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Consumer Education/Financial Literacy

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iStockphoto

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy

http://www.360financialliteracy.org
http://www.feedthepig.org
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has
put together a site that’s a must for anyone interested in
financial literacy.
Be sure to check out:
• The “Stages of Life” feature covers financial concerns
from childhood to retirement.
• “Feed the Pig” uses an interactive calculator to show
you, among other things, how much you can save by
bringing your lunch from home rather than buying it.

Consumer Jungle

http://www.consumerjungle.org
The Consumer Jungle is geared to young adults, and each
of its six main sections – Cars, Computers, Credit, Health,
Independent Living, Wireless Phones – includes quizzes,
worksheets, and resources.
Be sure to check out:
• The site’s splash page takes you directly to “50 Common
Financial Pitfalls” and a “Fraud of the Month Menu” that
covers everything from pyramid schemes to scholarship scams.

Consumer World

http://www.consumerworld.org
Edgar Dworksy, a.k.a. “MrConsumer,” started Consumer
world.org in 1995 and has built it into one of the internet’s
more comprehensive education/reference sites for consumers. Among the things you will find on the site’s homepage:
• Top Consumer Fraud Complaints
• Price Checker (which compares an item’s price at hundreds of online stores)
• Product reviews
• Scam alerts
• Travel bargains
• Resources
• Links to online coupons
• And much more
Be sure to check out:
• “mouse print*” http://www.mouseprint.org exposes
“the strings and catches buried in the fine print” of ads
and commercial offers.
• For pure fun and enjoyment, click the “Resources” button on the Consumer World homepage and scroll down
to “Consumer Fun,” which features links to Super Bowl
Commercials (past and present), Nutrition Bloopers,
Totally Absurd Inventions, supermarket history, Wacky
Uses for Brand Name Products, and dozens of other topics that will make you smile, enlighten you, or both.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

http://www.fdic.gov
Lots of useful resources under the “Consumer Protection”
tab. A few examples: Finding a Safe Loan, Looking for the
Best Mortgage, Safe Internet Banking.
Be sure to check out:
• “History of the FDIC” and “Learning Bank” are both
located under the “About FDIC” tab.

Federal Trade Commission

http://www.ftc.gov
Useful articles and other resources on a variety of consumer
related topics, including credit reports, identity theft, and
the National Do Not Call Registry.
Be sure to check out:
• Click the “Consumer Protection” tab for information
on how to file a consumer complaint about a particular
company or organization.

It All Adds Up

http://www.italladdsup.org
It All Adds Up was developed by the National Council of
Economic Education to help high school students “understand responsible personal finance management skills and the
proper care and use of credit.” Content is organized around five
modules that use online games and simulations: 1) Getting
and Using a Credit Card, 2) Buying a Car, 3) Budget Odyssey,
4) Saving and Investing Blitz, and 5) You’re Going to College.

Jump$tart Coalition for
Personal Financial Literacy

http://www.jumpstartcoalition.org
Jump$tart has been working since 1995 to get basic
personal financial skills into the K-12 curriculum.
Be sure to check out:
• The Jump$tart Reality Check http://www.jumpstart.
org/realitycheck uses an interactive survey to help
students get a handle on how much it will really cost
them to live their so-called “Dream Life.”

Kids.gov - The Official Kids’ Portal for
the U.S. Government

http://www.kids.gov
Lots of useful links to sites that cover a variety of moneyrelated topics. Just click on “Money” in the pull-down
menus for Grades K-5, Grades 6-8, and Educators.

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LifeSmarts

http://www.lifesmarts.org
Here’s one for teachers who love national competitions … you
know who you are. LifeSmarts, a program of the National
Consumers League, encourages students to learn about the
consumer issues they face today and the new challenges that
are right around the corner. The questions in this gameshowstyle competition cover Personal Finance, Consumer Rights
and Responsibilities, Health and Safety, Environment, and
Technology. Teams compete in district and state matches,
with the state winners moving on to the national competition. LifeSmarts is open to all U.S. teens in grades 9-12,
and in 2008 middle school students participated in the JV
LifeSmarts pilot program.

