The paper reviews major Economics textbooks used in the UK from the point of view of their use of rationality as a teaching tool. The textbooks vary widely in their explicit analysis of rationality from finding it important to totally ignoring it. When textbooks do use the concept as part of their analysis, the definitions vary considerably. In…

This study charts the socio-geographic fragmentation of the economics discipline in the UK. It is revealed that the marriage of economics teaching and research is now limited to elite institutions located mainly in the south of the UK. None of the UK's new (post-1992) universities submitted to the Economics and Econometrics (E&E) unit of…

From the 1990s onwards, economics departments in Europe have changed toward a culture of "excellence." Strong academic hierarchies and new forms of academic organization replace "institutes" and "colleges" by fully equipped "economics departments." This article seeks to demonstrate how and why…

This article outlines the recently developed idea of "Threshold Concepts" and explains how this idea may be used to describe the progress of learning in economics. The authors examine the relationship between threshold concepts, key concepts and conceptual change and suggest that a distinction between basic, discipline and procedural…

The economics content of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination, which replaces the current level "O" exams in 1988, is described in five versions being proposed by different regions of the United Kingdom. The make-up of the items, a full listing of assessment objectives, brief syllabi, and addresses of the…

Reviews of 10 recent books and one new journal ("Catalyst: A Journal of Policy Debate") are provided. Topics of the books reviewed include: economics in modern Britain, world economics, the mixed economy, Milton Friedman's thought, British industry, economic issues, and London as a financial center. (JDH)

Maintains the status of economics is falling. Fewer students, low returns on econometric models, and over-certain economic predictions resulting from inappropriate scientific methodology are seen as indicators of the fall. More attention needs to be given in teaching the sources, use and abuse of economic data, and in social science methodology.…

Reports the results of a research project, conducted between 1980 and 1984, which investigated the amount of change in students' attitudes toward economic issues resulting from exposure to a two-year "A" level economics course. A copy of the attitude assessment instrument is provided. (JDH)

Reports on the International Research Seminar held at the University of London Institute of Education in July 1985. Topics include how economics instruction impacts students' attitudes and values, notions of economic literacy, curriculum reform, and teacher training. (JDH)

Provides two computer programs, written in BASIC, to calculate average stock market price levels. The programs allow students to work directly from the raw price data that appear daily in the financial news. Teaching suggestions are provided. (JDH)

Exchange controls in Great Britain were abolished in 1979. Since then, there has been a significant outflow of capital. This article examines the case for the reintroduction of controls with particular reference to the effect this might have on investment. (Author/JDH)

Reports the results of a study of entrance characteristics and degree performance for 341 students studying for the Bachelor of Arts degree at Kingston Polytechnic between 1977 and 1985. Results showed that age, sex, "A" level qualifications, and mathematical background were significant factors in explaining the variation in performance…

Tests of achievement in economics have a variety of uses. Their principal role is to evaluate how successful students have been in learning economics on a particular course, either overall or in particular aspects of economics. They may also serve to provide evidence about the efficacy of specific teaching materials and/or strategies. Finally,…

Described aspects of administering the U.S. Test of Economic Literacy in the United Kingdom in May 1989. Established norms for various subgroups of the British school population. Found that the main group differences were between those students who had economics training and those who did not. (DB)

Reports on a study of student academic performance among 1,314 first-year business students at a technical university in Singapore. Concludes that older students, students with prior economic course experience, male students, and ethnic Chinese students performed better than their counterparts. (CFR)