Focus

The "Focus" series, part of the National Council on Economic Education's (NCEE) EconomicsAmerica program, uses economics to enhance learning in subjects such as history, geography, civics, and personal finance, as well as economics. Activities are interactive, reflecting the belief that students learn best through active, highly personalized experiences with economics. The lessons are correlated explicitly to NCEE's "Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics" and "A Framework for Teaching Basic Economic Concepts." This lesson guide helps to reinforce the case for, as well as redefine the approach to teaching about different types of economic systems, in light of the breakup of the former Soviet Union and market reforms now underway in many nations that were, until recently, the most important examples of centrally planned economies. As demonstrated in the lessons contained in this volume, comparing the institutional arrangements that form the foundation of different nations' economic systems reveals that a wide spectrum still exists, ranging from largely individualistic and market-oriented approaches to a considerable degree of governmental intervention in the overall economy. This guide contains an introductory essay, "A Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems," as well as 12 lessons that feature a wide range of activities, handouts, and discussion guides for classroom use. (Author/BB)