A
merit badge for
Boy scouts. This is not a required badge for
Eagle. Taken from meritbadge.com:
- Do the following:
- Explain four features of the free enterprise system in America. Tell its benefits and
responsibilities. Describe the difference between freedom and license. Tell how the Scout
Oath and Law apply to business and free enterprise.
- Describe the industrial revolution: Tell about the major developments that marked the
start of the modern industrial era in the United States. Tell about five people who had a
great influence on business or industry in the United States. Tell what each did.
- Do the following:
- Visit a bank. Talk with one of the officers or staff. Chart the organization of the
bank. Show its relationship with other banks, business, and industry.
- Explain how changes interest rates, taxes, and government spending change the flow of
money into or out of business and industry.
- Explain how a proprietorship or partnership gets its capital. Discuss and explain four
ways a corporation gets its capital.
- Explain the place of profit in business.
- Name five kinds of insurance useful to business. Describe their purpose.
- Do the following:
- Pick two or more stocks from the financial pages of a newspaper. Pretend to have bought
$1,000 worth of these stocks. Explain how you "bought" the stocks. Tell why you
decided to "buy" them. Keep a weekly record for three months of your stocks' market
value. Show any dividends declared.
- Write to one company whose stock you "bought." Ask for a copy of its annual
report. Explain it.
- Do the following:
- Draw an organizational chart of a typical central labor council.
- Describe automation, union shop, open shop, collective-bargaining agreements, shop
steward, business agent, union counselor.
- Explain the part played by four different federal or state agencies in labor relations.
- Run a small business involving a product or service for at least 3 months. First find
out the need for it. For example: a newspaper route, lawn mowing, sales of things you have
made or grown. Keep records showing the costs, income, and profit.*
Report:
- How service, friendliness, hard work, and salesmanship helped build your business.
- The benefits you and others received because you were in business.
________
*Comparable 4-H, FFA, or Junior
Achievement projects may be used.