Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Economics
Lesson Topic: government failure in microeconomic intervention: definition of government failure
Learning Objective/s:
  • Define government failure in the context of micro‑economic intervention.
  • Distinguish government failure from market failure using surplus concepts.
  • Identify and explain common causes of government failure.
  • Analyse a tax illustration to determine when government intervention creates excess dead‑weight loss.
  • Evaluate policy implications and suggest ways to minimise government failure.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen for slides/diagrams
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Handout with definition, causes, and comparison table
  • Calculator or spreadsheet for quick surplus calculations
  • Worksheet with tax‑illustration problem
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: “Can a well‑intended government policy ever make the market worse?” Connect to the previous lesson on market failure and state the success criteria – students will define government failure, list its causes, and apply the concept to a tax scenario.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’) – Write a definition of market failure; share; teacher links to upcoming topic.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Present definition of government failure, key features, and comparison table using slides.
  3. Group analysis (12’) – Small groups examine the tax illustration, calculate QG and dead‑weight loss, discuss why the policy failed.
  4. Causes carousel (8’) – Stations display each cause (information problem, political motive, etc.); groups rotate and note examples.
  5. Whole‑class synthesis (5’) – Groups report findings; teacher consolidates causes and links to market‑failure concepts.
  6. Diagram sketch (5’) – Students draw the supply‑demand diagram showing market, optimal, and over‑tax equilibria, label dead‑weight loss.
  7. Exit ticket (5’) – Write one real‑world example of government failure and one strategy to avoid it.
Conclusion:
Recap the definition, causes, and the tax illustration, highlighting how mis‑designed policies add dead‑weight loss. Collect exit tickets, then assign homework: find a recent policy that may have caused government failure and analyse it using the framework learned.