Maintains that most graduate-level economics textbooks rarely mention the need for consumers to be above their minimum wealth position as a condition for market equilibrium. Argues that this omission leaves students with a mistaken sense about the range of circumstances under which market equilibria can exist. (MJP)

Briefly summarizes a study testing the efficacy of some of the ideas delineated in the "Handy Dandy Guide for Solving Economic Mysteries." The guide stresses an experiential approach where students solve "mysteries" using their knowledge of basic economic principles. The study's findings suggest a significant improvement in…

This packet contains an instructor's manual, instructor's resource package, and a student workbook for an 18-week course in foods and nutrition for students in grades 10-12. The curriculum has the following goals: to help students apply science concepts and principles to their daily lives; to provide students with accurate information about foods…

This Proctor and Gamble produced and teacher developed environmental education unit is designed to teach seventh through ninth grade students about making informed consumer product choices. The unit focuses on the concept of consumer product life cycle analysis, an approach to assessing the environmental impacts of a product at each stage in its…

Extension educators teach the same information to disadvantaged youth and their families as to any other audience, and those being helped are just as willing to learn. The difference is that families with limited resources have many barriers that slow the process of change to self-sufficiency. As extension educators plan and implement programs,…

This packet contains 43 learning activities for use with adult basic education (ABE) students. The activities are grouped under nine headings: consumer economics, community resources, health, occupational knowledge, government and law, computation, communication (writing); communication (social language--team building and icebreaking activities);…

Helping students learn about taking responsibility for the planning and shaping of their personal financial futures is this 13-lesson teaching unit's goal. Each lesson includes performance objectives, materials, motivational activities, development, and enrichment activities. Concepts are taught through worksheets, stories, and games. Students are…

Describes an undergraduate sociology project in which students conducted research at working class and upper-middle class shopping malls. The research focused on social stratification and its manifestation in architectural character, spatial relationships, advertising, and consumer behavior. Includes an appendix that reproduces the fieldwork…

Project Real World, a self-contained, activity-based Canadian consumer science program, provides students with systematic instruction in economic living skills. It gives students in grades 10-12 an orientation to the economic realities and opportunities in society. The program helps students understand the marketplace; manage resources; apply…

Highlights from a survey of educational practices of personal finance teachers and resource materials for emerging topics are provided. Of the 6,100 secondary teachers in the United States and Canada who received questionnaires, 1,400 responded. With over 30 states having personal finance or consumer economics guidelines, personal finance courses…

Over 200 economics units submitted to the annual National Awards Program for Teaching Economics are described. Projects are arranged by academic level (primary, intermediate, junior high, senior high, and college and university) and subdivided by economic concept. Concepts covered include: economic wants, scarcity and choices, economic systems,…

This module on basic automotive responsibilities is one of a series of modules designed to help students to become more self-sufficient in their personal and professional lives. This module contains teacher and student materials that are planned to take the student through the steps necessary for buying, maintaining, and using a motor vehicle.…

Presents a simple diagrammatic technique for conveying the idea of Ricardian equivalence or policy neutrality in the provision of public goods. Includes several diagrams illustrating basic positions regarding the relationship between voluntary public contributions and taxation. Provides a brief explanation of the illustrated concepts. (MJP)

This learning guide is designed to connect personal, family, and job responsibilities for adults and out-of-school youth in economically depressed areas of the state (including transitional ex-offenders and corrections populations) so that these individuals learn to manage and balance these aspects of their lives in order to prepare for or…

This resource and reference guide provides complete listings of learning activities that integrate basic and life skill learning. It is designed to assist adult basic education (ABE) teachers in the implementation of a competency-based learning system that emphasizes the integration of basic and life skills learning. The philosophy of and…