The Mint

http://www.themint.org
No, it’s not that Mint. This one is a collaboration between the
Northwestern Mutual Foundation and the National Council
on Economic Education, and it “provides tools to help parents as well as educators teach children to manage money
wisely and develop good financial habits.”
Be sure to check out:
• The “Try it!” section features activities that range from
“I Paid How Much?” to “Take the Spending Challenge.”

6

The Motley Fool

http://www.fool.com
Their motto says it all: “To Educate, Amuse & Enrich.”
Be sure to check out:
• Don’t miss “Teens and Their Money” under the “Personal
Finance” tab. There’s lots of other good stuff, too.

My Money

http://www.mymoney.gov
With information from 20 federal agencies, this is the U.S.
government’s website “dedicated to teaching all Americans
the basics about financial education.”
Be sure to check out:
• The “Calculators” page has ten tools to help you plan
your college budget, figure out how much your savings
bonds are worth, and much more.

National Endowment for Financial Education

http://www.nefe.org
The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
is on a mission to “help individual Americans acquire the
knowledge and skills necessary to take control of their
financial destiny.”
Be sure to check out:
• Another NEFE web site, Get smart about your money,
has dozens of links to resources on financial planning,
credit & debt, saving, investing, and retirement.
http://www.smartaboutmoney.org,

Federal Reserve Resources

Fed
Update
FederalReserveEducation.org

http://www.federalreserveeducation.org
OK, maybe we’re biased, but if you have even the slightest
interest in the Federal Reserve, you’ll love this site, which
brings together the educational resources of all 12 Reserve
Banks and the Board of Governors.
Be sure to check out:
• Fed 101 will tell you just about everything you ever
wanted to know about the Federal Reserve System.
• Building Wealth: A Beginner’s Guide to Securing Your
Financial Future
• Econ Explorers Journal
• Great Depression curriculum web site
• Katrina’s Classroom: Financial Lessons from a Hurricane
• The Money Circle curriculum

Federal Open Market Committee

http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy
An excellent introduction to the Federal Reserve’s most dynamic
tool for implementing monetary policy – includes a list of the
FOMC members and a schedule of FOMC meetings.

Peanuts & Crackerjacks:
Economics and Pro Team Sports

http://www.bos.frb.org/peanuts/indexsound.htm
Peanuts & Crackerjacks is the Federal Reserve Bank of
Boston’s interactive baseball game that tests your knowledge of economics and pro sports trivia. Not a sports fan? No
problem! Sports are the hook, but Peanuts & Crackerjacks is
really about using economics to gain a better understanding
of everyday life. In addition to the interactive game, there’s
background information (the Sports Page) and a Teachers
Guide. And it’s all free!

Show Business:
The Economic$ of Entertainment

http://www.bos.frb.org/entertainment/index.htm
Unit 1: Climbing the Charts
Middle school and high school students are the target
audience for this online learning unit. Its centerpiece is a
15-question quiz that uses the music industry as a vehicle to
examine how markets develop and function.

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the

big picture

Overviews, Portals, and Blogs

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AmosWEB

http://www.amosweb.com
If AmosWEB is any indication, Orley M. Amos, isn’t one to
take himself too seriously. The Oklahoma State University
economics professor has created a site that’s effective, engaging, and … fun.
Be sure to check out:
• A PEDestrian’s Guide to the Economy promises “hours
of reading pleasure” while providing “answers to many
of the most asked, a few of the least asked, and some of
the never asked questions about the economy.”
• GLOSS*arama is a searchable database of 2000 economic terms and concepts.
• QUIZ*tastic gives users an opportunity to test their
knowledge in 36 topic areas.

Buck Institute for Education
Problem Based Economics

http://www.bie.org
Eight problem-based units designed for high school students
provide a “highly participatory way to teach abstract economics principles.” Online resources complement the units.

