Council for Economic Education

Council for Economic Education Council for Economic Education Teaching Opportunity The Council for Economic Education (CEE) is an organization dedicated to promoting financial and economic literacy. CEE provides educational materials, training and professional development programs, and other products to promote economic learning and sound decision making. CEE has also developed Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics to be used in designing a complete economics curriculum. The Council for Economic Education was founded in 1949 on the idea that there is no aspect of education more important than that which makes all our citizens intelligent and truly informed about the economic system in which they live and work. Today, CEE advocates economic and personal finance education in the United States at the local, state, national, and international levels. In the United States, CEE reaches 150,000 teachers each year. Internationally, CEE delivers programs in more than 30 countries. CEE sponsors MyEconEdLink, an organization for K-12 teachers and those interested in economics education. MyEconEdLink provides educational materials, conferences and workshops, and facilitates communication among economic educators around the world. For more information, or to become a member of MyEconEdLink, visit http://www. councilforeconed.org/resources/community/. xlviii

Text Correlation to the Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics In 1994 the United States Congress designated economics as one of the nine core subjects to be taught in America s schools. As a result, the Council for Economic Education developed the Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics for use in economics curricula. Understanding Economics provides extensive coverage for the 20 voluntary content standards. For a complete discussion of the standards, you can reach the Council for Economic Education online at www.councilforeconed.org, or at 1-800-338-1192. For each standard, the student will understand: [1] Scarcity Productive resources are limited. Therefore, people cannot have all the goods and services they want; as a result, they must choose some things and give up others. Understanding Economics Chapter and Lesson Coverage Chapter 1 Lesson 1 Scarcity and the Science of Economics Lesson 2 Our Economic Choices Lesson 3 Using Economic Models Chapter 2 Lesson 1 Economic Systems Lesson 2 Mixed Economies Lesson 3 The Global Transition to Capitalism Lesson 3 Global Problems and Economic Incentives [2] Decision Making Effective decision making requires comparing the additional costs of alternatives with the additional benefits. Many choices involve doing a little more or a little less of something: few choices are all or nothing decisions. Chapter 1 Lesson 1 Scarcity and the Science of Economics Lesson 2 Our Economic Choices Lesson 3 Using Economic Models Chapter 2 Lesson 1 Economic Systems Lesson 2 Mixed Economies Chapter 3 Lesson 3 Evaluating Economic Performance Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Lesson 1 What Is Demand? Lesson 2 Factors Affecting Demand? Lesson 3 Cost, Revenue, and Profit Maximization Chapter 6 Lesson 1 How Prices Work Chapter 15 Lesson 3 Macroeconomic Equilibrium Chapter 19 Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Financial Institutions and Your Money Business Organizations and Your Money Council for Economic Education xlix

Text Correlation to the Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics For each standard, the student will understand: Understanding Economics Chapter and Lesson Coverage [3] Allocation Different methods can be used to allocate goods and services. People acting individually or collectively must choose which methods to use to allocate different kinds of goods and services. Chapter 2 Chapter 6 Lesson 2 Mixed Economies Lesson 1 How Prices Work Lesson 3 Social Goals, Prices, and Market Efficiency Chapter 14 Lesson 1 Taxes [4] Incentives People usually respond predictably to positive and negative incentives. Chapter 6 Lesson 1 How Prices Work Chapter 14 Lesson 1 Taxes Lesson 3 Global Problems and Economic Incentives [5] Trade Voluntary exchange occurs only when all participating parties expect to gain. This is true for trade among individuals or organizations within a nation, and among individuals or organizations in different nations. Chapter 17 Lesson 1 Absolute and Comparative Advantages Lesson 2 Barriers to International Trade Lesson 3 Foreign Exchange and Trade Deficits Lesson 2 Globalization: Characteristics and Trends [6] Specialization When individuals, regions, and nations specialize in what they can produce at the lowest cost and then trade with others, both production and consumption increase. Chapter 17 Lesson 1 Absolute and Comparative Advantages [7] Markets and Prices A market exists when buyers and sellers interact. This interaction determines market prices and thereby allocates scarce goods and services. Chapter 6 Lesson 1 How Prices Work Lesson 2 The Effects of Prices Chapter 7 Lesson 1 Competition and Market Structures Lesson 2 Market Failures [8] Role of Prices Prices send signals and provide incentives to buyers and sellers. When supply or demand changes, market prices adjust, affecting incentives. Chapter 4 Lesson 1 What is Demand? Lesson 2 Factors Affecting Demand Lesson 3 Elasticity of Demand Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Lesson 1 What is Supply? Lesson 2 The Theory of Production Lesson 3 Cost, Revenue, and Profit Maximization Lesson 1 How Prices Work Lesson 2 The Effects of Prices Lesson 3 Social Goals, Prices, and Market Efficiency Lesson 3 Global Problems and Economic Incentives l

