State social studies supervisors and State Economic Education Council representatives in twenty-three states were interviewed to determine the state of economic education in United States public schools. Findings indicate professional growth, content emphasis, and classroom practices. (AM)

Economics education research focuses on college classrooms, overlooks the need for replication and generalization of results, and is limited in scope and methodology. Future research should address precollege and graduate level issues, new college level issues, replication and generalization, cost-benefit analysis, and alternative measures of the…

The purpose of this article is to examine feedback arising from student evaluation questionnaires. Various sections focus on discussion of the evaluation instrument, development of a model and presentation of empirical evidence concerning student evaluation biases, interpretation of data, and conclusions. (Author/DB)

Updates a study of the coverage of entrepreneurship contained in principles of economics textbooks originally carried out in the mid-1980s. Analyzes coverage of the same topics in 14 popular introductory texts. Concludes that entrepreneurship still has not worked its way into economics-principles texts. (DSK)

This analysis begins with a review of the history of economic impact studies of the arts. Characteristics of the environment that have led to the development of the economic impact study as an advocacy tool are identified and some of the significant early research in the area that set patterns for later studies is cited. In the second section of…

This report examines trends, research, ideas, and practices in economics education today. The report begins with a discussion of where economics instruction stands today and where it seems to be going. Implications of current happenings are examined. Only eight percent of high school graduates today take an economics course. However, the National…

What has happened to the teaching of the beginning course in economics over the past century is discussed. The relative effectiveness of various teaching methods is examined. (Author/RM)

Requirements for the games and simulations available in economics education surveyed range from simple equipment to computer facilities. Some attempts at game and simulation evaluation are summarized and criticized in general and in the context of economics education. Comments on the evolving literature on principles of game design are included.…

Asserts that tests of student performance in economics courses on the college level do not necessarily enable educators to infer anything about what students have learned or the manner in which they have learned it. Suggests that economics instruction be tailored to the individual, allowing for different learning styles. (Author/DB)

Points out shortcomings in much of the existing research on economics and economics education. Topics include inappropriate uses of various quantitative techniques, an explanation of probit analysis and its potential application to analysis of discrete economic education variables, and assessment of innovative methods in economic education.…

Reviews and critiques theories of marginal utility and indifference analysis and discusses advantages and disadvantages in teaching the theory of consumer demand by means of indifference analysis. (DB)

Describes recent currents in psychological literature pertaining to the learning process, specifically the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Demonstrates how these psychological advances can help with economic analysis. (Author/KC)

Discusses the conventional theory of free riding as discussed in economic textbooks. Argues the theory is empirically invalid, and reviews various scholarly viewpoints on this issue. Suggests alternatives to teaching current economic theory and argues that the concept of self-interest neglects the ethical issues in behavior. (NL)

Argues that the textbook presentation of the concept of natural monopolies has changed little since the early 1960s. Suggests that most economics textbooks have ignored the issue of economies of scale versus fixed costs. Notes that educators often discuss economies of scale without explaining why certain industries enjoy greater scale economies…

A historical review notes the small numbers of men enrolled in home economics, largely specializing in institutional management. Lacking role models, males are most scarce in home economics education; those who do major in home economics prefer to be loosely identified with the profession. (SK)