CEOExpress®

http://www.ceoexpress.com
This site bills itself as “The Executive’s Internet,” but it’s not
just for people who ride the 8:15 into the city. There are dozens of links under the headings of Daily News & Info, Office
Tools & Travel, Business Research, and Breaktime (a.k.a.
“non-business research”).

Be sure to check out:
Too much to list. Be sure to check it out for yourself.

College Board

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/
sub_maceco.html?macro
From the people who bring you the SAT, here’s a 52-page
PDF that describes the Advanced Program in micro and macroeconomics. It also includes sample exam questions.

EcEdWeb: Resources for Teachers K-12

http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/home.cfm
EcEdWeb’s stated mission is to be “your portal to economic
education resources in all forms and at all levels,” and the
site delivers on its promise.
Be sure to check out:
• Regardless of what grade level you teach – in fact, even
if you’re not a teacher – be sure to click on the “College
Teach” tab. You’ll find everything from online texts to
rationales for studying economics.

DismalScientist

http://www.economy.com/dismal
Links to the latest economic news and indicators.
Be sure to check out:
• The “Data & Tools” tab

blogging

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EconSources

http://www.EconSources.com
Professor Gary Clayton developed EconSources as “a portal
to the best economic information on the web,” and in the
process he succeeded in creating a site that embodies all the
“old-time” internet virtues. EconSources is informative, easy
to navigate, and non-commercial. (Clayton maintains the
site out of his own pocket and has steadfastly resisted the
temptation to accept advertising.) EconSources may not
be the glitziest site on the web, but it’s among of the most
useful. Its homepage directs you to 13 main categories: economic indicators, global economic data, federal agencies,
and much more. The links under each category then take
you to a specific piece of information or resource. It’s a very
useful site. Don’t miss it!

Freakonomics/The New York Times

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com
Greg Mankiw’s Blog:
Random Observations for Students of Economics
http://www.gregmankiw.blogspot.com
MV=PQ/The Powell Center for Economic Literacy
http://www.valuingeconomics.blogspot.com
Real Time Economics/The Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics
You won’t go wrong with any of these blogs. They are all
topnotch: clear, concise, and well-written.
Be sure to check out:
• MV=PQ blogger Tim Schilling often highlights
resources that teachers can easily adapt for classroom
use. And, no, we’re not a bit biased by the fact that Tim
is a former colleague and a great guy.

howstuffworks

http://money.howstuffworks.com/moneyeconomics-basics-channel.htm
http://money.howstuffworks.com/grocery-storeprices-for-14-items-in-1957.htm
By now, most internet users are familiar with the how-stuff
works format: clear answers to things you’ve often wondered about. In this case, it’s economics.
Be sure to check out:
• “Grocery Store Prices for 14 Items in 1957” would be
more enlightening if the prices were adjusted for inflation, but it’s still fun.

National Bureau of Economic Research

http://www.nber.org
The National Bureau of Economic Research? Don’t they
have the official say on when the U.S. economy is in recession? Yes, but that’s certainly not their sole function, and
their web site is loaded with content for those with a
serious interest in economics.
Be sure to check out:
• The archive of NBER Working Papers covers a broad
range of topics. Many of the papers are available in an
electronic format.

National Council on Economic Education

http://www.ncee.net
http://www.econedlink.org
The National Council on Economic Education is a nonprofit
partnership of leaders in education, business, and labor that
has been working since 1949 to foster economic education.
Its teacher training affiliate, EconomicsAmerica, provides
training and support to more than 120,000 teachers a year
through a nationwide network of university-based education
centers and state councils. And its web site is an essential
resource for anyone interested in economic education.
Be sure to check out:
• EconEdLink is an online archive of economics and personal finance lessons, geared to grades K-12.

Reffonomics/Economics University

http://www.reffonomics.com
A useful resource that features an online microeconomics
textbook, another on macroeconomics, and lesson plans.

