A study of the development of representations of economic life in 110 young children of 3 to 5 years of age is reviewed to identify the sources of the children's representations. In addition to noting the importance of the public availability of adult representations, the results indicate the significance of developmental processes. In particular, findings indicated that representations of gender emerge as one of the principal means through which the developing child is able to assimilate features of economic life. The development of economic concepts may be construed as a process of social transmission in which complex interactions occur between the child's development and adults' social representations of economic life. (Author/RH)