Can teachers promote true economic understanding among students by adding a dose of psychology? Fans of behavioral economics, with its unique blend of psychology and economics, think so. Blending a bit of behavioral economics into social studies lessons provides answers to the ever-present questions that permeate every classroom,"What does…

In the fall of 2008, the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and St. Louis began a systematic evaluation of their economic and personal finance educational outreach programs. Both banks were interested in developing tools to assess the success of their existing economic and financial education programs. However, before any assessment could begin, a…

The introduction of the concept of network effects is useful at the principles level to facilitate discussions of the determinants of monopoly, the need for standards in high-tech industries, and the general complexity of real-world competition. The author describes a demonstration and an extension that help students understand how consumers make…

This lesson plan helps students understand the role consumer demand plays in the market system, i.e., how interactions in the marketplace help determine pricing. Students will participate in an activity that demonstrates the concepts of demand, demand schedule, demand curve, and the law of demand. The lesson plan provides student objectives;…

Describes a six-week economics project for high school students. Suggests teaching consumer economics by having students pretend they are broke and out on their own. Discusses activities, materials, and student essays demonstrating the use and understanding of basic consumer terminology, credit, insurance, budgeting, and housing. (DK)

Presents a diagram for figuring the value of time into an individual's labor-supply decisions and the time intensiveness of the individual's consumption patterns. Seeks to make the integration of differing time values with leisure income choices more understandable for students. (DK)

This booklet presents a research-based rationale for teaching economics at the middle/junior high school level in the United States. Chapter 1, "Introduction," describes the project in which the rationale was developed and outlines the remainder of the document. Chapter 2, "Elements of a Rationale for Middle School Economic Education," presents…

Presents an example that illustrates the connection between taxation of private goods or services and provision of public goods or services. Demonstrates that the burdens of taxation in the private sector can in theory be offset by gains in consumer surplus in the public sector, providing a more balanced view than can be found in many introductory…

Consumer decision-making and its consequences for individual consumers and societal groups are examined in this economic unit for secondary school students. Seven lessons focus on developing an understanding of the concepts of scarcity, supply and demand, resources, choice, price, and interdependence and on fostering an economic way of thinking.…

This instructional guide adds two new sections to the original guide published in May 1982. The guide was designed to assist educators in teaching the topics of consumer credit and consumer credit protection to secondary and postsecondary students in various economics and business courses, as well as in adult and community education courses. The…

One of a series of units on business issues for high school students, this packet uses the example of hamburger wars ("price wars" between hamburger stands) to introduce students to the ways in which businesses operate in a competitive environment. A teacher's guide and student materials are provided in two separate sections. Following…

This activity pack goes beyond exposing the low prices paid to commodity producers and explores broader structures that govern world trade and produce poverty and inequality. The pack encourages young people to look beyond the labels and consider the responsibilities consumers have toward the people who feed and clothe the world, or make the…

Forty-seven elementary school teachers, librarians, curriculum specialists, and administrators participated in a research oriented education course that consisted of 15 television programs designed to help elementary school teachers and students analyze and understand economic concepts. Teachers also: (1) viewed programs with students; (2) used a…

Recommends reviewing the 1958 debate between P. A. Samuelson and J. R. Minasian over the controversy involving tax-financed television versus pay-TV. This exercise is a lively way to introduce students to the issue of exclusionary devices for public goods. Includes graphical analysis and excerpts from the original debates. (MJP)

A major assignment for twelfth grade social science students at a California high school deals with the basic components of survival on one's own. Students must simulate moving out of their parents' home, finding a job, making major household and transportation purchases, buying on credit, investing money, buying insurance, and getting involved in…