For each standard, the student will understand: [9] Competition and Market Structure Competition among sellers usually lowers costs and prices, and encourages producers to produce what consumers are willing and able to buy. Competition among buyers increases prices and allocates goods and services to those people who are willing and able to pay the most for them. Understanding Economics Chapter and Lesson Coverage Chapter 3 Lesson 1 American Free Enterprise Capitalism Chapter 7 Lesson 1 Competition and Market Structure Lesson 2 Market Failures [10] Institutions Institutions evolve and are created to help individuals and groups accomplish their goals. Banks, labor unions, markets, corporations, legal systems, and not-for-profit organizations are examples of important institutions. A different kind of institution, clearly defined and enforced property rights, is essential to a market economy. Chapter 8 Lesson 1 Forms of Business Organizations Lesson 3 Nonprofit Organizations Chapter 9 Lesson 1 The Labor Movement Lesson 1 Structures and Responsibilities of the Fed Lesson 2 Monetary Policy Chapter 19 Lesson 1 Financial Institutions and Your Money [11] Money and Inflation Money makes it easier to trade, borrow, save, invest, and compare the value of goods and services. The amount of money in the economy affects the overall price level. Inflation is an increase in the overall price level that reduces the value of money. Chapter 3 Lesson 3 Evaluating Economic Performance Chapter 10 Lesson 1 The Evolution, Functions, and Characteristics of Money Lesson 2 The Development of Modern Banking Chapter 13 Lesson 2 Inflation [12] Interest Rates Interest rates, adjusted for inflation, rise and fall to balance the amount saved with the amount borrowed, which affects the allocation of scarce resources between present and future uses. Chapter 10 Lesson 1 The Evolution, Functions, and Characteristics of Money Lesson 2 Monetary Policy Chapter 19 Lesson 1 Financial Institutions and Your Money [13] Income Income for most people is determined by the market value of the productive resources they sell. What workers earn primarily depends on the market value of what they produce. Chapter 9 Lesson 2 Wages and Labor Disputes Lesson 3 Economic Trends and Issues Chapter 12 Lesson 3 Poverty and the Distribution of Income [14] Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurs take on the calculated risk of starting new businesses, either by embarking on new ventures similar to existing ones or by introducing new innovations. Entrepreneurial innovation is an important source of economic growth. Chapter 1 Lesson 2 Our Economic Choices Chapter 3 Lesson 2 Roles and Responsibilities in a Free Enterprise Economy Chapter 7 Lesson 2 Market Failures Chapter 8 Lesson 2 Business Growth and Expansion Council for Economic Education li

Text Correlation to the Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics For each standard, the student will understand: [15] Economic Growth Investment in factories, machinery, new technology, and in the health, education, and training of people stimulates economic growth and can raise future standards of living. Understanding Economics Chapter and Lesson Coverage Chapter 1 Lesson 3 Using Economic Models Lesson 1 Demand-Side Policies Lesson 2 Supply-Side Policies Lesson 3 Economics and Politics Chapter 17 Lesson 1 Absolute and Comparative Advantage Lesson 1 Economic Development [16] Role of Government and Market Failure There is an economic role for government in a market economy whenever the benefits of a government policy outweigh its costs. Governments often provide for national defense, address environmental concerns, define and protect property rights, and attempt to make markets more competitive. Most government policies also have direct or indirect effects on people s incomes. Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Lesson 1 Economic Systems Lesson 2 Mixed Economies Lesson 3 The Global Transition to Capitalism Lesson 2 Roles and Responsibilities in a Free Enterprise Economy Lesson 3 Evaluating Economic Performance Chapter 6 Lesson 3 Social Goals, Prices, and Market Efficiency Chapter 7 Lesson 2 Market Failures Lesson 3 The Role of Government Chapter 15 Lesson 1 Taxes Lesson 2 Federal Government Finances Lesson 3 State and Local Government Finances Lesson 1 Structure and Responsibilities of the Fed Lesson 2 Monetary Policy Lesson 3 Economics and Politics Lesson 3 Global Problems and Economic Incentives [17] Government Failure Costs of government policies sometimes exceed benefits. This may occur because of incentives facing voters, government officials, and government employees, because of actions by special interest groups that can impose costs on the general public, or because social goals other than economic efficiency are being pursued. Chapter 7 Lesson 2 Market Failures Lesson 2 Monetary Policy Lesson 3 Economics and Politics Chapter 17 Lesson 2 Barriers to International Trade lii

