Learning economic concepts in economic contexts new developments in pre-university education in the Netherlands Roel Grol, MA HAN, University of Applied Sciences Nico Dieteren, MA Cito, National Institute for Educational Measurement AEEE 2012
A Central examinations and testing conceptual knowledge in economic contexts
27 August 2007 Stichting Cito Instituut voor Toetsontwikkeling Arnhem
Examination in The Netherlands Central Examination 50% External: test construction administration of tests cut-off scores Sessions: Fixed time and date Internal at school Sometimes external School Examination 50% Internal test construction administration of tests marking cut-off scores Sessions Free in time and date Internal at school Marking: internal plus external
Traditional economics in Dutch classrooms Macro-economics National Income and National Production Government revenues and expenditures Monetary Policy Inflation Trade cycles and economic growth International Economics Micro-economics Consumers Producers Markets: demand and supply Specific markets or subjects Labour market / European Union / Developing Countries
Economics in eight concepts Scarcity Exchange Markets Exchange over time Cooperation and Coordination (Game Theory) Risk and (Asymmetric) Information Economic welfare and growth Good times and bad times
Introducing new economic theory Market failure Deadweight loss Asymmetric information and Moral hazard Sunk costs Risk aversion and Adverse selection Intertemporal exchange Behavioral economics (irrationality) Prisoners dilemma (dominant strategy) Reputation and threats
Looking through the glasses of an economist: which skills are demanded? Information skills reading / understanding / selecting / judging / applying Mathematical skills calculating / graphical applications Behavioral skills defining actors and roles / argumenting / considering Thinking Strategically economic modelling / classroom experiments
Information skills (examination 2012) bron 7 particuliere consumptie in procenten van het bruto binnenlands product (bbp) (2009) Question: Use the diagram above: State and explain an argument for China not willing to give up the fixed exchange rate with the USdollar.
Mathematical skills (examination 2010) Labour market in Germany and the discussion about introducing a fixed minimum wage: bron 18 werkgeverssurplus, werknemerssurplus en de gevolgen van de invoering van een minimumloon
Behavioral skills (examination 2009) Het rookverbod in de horeca houdt veel mensen bezig. Er zijn voordelen en nadelen. Hieronder worden enkele partijen genoemd, die te maken kunnen krijgen met gevolgen van de instelling van het rookverbod: de collectieve sector; de ziektekostenverzekeraars; vakbonden voor horecapersoneel. Gebruik bron 4. Kies de positie van een van deze drie betrokken partijen en beschrijf vanuit dat standpunt een voordeel en een nadeel van het rookverbod in de horeca. Gebruik ongeveer 50 woorden. Subject: general smoking ban in bars and restaurants Actors involved Government Health insurance companies Trade unions for employees (and of course the smokers and the tobacco industries) Information source 4: results from a cost-benefit analysis when imposing a general smoking ban Question: choosing one of the three mentioned actors, describe from that point of view an advantage and a disadvantage of this general smoking ban. Use source 4. Use approximately 50 words.
Thinking strategically (examination 2011) Professional cycling and the doping dilemma bron 10 wel of geen doping en de pay-off van een Tour-deelname Bernard Maillot Adrie den Hollander geen doping wel doping geen doping 35 ; 35 15 ; 60 wel doping 60 ; 15 20 ; 20 Use the table above: Question: Explain that these cyclists need to cooperate in order to prevent them from both choosing to dope.
Armstrong: I am a happy man, 32 and ready to retire. Verhofstadt: Sssst, not to loud Lance. You will wake up the Belgians.
Transferring conceptual knowledge Cartoon text: Fokke and Sukke already use new taxitariff. 7,50 is the starting tariff of the engine. Question: Explain how the cartoon above illustrates a case that can lead to moral hazard. (examination 2009)
B Learning Economic Concepts Through Classroom Experiments
Economics in Eight Concepts Scarcity Exchange Markets Exchange over time Cooperation and Coordination (Game Theory) Risk and (Asymmetric) Information Economic welfare and growth Good times and bad times