The paper explains an alternative structure to teaching micro and macroeconomic theory and describes the characteristics that make it an effective framework for introductory and principles courses. The teaching of economics principles typically proceeds by separating macroeconomic theory and microeconomic theory. But the use of the macro-micro division in introductory economics courses and textbooks is becoming increasingly difficult to defend in light of the growing awareness of the numerous interdependencies between the two. Moreover, the division of the topics into macro and micro components is incomplete in that it does not structure adequately several sets of important subjects which do not fit neatly into the micro-macro structure. Fortunately, there is available an alternative organizational structure which is not tied to the distinction between macro and micro and which enables economics educators to provide a comprehensive and complete view of reality from the perspective of economics. The suggested structure emerges from the economist's recognition of scarcity as a universal phenomenon. The study of economics may be organized, therefore, by an exposition of the various ways of coping with scarcity that are available to both societies and individuals. Five illustrative charts and a course outline are included. (Author/LH)