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Enron Mail |
Dear Jeff,
SUMMER SEMINARS IN POLITICAL ECONOMY: July 9-13 & August 13-17 How sound an economics education are American students getting? If a recent study of high school history textbooks is indicative, the answer is very discouraging. The economists who authored that study examined 12 history texts for their treatment of the Great Depression. Only two of the texts correctly identified the fall in the money supply as a cause of the Great Depression, while ten blamed "overproduction" or "excess capacity" in various industries -- hypotheses that mainstream economic researchers rejected decades ago. The bottom line? Even when a student is lucky enough to have a teacher that teaches valid economic principles, that student is likely being taught an interpretation of history that contradicts those principles. To help high school and college-age students learn to reason about economics, history and politics, The Independent Institute is sponsoring two Summer Seminars in Political Economy. These dynamic seminars will help students learn what economics is, how it affects their lives, and how understanding its laws can help them achieve the things they care about. TOPICS INCLUDE -- Economics and Liberty: How the West grew richer and politically freer -- Market Chaos or Hidden Order? How markets coordinate people's plans -- Monopoly or Competition? How market incentives improve the quality of life -- Market Failure or Government Failure? Inflation, recession and government policy INSTRUCTOR -- Joseph Fuhrig, Professor of Economics and Finance, Golden Gate University TIME -- 8:30 AM - 12 NOON, July 9-13 or August 13-17 (choice of session depends on availability) TUITION -- $175 Room and board and one unit of college credit through Holy Names College in Oakland, Calf., are also available at extra cost. WHERE The Independent Institute 100 Swan Way Oakland, CA 94621-1428 More information, see http://www.independent.org/tii/students/SummerSeminar.html or contact Carl Close, Academic Affairs Director at The Independent Institute at cclose@independent.org or (510) 632-1366. For "The Great Depression and History Textbooks," by Thomas F. Cargill and Thomas Mayer, see http://www.fte.org/teachers/readings.htm
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