Resources for Economics

http://www.rfe.org
Sponsored by the American Economic Association, this site
delivers exactly what its title promises . . . but you don’t have
to be an economist to find value in it.
Be sure to check out:
• Links to “Teaching Resources,” “Blogs,” and “Neat Stuff.”

http://www.
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coolCash

Coins and Currency
Money - Past, Present & Future

http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/money.html
A fascinating survey of monetary history, this site will
appeal to generalists and specialists alike.
Be sure to check out:
• “History of Money From Ancient Times to Present Day”
• “Current Value of Old Money”

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

http://www.moneyfactory.gov
You’re digging in the backyard when your shovel pushes
into a bundle of $20s that someone buried long ago. You
reach to pick them up, but – oh no! – the ancient bills begin
to decompose in your hands. Is there a way to salvage
them? The answer to this question and many others is on
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing web site – everything
from replacing damaged currency to purchasing a sheet of
uncut two-dollar bills.
Be sure to check out:
• The “Classroom” tab will take you to games, activities,
FAQs, and more.

The United States Mint/H.I.P. Pocket Change

$$$$$

http://www.usmint.gov/kids
The United States Mint has a site for kids and teachers that is
fun and informative. Geared to grades K-6, it features games,
lesson plans, information for collectors, and much more.
Be sure to check out:
• The Time Machine

United States Secret Service

http://www.treas.gov/usss
Protecting the President isn’t their only mission. In fact, the
U.S. Secret Service was established in 1865 to crack down
on counterfeiting.
Be sure to check out:
• “History” and “Know Your Money”

11

by the numbers
Economic Data

12

Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov
http://www.bls.gov/k12/index.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
As you might have guessed, this is the site to get figures for
things like average hourly earnings and the current U.S.
unemployment rate. But you can also get an idea of what it
might be like to work in TV, or how much you might expect
to earn as a stockbroker.
Be sure to check out:
• Economy at a Glance
• How Much People Earn
• Kids’ Page
• Monthly Labor Review
• Occupational Outlook Handbook

Bureau of Economic Analysis

http://www.bea.gov
The BEA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and its
website presents lots of useful information in a format that’s
easy to navigate.
Be sure to check out:
• To find out how much value an industry adds to
GDP, check out the Interactive Data Tables under the
“Publications” tab.
• Click the “FAQs” tab to find out, among other things,
how it’s possible for personal savings to be negative.

Statistical Resources on the Web
The University of Michigan Documents Center

http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stecon.html
An excellent portal site for economic statistics – as comprehensive as its title promises.

FRED® - Federal Reserve Economic Data

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2
Created and maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St.
Louis, FRED is a database of more than 19,000 U.S. economic
time series.
Be sure to check out:
• GeoFRED™ http://geofred.stlouisfed.org is “a datamapping tool that displays color-coded data on the
state, MSA and county levels. For example, GeoFRED
can display unemployment, labor force and population for all U.S. counties. Users can select among 12,000
FRED® data series and customize these printable maps
according to size, scope and detail.” And there are lesson plans, too!

The Inflation Calculator

http://www.westegg.com/inflation
The Inflation Calculator will adjust “any given amount of
money for inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index,”
going back to 1800.

Measuring Worth

http://www.measuringworth.com
Making value comparisons between one historical period
and another is never an easy task, but this site gives you tools

Bureau of the Census

http://www.census.gov
Today’s U.S. Census does far more than count heads, and the
Census Bureau’s web site is an effective tool for teaching and
learning about economics.
Be sure to check out:
• American FactFinder, especially “Kids’ Corner” under
the “Tools and Resources” tab
• Economic Indicators (on the Homepage)
• QuickFacts–all 50 states and the District of Columbia

to help make it easier.
Be sure to check out:
• “Measures of Worth” is an essay that “provides a methodology for deciding which measure of worth is
appropriate for the subject at hand.”

