Economics and You

Being a business major, I had to take both macro- and micro-economics, so my mom gave me this book to look at when I had spare time. I didn't have any economics at all before college, but I think a basic understanding such as this book provides would have been beneficial. I was surprised at how similar this book was to the things that I have learned about economics in college. On a simpler scale, of course, but the fundamental ideas being taught are the same. This reproducible workbook first introduces basic economic concepts including supply and demand along with scarcity and surplus, money value and interest, the federal reserve system, and inflation. A variety of activities are used in learning these concepts, such as case studies, graphic organizers, articles and puzzles. The second half of the book reinforces the principles with extensive, real life simulation activities. The child randomly chooses a career card with their salary, and this is their career for the duration of the book. Using this information and other concepts they have learned, they will fill out an application for a checking account, learn how to use checks and balance their checking account, understand their bank statements, fill out a credit card application, use their knowledge of loans and interest to calculate monthly payments on buying a car, fill out tax forms, and role-play many other important, real-life situations. Funny how economics is more interesting presented here than at a monotonous lecture at eight in the morning! ~ Stephanie