Provides comments by Nobel laureate Paul A. Samuelson, Harold W. McGraw Jr., William D. Nordhaus, Orley Ashenfelter, Robert M. Solow, and Stanley Fischer on Samuelson's introductory textbook "Economics," as presented at the 1998 American Economic Association meetings in Chicago (Illinois). (CMK)

Describes a classroom experiment in which students see how competitive markets underproduce in the presence of a positive externality. States that this experiment is used in a principles of economics course to introduce the idea of market failure. Explains that participants take the role of buyers of education, sellers of education, or interested…

Focuses on the computer-based mapping tool called a geographic information system (GIS) that presents variations in economic indicators in thematic maps. Discusses thematic mapping benefits for students. Provides examples of thematic mapping in economics courses, addresses hardware and software requirements, and explains the process of creating…

Contends that, although most economics students are acquainted with the graphical analysis of the income and substitution effects of a price change, they often fail to appreciate that the same graphs provide information on the income elasticities of the two goods. Illustrates the proof of this concept using mathematical formulae and five graphic…

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)

States that this Web site is based on the conviction that Web-based materials must contain interactive modules to achieve value beyond that obtained by conventional media. Discusses three applets that can be reached at the homepage of the Web site by selecting the Java applets link. (CMK)

Managing local environmental resources with moderately enforced government regulations can often be counterproductive, whereas nonbinding communications can be remarkably effective. The authors describe a classroom experiment that illustrates these points. The experiment is rich in its institutional settings and highlights the challenges that…

Contends that, despite ongoing criticism, Allen's arc elasticity formula remains entrenched in the microeconomics principles curriculum. Reviews the evolution and continuing scrutiny of the formula. Argues that the use of the geometric mean offers pedagogical advantages over the traditional arithmetic mean approach. (CFR)

Maintains that teachers and textbook graphics follow the same basic pattern in illustrating changes in demand curves when product prices increase. Asserts that the use of computer graphics will enable teachers to be more precise in their graphic presentation of price elasticity. (CFR)

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)

Reports on a survey of 213 economists to determine the role feminism has played in economics and economic views. Finds that, although the number of women studying economics has increased, feminism has little impact on scholarship in economics. Discusses the reasons for this lack of impact. (CFR)

Describes a Web site that is for an undergraduate principles of microeconomics course and a main component of "The Inverted Classroom" in which lectures take place outside of class. Explains that the Web site is divided into four sections: (1) the classroom; (2) the desk; (3) the coffee shop; and (4) the library. (CMK)

Asserts that, on average, women score lower on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Subject Test in Economics. Reports on a study of 149 student scores on the test to identify factors associated with this differential performance. Finds little support for the notion that men are simply better than women in quantitative areas. (CFR)