13

back when a doll
EH.Net

http://eh.net
EH.Net was created in 1993 to assist economists, historians, and other social
scientists through the use of electronic communication and information technology. But even if you are “none of the above,” chances are that you’ll find
something of interest on this website, which is owned and operated by the
Economic History Association.
Be sure to check out:
• “How much is that?” is a tool that features five ways to figure out the relative value of a dollar, 1790 to the present, and a number of other interesting
things.
• The EH.Net Encyclopedia of Economic and Business History provides highquality reference articles on dozens of topics.

The Great Depression
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

http://www.stlouisfed.org/greatdepression
There was a time when cautionary tales of the Great Depression were a part
of every child’s upbringing. Every family had at least one member whose mission in life was to impart the lessons of that bitter time. But those voices have
begun to fade, and the day is fast approaching when no one will be left to
remind us firsthand that “good health” and “a steady job” ought not to be taken
for granted. Fortunately, we still have resources such as this website, which
includes a full curriculum with six lessons on everything from “Measuring the
Great Depression” to “Could it Happen Again?”.
Be sure to check out:
• The glossary and the gallery of classic Depression-era photos.

The History of Economic Thought
Economics Department, New School for Social Research

http://cepa.newschool.edu/het/home.htm
The site’s creator describes it as “a repository of collected links and information
on the history of economic thought, from the ancient times until the modern
day.” Its “Alphabetical Index” lists more than 500 economists.
Be sure to check out:
• The “Links” page

Library of Congress/American Memory Collection

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html
Don’t miss this site! At first glance it might seem to be more about history than
economics, but the more you look at it the more economics you see.
Be sure to check out:
• America from the Great Depression to World War II features some of the most
compelling photographs ever made. Faces of 1930s America look at us
from across the years and tell the story of ordinary people trying to cope
with extraordinary times.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fahome.html
• The Panoramic Map Collection takes you on an aerial tour of Victorian era
cities and towns, with a fascinating bird’s eye perspective on urban and
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lar was a dollar
Economic History

industrial development in post-Civil War America. The
level of detail in some of the maps is exquisite, and with
the aid of modern technology (the Mr. Sid online viewing tool) you can even zoom in on a particular street.
You can also try going to Google maps to compare
city views “now and then.” http://memory.loc.gov/
ammem/pmhtml/panhome.html
• The Emergence of Advertising in America brings together
“over 9,000 images that illustrate the rise of consumer
culture” and the growth of professional advertising.
There is also a link to the Hartman Center for Sales,
Advertising & Marketing at Duke University, which
houses all the original images.

The New England Economic Adventure
and
Mass Moments

http://www.economicadventure.org
http://www.massmoments.org
Even if you don’t live in Massachusetts or New England,
your life has been influenced by New England’s economic
history. America’s Industrial Revolution had its origins
in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and dozens of technological advances came out of the region’s many research
labs. You can learn about all of this, and much more when
you visit the New England Economic Adventure website
and Mass Moments. The Adventure, created and operated
by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, covers everything
from improvements in the standard of living to changes in
family life. Mass Moments, created by the Massachusetts
Foundation for the Humanities, features an extensive archive
of pivotal occurrences in Massachusetts history, everything
from the Great Molasses Flood to the Robert Goddard’s pioneering efforts in rocketry.
Be sure to check out:
• The Adventure’s “Timeline of Key Economic Events in
New England”
• The Mass Moments Archive.

$$

Making of America

http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/moa
http://www.hti.umich.edu/m/moa.new
Making of America, a collaborative effort between University
of Michigan and Cornell University, is a must for anyone
doing research on nineteenth century American life. The
online digital library offers free electronic access to more
than 9000 volumes of nineteenth century primary sources
(nearly 2.5 million pages, plus an additional 277,000 pages
of online journal holdings). Each work was selected for the
collection based on its capacity to demonstrate “what it was
like to be an American at that time.”
Be sure to check out:
• Twenty-One Years in the Boston Stock Market, or Fluctuation
Therein from January 1, 1835, to January 1, 1856 by Joseph
G. Martin, Commission Stock Broker - a brief but informative look at the workings of nineteenth century
American financial industry.
• Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet (Brent)
Jacobs - a compelling memoir that contains a number
of economic insights.

