A Global Framework for Teaching Economics

Abstract

The Committee that developed the National Council on Economic Education’s A Framework for Teaching the Basic Concepts (Saunders et al., 1993) sought to present a concisely stated set of economic concepts for teaching economics in United States schools below the college level. How appropriate are these concepts for teaching economics in other countries? Are there concepts in economics that are as universal as the basic concepts in, say, mathematics or physics, or are economics concepts country specific? Could an appropriate international committee develop a global framework of basic concepts that could be used to teach economics below the college level throughout the world? We can’t get a specific answer to the latter question until it is tried, of course, but in this chapter I will argue that, subject to a few important caveats mentioned below, the basic answer is “yes.” Indeed, switching from a “positive” analytical mode to a “normative” advocacy mode, I will argue that such an attempt should be made, and that the National Council’s existing Framework offers a useful starting point from which such an international committee could launch its deliberations.