Comparison of a contemporary public finance textbook with one written in the 1940s indicates the following major changes in the field: microeconomic theory is now the framework for analyzing positive and normative issues; research is dominated by econometrics; and topical coverage has changed along with changes in public policy. (JOW)

Knowledge of economics is important for individuals to function effectively as citizens in an increasingly connected world economy. Economic literacy includes understanding how economies and markets work, what the benefits and costs of economic interaction and interdependence are, and that people have to make choices because resources are…

Observes that the envelope theorem, a fundamental tool in duality analysis, is still a puzzle to many people. Argues that the essence of a solution proposed by Paul Samuelson (1947) is also unclear to many people, but can be communicated with a simple cost diagram. Presents and explains the proposed diagram. (DSK)

Enrolments in undergraduate economics programs have been falling constantly since the early 1990s. This trend coincides with the increasing popularity of business and management degrees. Consequently, the major activity of many, if not most economics departments and schools in Australia is service teaching of introductory economics to first year…

Investigates differences across UK universities in 1993 life-sciences students' degree performance using individual-level data from the universities' Statistical Record. Analyzes differences across universities by specifying and estimating a subject-specific production function. Even after including a wide range of controls for the quality of…

Estimations of enrollment age and schooling duration for Tanzanian children revealed different patterns for boys and girls. Although girls have lower levels of education, they enroll earlier, either because of lower returns to preschool experience for girls or parental desire to prepare them for the marriage market as soon as possible. (SK)

Explores the relationship between student personality types and measures of student performance in principles of microeconomics using the Keirsey Sorter, a 70-question Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI); results from the Test of Understanding of College Economics (TUCE); and course grades. Suggests that personality types do affect student…

Investigates the relationship between student absenteeism during a principles of microeconomics course and subsequent performance on examinations. Finds that students who missed class on a given date were significantly more likely to respond incorrectly to questions relating to material covered that day than students who attended class. (RLH)

Illustrates how a simple discontinuity in an individual's demand curve, or inverse-demand curve, affects the shape of market aggregate curves. Shows, for private goods, that an infinitesimal change in quantity can lead to large changes in consumption patterns; for collective goods, the analysis suggests a theory of coalition building. (DSK)

Discusses the theory of microeconomic efficiency measurement, including frontier efficiency-measurement techniques; reviews the research measuring inefficiency in education; discusses the determinants of educational efficiency; includes table listing author, methodology, inputs and output, analytical techniques, and main findings for 28 studies of…

Provides microeconomic estimates of the returns to education in Spain, using 1990 Spanish labor force survey data. The rate of return to education is higher for self-employed than for wage and salary workers. Secondary education is better compensated in the private sector, whereas a university education is better compensated in the public sector.…

Provides results of a longitudinal study tracking research behavior of a multi-college undergraduate course in microeconomics from 1996 to 2001. Student term paper bibliographies grew between 1996 and 2000 but included fewer scholarly resources. In 2001, students tended to cite scholarly sources when the professor provided clear and enforceable…

Presents the results of a survey sent to 1700+ economics departments in four-year colleges and universities. Reveals that, in teaching intermediate microeconomics, most schools require at least one semester of calculus and use calculus techniques at least occasionally. Includes statistical tables and lists of school characteristics. (MJP)

In spring 1996, Arizona's Glendale Community College (GCC) undertook an evaluation of a microeconomics course using the national Test of Understanding in College Economics (TUCE III). Specifically, the study sought to determine how GCC student outcomes compared to national results on the TUCE III and if the microeconomics course made a statistical…

Investigates factors that influence the short-run and long-run effects of supply-side shocks on aggregate income and tax revenues. Concludes that the long-run relationship between tax revenues and the tax rate is completely independent of price-level elasticity. (CFR)