Museum of American Financial History

http://www.financialhistory.org
Even if you can’t get to New York, you can still visit the
Museum of American Financial History online.
Be sure to check out:
• Financial History, the Museum’s membership magazine,
carries an interesting mix of articles – everything from
a history of the American Bank Note Company to the
financing of early baseball teams.
• View online highlights of the Museum’s exhibits – the
history of financial journalism, the Erie Canal, financing the Civil War, the artistry of African currency, J.P.
Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and more.

“Within These Walls …”
Smithsonian National Museum of American History

http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/home.asp
When a 200 year-old house in Ipswich, Massachusetts was
slated for demolition in 1963, the local historical society
contacted the Smithsonian, which (fortunately) agreed to
preserve it. The house was carefully dismantled, trucked to
Washington and reassembled in a gallery of the National
Museum of American History. Thanks to the wonders of the
internet, you can tour the house online and learn about five
of the families that once called it home. In the process, you’ll
learn a thing or two about changes in our material standard
of living.
Be sure to check out:
• “Family Stories” and “go back in time!”

15

smal
16

The Central Intelligence Agency
World Factbook

h t t p s : / / w w w. c i a . g o v / l i b r a r y / p u b l i c a t i o n s /
the-world-factbook/index.html
Yes, it’s that CIA, and the Factbook has detailed profiles of
all the world’s countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
(Check out the Isle of Man’s flag!)
Be sure to check out:
• The CIA Kids’ Page has puzzles and code-breaking exercises of varying difficulty. (OK, it may not be economics,
but it’s fun.) There’s even a spy whose phone is in her
stiletto-heeled shoe. Who says “spooks” don’t have a
sense of humor?

Facing the Future:
Education on Sustainability and Global Issues

http://www.facingthefuture.org
The people at Facing the Future believe that “students need
to understand the linkages between local and global issues.”
Be sure to check out:
• The “Curriculum” and “For Educators” tabs

Globalization101.org
The Levin Institute

http://www.globalization101.org
Globalization is on everyone’s mind, but we don’t always
agree on what it is or how it affects us. Globalization 101
uses an interdisciplinary approach to help you understand
the issues and evaluate the trade-offs.
Be sure to check out:
• “Ask the Experts”
• Lesson plans under the “For Teachers” tab

International Monetary Fund

http://www.imf.org
Established in 1944, the International Monetary Fund
has grown from 45 to 185 member countries. Its primary
purpose is to “ensure the stability of the world’s monetary

system by advising member countries, making temporary
financing available, and providing technical assistance.”
Be sure to check out:
• The “For Students” section under “About the IMF”

Nobelprize.org

http://www.nobelprize.org
Alfred Nobel made his fortune in nitroglycerin and dynamite, then left his wealth to establish the Nobel Prize awards
for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and work for
peace. (Today, there is also a related prize in economics.)
Be sure to check out:
• The Trade game under the “Educational Games” tab

World Bank

http://www.worldbank.org
http://youthink.worldbank.org/4kids
The World Bank’s mission is to reduce poverty by providing development assistance to its poorer member nations
– often called “developing countries” – and to countries
whose economies are in transition. The loans are intended
to increase economic productivity and improve the material standard of living in those countries.
Be sure to check out:
• Learning
• Resources for . . .Youth & Schools

Worldmapper

http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/
index.html
A fantastic site for map-lovers, or anyone else, for that matter: 366 maps look at everything from human poverty to the
average number of fast food outlets.
Be sure to check out:
• Just pick a map from the index and start exploring. It’s
fascinating.

Yale Global Online

llworld

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/index.jsp
The online edition of a publication from the Yale Center for
the Study of Globalization features a wide range of issues
related to globalization.
Be sure to check out:
• “Small Screen, Smaller World” is an engaging look at
how globalization of the supply chain has brought
down the price of TV sets (look under the “Flash
Presentations” section of the “Multimedia” tab).

