1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with this essential question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of digital payments?
2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:
- What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the U.S. should phase out paper money and rely fully on digital transactions. The issue is timely because the number of Americans who use digital payment systems is growing.)
- Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Franz Paasche is an executive at PayPal, a company that created a very popular digital payment system. Martin Chorzempa is a senior fellow at an organization that studies global economic issues.)