Economics is given very little attention in the basic education curriculum in Lithuania (in secondary schools and gymnasiums). In absolutely all cases, Lithuanian schools teach postulates of the mainstream economics which lead to a sizeable and omnipotent government, the mathematization of economic decisions, unrealistic perception of motives for people’s actions and distortions of economic reality. For this reason, LFMI provided an opportunity for pupils and those interested in economics last year to self-study the basics of economics online.
On November 12, LFMI launched a project “Studying Economics Actively,” inviting 9
th to 12
th graders to study economics on a Web site
www.mokome.lrinka.lt. LFMI’s project “Studying Economics Actively” consists of two parts – individual and interactive studies that will continue until summer 2010.
Individual studies were tailored for everyone who is willing to learn the basics of economics or to deepen his/her knowledge of economics. All those interested can get acquainted with ten major topics presented by policy analysts of the Lithuanian Free Market Institute on the Web site
www.mokome.lrinka.lt:
1) How does economics explore the world?
2) How does the individual act?
3) How are labour settlements reached?
4) How does exchange take place?
5) How are commodity prices formed?
6) Where has money originated from?
7) What are taxes needed for?
8) Is the market really not working?
9) How does the government pervert the market?
10) What world are we living in?
All topics go with vivacious and interesting comic strips. Every topic is furnished with several questions “Think!” designed to facilitate the participants’ better assimilation of knowledge, and also with a list of supplementary readings for those who are eager to learn more.
LFMI’s policy analysts exhaustively explain each of the ten lectures to help learners assimilate the knowledge. Moreover, participants solve tasks which are later evaluated both by policy analysts and by other participants of the studies. This project also includes live debates with guest lecturers and speakers. Finally, a summer camp for the studies’ participants will be organised as a closing of this project.