The Global Economy

17

This Just in . . .
Media Sites

Bloomberg.com
http://www.bloomberg.com

CNNMoney

http://money.cnn.com
Bloomberg and CNNMoney deliver up-to-the-minute business and financial news complemented by a changing mix
of articles on personal finance issues – managing a personal
investment portfolio, planning for retirement, paying for
college, buying a house, and other good stuff.

18

The Economist

http://www.economist.com

BusinessWeek

http://www.businessweek.com/
the_thread/economicsunbound
Both publications have been around for awhile and need no
introduction, but their web sites offer additional resources
that you won’t always find between the covers of the newsstand editions. In BusinessWeek’s “Economics Unbound”
section, the magazine’s chief economist comments on “the
hot economic issues of the day.” The “Economics Focus” section of Economist.com is a collection of articles from past
editions, and “Economics A-Z” provides a comprehensive
glossary of economic terms.

National Public Radio

http://www.npr.org
The NPR homepage almost always features a business or
economics story, but if it doesn’t, just go over to the “Browse
Topics” menu and click on “Business.” You’ll find at least a dozen.
Be sure to check out:
• Marketplace is the NPR program that focuses on business and economics stories.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org

New York Times Glossary of Financial
and Business Terms

h t t p : / / w w w. n y t i m e s . c o m / l i b r a r y / f i n a n c i a l /
glossary/bfglosa.htm
Put away your secret decoder ring. The New York Times
online glossary has more than 2500 entries to help you
decipher the business and financial news – everything from
“abandonment option” to “zero-sum game.” Compiled by
Duke University Professor Campbell R. Harvey, the definitions are clear, concise, and conveniently cross-referenced
with hotlinks.

Public Broadcasting System

http://www.pbs.org
Go to the PBS homepage, type “economics” in the search
box, and then prepare to sift through 9,000 hits. That’s right:
9,000 stories on a variety of topics ranging from the economics of pro sports to the economics of coffee. And many of the
PBS programs are supplemented by excellent educational
materials.
Be sure to check out:
• The twentieth century was the first to produce an extensive statistical record, and The First Measured Century
uses that record to survey the extraordinary changes
that took place in American life between 1900 and
2000. Attractive charts map statistical trends and social
changes in 15 categories: population, work, education,
family, living arrangements, religion, active leisure,
health, money, politics, government, crime, transportation, business, and communications. There’s also an
online teachers guide. http://www.pbs.org/fmc

The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition

http://wsjclassroomedition.com
The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition web site culls
articles from the newsstand edition and adapts them for
classroom use. The writing is as good as you’d expect, and
the graphics are eye-catching.

Two Gateways and a Glossary

http://www.finance.google.com
http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/index
http://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance
/glossary
These three sites provide direct links to current news stories, financial quotes, and a comprehensive glossary of financial terms.

...
19

Who’s the

boss?

Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

http://www.kansascityfed.org/Education/Teaching
Resources/TeachingResourcesMain.htm
Two student activities, a teacher’s guide, and a glossary
introduce high school students to entrepreneurship and the
impact it can have on their community.

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

http://www.kauffmanfoundation.org
Established in the mid-1960s, the Kauffman Foundation’s
vision is to foster “a society of economically independent
individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the
improvement of their communities.” Entrepreneurship and
education are its two main focal points.
Be sure to check out:
• The “Entrepreneurship” and “Resources” sections.

20

Invention Dimension
Lemelson - MIT Program

http://web.mit.edu/invent/invent-main.html
A fun site for learning about the achievements of past inventors or picking up a few pointers on becoming one yourself.
Be sure to check out:
• “Inventor’s Handbook” – FAQs of interest to independent inventors and aspiring entrepreneurs

Junior Achievement

http://www.ja.org
Junior Achievement began in 1919 as a collection of small
after-school business clubs in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Today, JA volunteers work with approximately 8.3 million
students in more than 100 countries “to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.” Junior
Achievement’s website carries a summary of all the JA programs for students in grades K-12.