Economic education as public policy: the determinants of state-level mandates

Grimes, Paul W. and Millea, Meghan J. (2003): Economic education as public policy: the determinants of state-level mandates. Published in: Journal of Economics and Economic Education Research , Vol. Volume, (2003): pp. 3-17.

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical examination of the factors that influence a state's decision to mandate the teaching of economics within the K-12 curriculum. 38 states currently require some form of economics instruction within their approved curriculum. A binary choice probit model was estimated to determine the relationship between a variety of socioeconomic, political and policy environment variables in the decision to implement and maintain an economic education mandate. The results indicate that the number of university-based centers for economic education and the number of parents belonging to state parent-teacher associations positively affect the mandate choice. The incidence of poverty was found to be negatively associated with a state's requirement to include economics within the curriculum. These and other results highlight the need for additional research into the aggregate effects of required investments in economic human capital.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mandates; Economic education; Public policy; Probit
• Subjects: A - General Economics and Teaching > A2 - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics; A - General Economics and Teaching > A2 - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics > A21 - Pre-college

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