters becoming contaminated
due to agricultural, industrial,
mining, and forestry activities
School Life Expectancy 16 years 13 years

Government Type
GDP per Capita $46,200 (2016 est.) $12,100 (2016 est)
GDP (official exchange rate) $1.532 trillion (2015 est.) $342.8 billion
Unemployment rate 6% (2016) 13.1% (2016 est.)
Military Age and Obligation 16-34 years of age 18-30 years of age
Military expenditures as a % of 1% of GDP (2015) 1.76% of GDP (2015)
GDP
How the country’s citizens are
taxed
Balance of Trade – Surplus or
Deficit
Imports $419 billion (2016 est.) 50.07 billion (2016 est)
Major imports machinery and equipment, machinery and equipment,
motor vehicles and parts, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood
crude oil, chemicals, products, fuels
electricity, durable consumer
good
Exports $402.4 billion (2016 est.) $14.73 billion (2016 est.)
Major exports motor vehicles and parts, crude oil and petroleum
industrial machinery, aircraft, products, fruits and
telecommunications vegetables, cotton, textiles,
equipment; chemicals, plastics, metal products, chemicals,
fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, processed food
crude petroleum, natural gas,
electricity, aluminum
External Debt
Major Industries Mining and timber, agriculture, automotive
manufacturing, oil, natural gas, manufacturing, construction
farming and cattle, goods industry, steel manufacturing,
manufacturing, wine production, cotton cultivation and textile
fishing, natural resource-timber production, tourism industry,
petrochemical industry and
consumer electronics
manufacturing sector
Internet Users 32,120,519 users (88,5%) (2016) 30,359,855 users (33%) (2016)

Telephone Mobile Users 28,217,707 users (2014) 93,670,000 users (2015)

OTHER INTERESTING
ISSUES?
 Rubric: Country Comparison Assignment

Group Members:
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________

Criteria/Level F D C B A
Knowledge and Student does Student Student Student Student
Understanding not demonstrate demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates an demonstrates a
Students demonstrate a basic only a basic some expected level of superior level of
ability to understand what knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and expected
different values mean understanding understanding of understanding understanding of knowledge
when comparing and of comparison comparison of comparison comparison and
interpreting countries as criteria criteria criteria criteria understanding of
revealed through analysis comparison
of data. criteria
Thinking and Inquiry Analysis is too Analysis is Analysis is Analysis is clear Analysis is clear,
Student’s analysis of brief, superficial and somewhat clear and conclusive conclusive and
comparison data is incomplete and demonstrates and and demonstrates very
insightful and thorough. inconclusive, meeting a demonstrates meeting the effective and
Connections are made but an attempt minimal skill meeting some expected skill demonstrates
about how various criteria was made. level. of the expected level. surpassing the
reveal the state and nature skill level. expected
(or lack thereof) of a skill level.
country in terms of its
social, economic, and
cultural qualities
Communication Graphed data is Graphed data is Graphed data is Graphed data is Graphed data is
Student communicates unclear, not as effective somewhat effective in very
graphed data clearly and ineffective and as expected in effective in communicating effective in
effectively and with all incomplete but order to communicating information. Few communicating
required labels and values. an effort was communicate information. mechanical and information. Few
Student communicates made. information. Some grammatical to no
analysis and connections Mechanical and Many mechanical mechanical and errors are found mechanical and
clearly and with few grammatical and grammatical grammatical in analysis. grammatical
mechanical and errors are found errors are found errors are found errors are found
grammatical errors. throughout throughout in analysis. in analysis.
analysis. analysis.
Application Data chart is Data chart is Data chart is Data chart is Data chart is
Student is thorough and only partially complete but complete but complete and complete and
accurate in completing the complete, many difficult to read not as accurate accurate, map is very accurate,
chart of researched data blanks are and as such is not as it should be, complete and map is
and in applying necessary found, map is so effective, map map is a bit appropriately complete and
information of chosen also ineffective is also messy and messy and does communicates very effectively
countries to the world map. in does not not county communicates
communicating communicate communicate identification. county
county county county identification.
identification. identification identification
well. very effectively.