Clear. Concise. The Guide to Critical Thinking in Economics is a summary and guide to the art of reasoning well in economics and in everyday life. Basic Skills of Critical Thinking The text provides a clear-introduction to claims, arguments, analogies, models, experiments, generalizing, and cause and effect reasoning using examples geared to economics students. Mastering Basic Skills Hundreds of examples are included, three-fourths of which are derived from real-life economics applications or are adapted from economics textbooks and journals. Economic Modeling This unique section explores the way models are created in economics. By looking at the process of creating models, students learn how abstraction from data benefits economic analysis. Self-Paced Presentation The text is designed to be used by students without taking class time away from economics studies. Richard L. Epstein received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley and has written numerous books on logic, critical thinking, and mathematics. He has been a National Academy of Sciences Scholar and a Fulbright Fellow and is currently head of the Advanced Reasoning Forum. Carolyn Kernberger received her B.G.S. cum laude from New Mexico Tech and her M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language at the University of New Mexico. She has taught in the United States, Japan, and at the College of Micronesia FSM, where she was also the Accreditation Officer.

Make economics resonate to high school students. This practical handbook will help economics and social studies teachers foster critical thinking by introducing students to the real-life dimensions of the major controversies in contemporary economics. Filled with useful teaching tips and user-friendly information on finding engaging materials and activities for the classroom, the book also includes detailed coverage of the Voluntary National Content Standards for economics. "Introducing Economics" is a one-stop resource for high school teachers who want to make economics relevant to their students' lives. It includes more than 50 sections with lists of suggested "Activities and Resources," many with Internet links. It features boxed "Hints for Clear Teaching" tips for presenting particularly difficult topics. It provides an annotated resource guide to more than 30 organizations involved in economics education, with associated Internet links. It follows the flow of topics in a typical economics course. It addresses real-life topics that are ignored or glossed-over in traditional textbooks - economics and the environment, the distribution of income and wealth, discrimination, labor unions, globalization, the power of corporations, and more. It offers critical guidance for meeting all 20 Voluntary National Content Standards in economics, and also provides an overview of the political and intellectual history and contemporary state of economics education.

This book presents a fascinating story about how academia got it all wrong. Was it an academic conspiracy? Was it peculiar social pressures in academia? Regardless of how it all came about, it is time to teach our children financial literacy instead of economics. Financial literacy is a course that prepares our children for success in today’s economic society. Typical economics courses do nothing to prepare your child for understanding day to day economic responsibility. This book presents the reasons to join the battle. It is time to stand up and demand relevant education from your state education system.

This practical handbook will help economics and social studies teachers foster critical thinking by introducing students to the real-life dimensions of the major controversies in contemporary economics. Filled with useful teaching tips and user-friendly information on finding engaging materials and activities for the classroom, the book also includes detailed coverage of the Voluntary National Content Standards for economics.

Make economics resonate to high school students. This practical handbook will help economics and social studies teachers foster critical thinking by introducing students to the real-life dimensions of the major controversies in contemporary economics. Filled with useful teaching tips and user-friendly information on finding engaging materials and activities for the classroom, the book also includes detailed coverage of the Voluntary National Content Standards for economics. "Introducing Economics" is a one-stop resource for high school teachers who want to make economics relevant to their students' lives. It includes more than 50 sections with lists of suggested "Activities and Resources," many with Internet links. It features boxed "Hints for Clear Teaching" tips for presenting particularly difficult topics. It provides an annotated resource guide to more than 30 organizations involved in economics education, with associated Internet links. It follows the flow of topics in a typical economics course. It addresses real-life topics that are ignored or glossed-over in traditional textbooks - economics and the environment, the distribution of income and wealth, discrimination, labor unions, globalization, the power of corporations, and more. It offers critical guidance for meeting all 20 Voluntary National Content Standards in economics, and also provides an overview of the political and intellectual history and contemporary state of economics education.

Mainstream textbooks present economics as an objective science free from value judgements; that settles disputes by testing hypotheses; that applies a pre-determined body of principles; and contains policy prescriptions supported by a consensus of professional opinion. The Economics Anti-Textbook argues that this is a myth - one which is not only dangerously misleading but also bland and boring. It challenges the mainstream textbooks' assumptions, arguments, models and evidence. It puts the controversy and excitement back into economics to reveal a fascinating and a vibrant field of study - one which is more an 'art of persuasion' than it is a science. The Economics Anti-Textbook's chapters parallel the major topics in the typical text, beginning with a boiled-down account of them before presenting an analysis and critique. Drawing on the work of leading economists, the Anti-Textbook lays bare the blind spots in the texts and their sins of omission and commission. It shows where hidden value judgements are made and when contrary evidence is ignored. It shows the claims made without any evidence and the alternative theories that aren't mentioned. It shows the importance of power, social context and legal framework. The Economics Anti-Textbook is the students' guide to decoding the textbooks and shows how real economics is much more interesting than most economists are willing to let on.