For each standard, the student will understand: [18] Economic Fluctuations Fluctuations in a nation s overall levels of income, employment, and prices are determined by the interaction of spending and production decisions made by all households, firms, government agencies, and others in the economy. Recessions occur when overall levels of income and employment decline. Understanding Economics Chapter and Lesson Coverage Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Lesson 1 Measuring the Nation s Output and Income Lesson 2 Population Growth and Trends Lesson 1 Business Cycles and Economic Instability Lesson 2 Inflation Lesson 3 Unemployment Chapter 15 Lesson 3 Macroeconomic Equilibrium Lesson 3 Economics and Politics Lesson 1 Economic Development [19] Unemployment and Inflation Unemployment imposes costs on individuals and the overall economy. Inflation, both expected and unexpected, also imposes costs on individuals and the overall economy. Unemployment increases during recessions and decreases during recoveries. Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Lesson 3 Poverty and the Distribution of Income Lesson 1 Business Cycles and Economic Instability Lesson 2 Inflation Lesson 3 Unemployment [20] Fiscal and Monetary Policy Federal government budgetary policy and the Federal Reserve System s monetary policy influence the overall levels of employment, output, and prices. Chapter 15 Lesson 1 Demand-Side Policies Lesson 2 Supply-Side Policies Lesson 3 Macroeconomic Equilibrium Lesson 1 Structure and Responsibilities of the Fed Lesson 2 Monetary Policy Lesson 3 Economics and Politics Used with permission. Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics, 2 nd Edition. Copyright 2010 Council for Economic Education, New York, NY. All rights reserved. For more information visit www.councilforeconed.org or call 1-212-730-7007. Council for Economic Education liii

Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics Understanding Economics incorporates the 20 Voluntary National Content Standards developed and revised by the Council for Economic Education. Standard 1 Scarcity Productive resources are limited. Therefore, people cannot have all the goods and services they want; as a result, they must choose some things and give up others. Standard 2 Decision Making Effective decision making requires comparing the additional costs of alternatives with the additional benefits. Many choices involve doing a little more or a little less of something: few choices are all or nothing decisions. Standard 3 Allocation Different methods can be used to allocate goods and services. People acting individually or collectively must choose which methods to use to allocate different kinds of goods and services. Standard 4 Incentives People usually respond predictably to positive and negative incentives. Standard 5 Trade Voluntary exchange occurs only when all participating parties expect to gain. This is true for trade among individuals or organizations within a nation, and among individuals or organizations in different nations. Standard 6 Specialization When individuals, regions, and nations specialize in what they can produce at the lowest cost and then trade with others, both production and consumption increase. Related concepts: Capital Resources, Capital Goods, Choice, Consumer Economics, Consumers, Goods, Human Resources, Natural Resources, Limited Resources, Opportunity Cost, Producers, Production, Productive Resources, Scarcity, Service, Wants, Entrepreneurship, Inventors, Entrepreneur, Factors of Production Related concepts: Decision Making, Profit Motive, Benefit, Costs, Marginal Analysis, Marginal Benefits, Marginal Cost, Profit, Profit Maximization, Cost/Benefit Analysis Related concepts: Economic Systems, Market Structure, Supply, Command Economy, Market Economy, Traditional Economy, Command Economy Related concepts: Choice, Incentive, Scarce Resources Related concepts: Barriers to Trade, Barter, Exports, Imports, Voluntary Exchange, Exchange, Exchange Rate, Free Trade Related concepts: Economic Specialization, Division of Labor, Production, Productive Resources, Specialization, Factor Endowments, Gains from Trade, Relative Price, Transaction Cost, Factors of Production, Full Employment, Comparative Advantage, Absolute Advantage liv

Standard 7 Markets and Prices A market exists when buyers and sellers interact. This interaction determines market prices and thereby allocates scarce goods and services. Standard 8 Role of Prices Prices send signals and provide incentives to buyers and sellers. When supply or demand changes, market prices adjust, affecting incentives. Standard 9 Competition and Market Structure Competition among sellers usually lowers costs and prices, and encourages producers to produce what consumers are willing and able to buy. Competition among buyers increases prices and allocates goods and services to those people who are willing and able to pay the most for them. Standard 10 Institutions Institutions evolve and are created to help individuals and groups accomplish their goals. Banks, labor unions, markets, corporations, legal systems, and not-for-profit organizations are examples of important institutions. A different kind of institution, clearly defined and enforced property rights, is essential to a market economy. Standard 11 Money and Inflation Money makes it easier to trade, borrow, save, invest, and compare the value of goods and services. The amount of money in the economy affects the overall price level. Inflation is an increase in the overall price level that reduces the value of money. Standard 12 Interest Rates Interest rates, adjusted for inflation, rise and fall to balance the amount saved with the amount borrowed, which affects the allocation of scarce resources between present and future uses. Related concepts: Price, Market Price, Market Structure, Markets, Price Floors, Price Stability, Equilibrium Price, Quantity Demanded, Quantity Supplied, Relative Price, Exchange Rate, Shortage, Surplus Related concepts: Non-price Determinants, Price Floor, Price Stability, Supply, Demand, Determinants of Demand, Determinants of Supply, Law of Demand, Law of Supply, Price Ceiling, Substitute Good, Price, Incentive, Market-clearing Price Related concepts: Market Structure, Non-price Competition, Levels of Competition. Collusion Related concepts: Legal and Social Framework, Mortgage, Borrower, Interest, Labor Union, Legal Forms of Business, Legal Foundations of a Market Economy, Nonprofit Organization, Property Rights, Banking, Financial Institutions Related concepts: Exchange, Money Management, Money Supply, Currency, Definition of Money, Money, Characteristics of Money, Functions of Money, Goods and Services, Inflation, Deflation, Consumer Price Index (CPI) Related concepts: Interest Rate, Monetary Policy, Real vs. Nominal Risk, Risk, Investing, Savers, Savings Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics lv

Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics Standard 13 Income Income for most people is determined by the market value of the productive resources they sell. What workers earn primarily depends on the market value of what they produce. Standard 14 Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurs take on the calculated risk of starting new businesses, either by embarking on new ventures similar to existing ones or by introducing new innovations. Entrepreneurial innovation is an important source of economic growth. Standard 15 Economic Growth Investment in factories, machinery, new technology, and in the health, education, and training of people stimulates economic growth and can raise future standards of living. Standard 16 Role of Government and Market Failure There is an economic role for government in a market economy whenever the benefits of a government policy outweigh its costs. Governments often provide for national defense, address environmental concerns, define and protect property rights, and attempt to make markets more competitive. Most government policies also have direct or indirect effects on people s incomes. Standard 17 Government Failure Costs of government policies sometimes exceed benefits. This may occur because of incentives facing voters, government officials, and government employees, because of actions by special interest groups that can impose costs on the general public, or because social goals other than economic efficiency are being pursued. Related concepts: Human Resources, Derived Demand, Functional Distribution of Income, Labor, Labor Market, Marginal Resource Product, Personal Distribution of Income, Wage, Aggregate Demand (AD), Aggregate Supply (AS), Demand, Price of Inputs, Functional Distribution Related concepts: Taxation, Costs, Costs of Production, Entrepreneur, Risk, Taxes, Cost/Benefit Analysis, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Inventors, Incentives Related concepts: Incentive, Interest Rate, Opportunity cost, Production, Technological Changes, Trade-off, Trade-offs Among Goals, Human Capital, Intensive Growth, Investment, Physical Capital, Productivity, Risk, Standard of Living, Economic Efficiency, Economic Equity, Economic Freedom, Economic Growth, Economic Security, Poverty, Investing, Business, Businesses and Households, Factors of Production, Health and Nutrition, Savers, Savings, Stock Market Related concepts: Externalities, Income, Natural Monopoly, Redistribution of Income, Role of Government, Taxation, Transfer Payments, Bonds, Distribution of Income, Income Tax, Maintaining Competition, Monopolies, Negative Externality, Non-clearing Markets, Positive Externality, Negative Externality, Property Rights, Public Good, Maintaining Regulation, Taxes, Regulation, Government Expenditures, Government Revenues Relative concepts: Cost/Benefit Analysis, Benefit, Costs, Special Interest Group, Barriers to Trade, Role of Government lvi

Standard 18 Economic Fluctuations Fluctuations in a nation s overall levels of income, employment, and prices are determined by the interaction of spending and production decisions made by all households, firms, government agencies, and others in the economy. Recessions occur when overall levels of income and employment decline. Standard 19 Unemployment and Inflation Unemployment imposes costs on individuals and the overall economy. Inflation, both expected and unexpected, also imposes costs on individuals and the overall economy. Unemployment increases during recessions and decreases during recoveries. Standard 20 Fiscal and Monetary Policy Federal government budgetary policy and the Federal Reserve System s monetary policy influence the overall levels of employment, output, and prices. Related concepts: Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Macroeconomic Indicators, Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Per Capital Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Potential Gross Domestic (GDP), Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Deflation, Labor Force, Unemployment, Unemployment Rate, Inflation, Imports, Exports, Net Exports, Recession, Depression, Consumer Price Index (CPI) Related concepts: Types of Unemployment, Causes of Inflation, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Deflation, Labor force, Unemployment, Unemployment Rate, Inflation Related concepts: Inflation, National Debt, Tools of the Federal Reserve, Discount Rate, Federal Budget, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Open Market Operations, Reserve Requirements, Budget, Budget Deficit, Central Banking System, Budget Surplus, Causes of Inflation, Taxes, Role of Government, Revenues, Expenditures, Federal Reserve System Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics lvii