Teaching Economics (eBook)

Acknowledgements 5
Contents 6
Contributors 8
1 The Development of Interactive Classroom Activities to Teach Economic Freedom to Students of Various Learning Styles 10
1.1 Literature Review 10
1.2 The Creation of Eight Lessons in Economic Freedom 12
1.3 Conclusion 15
References 15
2 Video Games in Teaching Economics 17
2.1 Introduction 17
2.2 Game Typology 18
2.3 Game-Based Learning Potential 19
2.4 Evidence 21
2.5 Applications in Class 23
2.6 Trade-Offs 24
2.7 Game Description 24
2.8 In Practice 26
2.9 Complications of Merchant of the Seas 28
2.10 Should Learning Be Fun? 29
2.11 Conclusion 31
Appendix 1: Sample Instructions 31
Appendix 2: Goods Equations 34
Appendix 3: Game Shocks 35
References 38
3 One-Shot Game: A Free-Market Approach to the Principles of Microeconomics Class 40
3.1 Introduction 40
3.2 What Needs to be Ignored in a Principles Class and Why 42
3.3 What Is the Fundamental Goal of the Principles Class? 43
3.4 The Role of Philosophy and Normative Economics in Teaching 45
3.5 Why Online Courses Are Not a Good Substitute for Face-to-Face Teaching 46
3.6 What Topics the Semester Should Cover 46
3.7 Necessary Tools 47
3.8 Conclusion 48
References 49
4 A Highly Simplified Pollution Abatement Game 51
4.1 Introduction 51
4.2 The Setup 52
4.3 Conducting the Game 53
4.4 Round One 54
4.4.1 Discussion Questions 54
4.5 Round Two 55
4.5.1 Discussion Questions 55
4.6 Round Three 56
4.6.1 Discussion Questions 57
References 57
5 Assignments to Engage Students in Economics Study Abroad Programs 58
5.1 Introduction 58
5.2 The Assignment 60
5.3 Pitfalls and Concerns 62
5.4 Assessment 63
5.5 Student Examples 63
5.5.1 Student Example: Humans of Berlin, Germany (Fig. 5.1) 63
5.5.2 Student Example: Building of Germany (Fig. 5.2) 64
5.5.3 Student Example: Human of University of Arizona (Fig. 5.3) 66
5.6 Student Feedback 67
5.7 Conclusion 67
References 67
6 The Economic Principles of My Cancer Treatment:How to Use Medical Experiences to Teach Economics 68
6.1 Teaching Economics 68
6.2 The Nature of My Cancer Diagnoses and Treatment 70
6.3 Example 1: Inelasticity 70
6.4 Example 2: Second-Best World 72
6.5 Example 3: Cost-Benefit Analysis and Economic Efficiency 73
6.6 Example 4: Bundling 74
6.7 Example 5: Principal–Agent Problem 75
6.8 Example 6: Health Care Systems Debate 75
6.9 Example 7: Rational Risk 76
6.10 Conclusion 77
References 78
7 Textbook Confessions: Government Policies and MarketOutcomes 79
7.1 Introduction 79
7.2 Methodology 81
7.2.1 Standard Specifics 83
7.3 Textbook Coverage 84
7.3.1 Price Controls 84
7.3.2 Trade Barriers 86
7.4 Comparing with General Government Failure Coverage 88
7.5 Conclusion 90
References 90
8 University and High School Economics Educators Partnership: A Model from La Crosse, Wisconsin 92
8.1 Introduction 92
8.2 Motivation 93
8.3 High School Teacher Background 94
8.4 University—High School Partnership 95
8.5 Q& A Email Exchange on Political Economy
8.6 Conclusion 98
References 98
9 A Classroom Experiment: The Redistribution of Quiz Scores 100
9.1 Introduction 100
9.2 Literature Review 101
9.3 Details of the Experiment 102
9.3.1 The First Experiment: The Fairness/Equity Quiz 102
9.3.2 The Second Experiment: Receive Now/Pay Later Quiz 103
9.4 Statistical Tests 105
9.5 Conclusion 106
References 106
10 Making Economics Stick with Econ Beats 107
10.1 Introduction 107
10.2 Literature 108
10.3 The Project 109
10.4 Student Self-reported Experience 110
10.5 The High School Extension 112
10.6 Not All Students Love Econ Beats 113
10.7 Conclusion 115
References 115
11 Navigating the Economics Major: The Effect of Gender on Students' Degree Pathways 117
11.1 Introduction 117
11.2 Prior Literature 119
11.3 Background and Data 121
11.3.1 Background 121
11.3.2 Data 122
11.4 Methodology 125
11.5 Results 126
11.5.1 Economics Degree Selection for Full Sample of Students 126
11.5.2 Economics Degree Selection for Business Majors at Matriculation 129
11.6 Discussion 131
11.7 Conclusion 133
References 135
12 Taking a Path Less Traveled: Mastering `Metrics Without a Textbook 139
12.1 Introduction 139
12.2 Background 140
12.3 Issue 141
12.4 Doing Econometrics: An Example 143
12.5 Outcomes 146
12.6 Adjustments 146
12.7 Conclusion 147
Appendix 148
References 155
13 Structured Writing Assignments in an American Economic History Course 156
13.1 Introduction 156
13.2 Reading Articles and Writing Memos 157
13.3 Presentations 158
13.4 Mastering the Book Review 159
13.5 Final Papers 159
13.5.1 Economic Education Paper 160
13.5.2 Economic Historian Paper 160
13.5.3 The Original Research Paper 161
13.6 Conclusion 162
References 162
14 Integrating the Economic Way of Thinking into US HistoryCourses 163
14.1 Introduction 163
14.2 Economics: The Missing Link 164
14.3 Integrating Economics Can Strengthen Historical Understanding 165
14.4 A Pilot Study: Economic Episodes in American History and the Test of Economic Thinking 167
14.5 Evaluating the Test of Economic Thinking 168
14.6 Empirical Results 170
14.7 Conclusion 172
Appendix: Test of Economic Teaching Teacher Edition 173
Scarcity and Choices 174
Costs 175
Incentives 176
Economic Systems/Rules of the Game 177
Voluntary Trade 178
Primary and Secondary Effects 179
Scoring 180
Intended Audience 181
Test Design 181
References 182