Prof. John List recruits researchers to teach south suburban eighth-graders about economics

UChicago News, March 07, 2012

As two researchers in an economics project at UChicago looked on via videoconference, a class of south suburban eighth-graders took turns coming to a microphone to explain what the expression “opportunity costs” meant to them.

“I went shopping on Saturday and I bought Nike shoes, but I had to give up buying a hoodie,” explained one girl in a class designed to help them learn the principles of economics.

“I went to a friends house and gave up playing with my family,” another girl said.

Alec Brandon, one of the video-linked instructors, praised the students for their comments. “Great work everybody. I think you know how powerful a tool this is for understanding economics.”