As an economist who often wrestles with legislation based on bad economics (especially these days), as well as dealing with media accounts on policy issues regularly devoid of economic common sense, my concerns tend to run high about the state of economics education.
Just what are people learning about economics, if anything?
As chief economist with SBE Council, a newspaper columnist and adjunct college professor, I pitch in as best I can to spread sound economics, but a feeling of loneliness sometimes lingers.
However, I found good news in a visit to a high school AP Economics class this week at Long Island Lutheran High School.
As a guest speaker discussing the economy and economics of public policy, I found a high school economics teacher well grounded in economics who obviously communicated well, all to the benefit of his students.
Indeed, based on my brief visit, it seemed to me that these high school seniors grasped some key basics of economic thinking. They also asked good questions.
This experience was even more impressive, given that my visit occurred on a warm, sunny spring day late in the school year – when “senioritis” usually strikes.
So, hope persists that there are places where sound economics is being taught.
Raymond J. Keating
Chief Economist
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
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