Recent Foundation Sponsored Programs
Teaching Economics
Realizing that economics is often considered an abstract subject, not relevant or interesting to students or adults, the Foundation seeks out projects that make the subject more interesting and easily taught. The Foundation is particularly
interested in promoting more teaching of economics in the nation’s schools and colleges. Samples of this, the most important aspect of the Foundation’s work include:
National Volunteer Standards on Economics
The Foundation took a leadership role in supporting the development of the National Content Standards in Economics for the nation’s schools. A prestigious committee of economists and teachers wrote the National Standards in 1997. The Standards became the basis for new classroom materials in economics. Other contributions to the project included the AT&T Foundation, The Foundation for Teaching Economics and The National Council on Economic Education.
National Public Radio
The Foundation supported National Public Radio’s economic reporting in programs such as All Thing Considered, Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, believing that the in-depth analysis NPR brings to radio reporting is important to understanding today’s complex economic issues. The Foundation has also supported international economics reporting on NPR stations through the syndicated program, The World.
Economic and the Environment
Support for the Political Economy Research Center (PERC) underwrote the development of Economics and the Environment, a high school level set of lesson plans demonstrating how economic policies can be used to improve the environment. The lesson plans effectively leverage national interest in environmental issues to help students learn about how economic incentives can effectively produce and improve the quality of the environment.
High School Economics
To help expand the teaching of a separate high school level economics course, the Foundation underwrote the development of Capstone: Exemplary Lessons for High School Economics. This set of supplemental materials and extensive teacher guide helped significantly increase the number of economics courses taught in the nation’s high schools. Following the publication of the National Content Standards in Economics, the Foundation supported the revision of the Capstone course now available through the National Council of Economic Education.
Teaching Economics in U.S. History
Recognizing that many high school students will not be required to take a course in economics, the Foundation supported the development of an extensive classroom and teacher focused set of materials that integrates economics into U.S. History courses taught in all the nation’s high schools. Teaching Economics in U.S. History, published by the National Council on Economic Education, was also revised following the publication of the National Content Standards in Economics.
Measuring Economic Understanding
The Foundation has a special interest in finding out what kind of economic education works best. From a contemporary and historical perspective, the Foundation has sponsored a variety of projects that measure economic understanding, and
evaluates economic literacy projects.
Long Term Effects of Economics Learning
The Purdue Center for Economic Education in conjunction with several other major research universities undertook a study supported by the Foundation to determine how much an economic undergraduate degree impacts one’s life. By surveying different groups of graduates who majored in economics, business and other fields and comparing the results, the research hoped to determine what, if any part, of an economics undergraduate program adds to decision-making capabilities of adults.
From Marx to Markets
Economic teachers at the University of Nebraska and Purdue University received funding to publish From Marx to Markets, a book that looked at the changes that have taken place in economic instruction in the former Soviet Union since its
break-up. The book examines the transformation of the former Soviet Union and the significant changes in economics instruction at major universities in the former Eastern Block.
Moral Consequence of Economic Growth
Professor Ben Friedman of Harvard received a grant to underwrite the study of the moral evolution of market-based economics. His findings suggest that a moral society evolves from market driven economics. His book, The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth, is partially the result of this research.
Economic Understanding For All
Believing, as Mr. Kazanjian did, that economic literacy is for everyone, the Foundation seeks projects that help students and adults often identified as “at-risk” of not participating in the market economy.
STRIVE
Because Mr. Kazanjian founded Peter Paul Incorporated in Connecticut, the Foundation maintains an interest in the state. On several occasions the Foundation has supported STRIVE, a southern Connecticut based organization dedicated to helping the “hard core unemployed” to find jobs. STRIVE provides job skills and basic economics education to those who have little if any employment history. STRIVE’s job placement and one year job retention rate is above 70%.
College Mentors for Kids
An Indiana based organization dedicated to placing college mentors with young at-risk elementary students examined personal economics as a way to help the children learn basic economic skills. College Mentors for Kids first trained college students how to use personal money management materials in informal settings with 4th and 5th graders. They also developed materials for the child’s parents or guardians. The combination of college level students educating children in personal economics helped both mentor and mentoree alike.
Mini Society
The Kinder-Economy was adapted to meet the needs of inner-city students by its creator, Dr. Marilyn Kourilsky, partially through the support of the Foundation. This project is a derivation of the Mini-Society, an experiential economic
education program designed to teach basic economics and entrepreneurship skills to at-risk economics students.