In this study, the authors report on the status of comparative economics systems in the U.S. undergraduate economics curriculum. The treatment of comparative economics systems topics in introductory courses is examined through a survey of standard textbooks. To evaluate comparative economics systems at the advanced undergraduate level, they rely…

The authors evaluated principles of macroeconomics textbooks for readability using Coh-Metrix, a computational linguistics tool. Additionally, they conducted an experiment on Amazon's Mechanical Turk Web site in which participants ranked the readability of text samples. There was a wide range of scores on readability indexes both among…

Reviews undergraduate public finance textbooks for content, difficulty, and ideology. Includes tables summarizing the percentage space devoted to specific topics in 13 popular textbooks. Offers suggestions for supplementary materials. (Author/DH)

This article summarizes a 60-page report, same title, that examines whether current texts have improved in the decade following an evaluation by the American Economic Association's Committee on Economic Education. Remarkable Upgrading" is noted, but a new problem has resulted: the imbalance between good texts and inadequately prepared teachers.…

Responding to "Observations on the Use of Textbooks in the Teaching of Principles of Economics," Dolan agrees with Boskin's appraisal of textbooks. Explains why texts share common faults and proposes possible means of alleviating them. Examines five constraints on textbook writers, stating that by changing them, authors can change their…

Responding to Stiglitz's article "On the Market for Principles of Economics Textbooks: Innovation and Product Differentiation," Schiller disputes the claim that there is growing dissatisfaction with textbooks, stating that the central issue in the debate is "how best to teach economic principles." Discusses the importance of…

Discusses content, perspective, and level of analysis of nine recent books suitable for use in an undergraduate course on the role of women in the labor market. Four books are judged more suitable as standard textbooks; the remaining five function better as collections of supplementary readings. (Author/DH)

Ten college-level money and banking textbooks were arrayed along six continua representing professors' major preferences when choosing a text. The continua topics are theoretical approach, complexity of presentation, theory/institution mix, nuts and bolts explanations, organizational approach, and writing style. (RM)

Examines the state of economic education with respect to the natural environment, discussing the role of textbooks in the formation of public policy and the effect of environmental economics on classroom literature. Surveys widely-used college texts, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and notes possible directions in the field's future.…

Significant differences were found between the stated objectives of most college level economics textbooks and the instruments included in the instructor's manuals to measure student achievement. (Author/RM)

Labor economics textbooks for use with college students were surveyed. Information concerning intended audience, content, and teaching aids is provided for each text. Criteria used in evaluating the texts is provided. (RM)

Textbook authors, presenting aggregate demand-aggregate supply (AD-AS), are admonished to set their houses in order. The traditional Keynesian cross model should continue to be used as a pedagogical device. A version superior to the AD-AS models found in many texts is presented. (Author/RM)

Suggests that economics textbooks are often misleading in their discussions of the shape of the long-run average cost curve. Clarifies and amplifies the importance of the concept of return to scale and the concept of economies of scale. Identifies illustrations provided in textbooks as the greatest source of confusion. (KO)

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…

Observes that the textbook explanation of the relationship between the international substitution effect and the downward slope of the aggregate demand curve is generally presented uncritically. Argues that the international substitution effect is sufficiently flawed and that it should be eliminated in teaching as a justification for the slope of…