ERIC Number: EJ932976
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0485
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Educational Choice Anomaly for Principles Students: Using Ordinary Supply and Demand Rather than Indifference Curves
Graves, Philip E.; Sexton, Robert L.; Calimeris, Lauren M.
Journal of Economic Education, v42 n3 p310-314 2011
The surprise value of many economic observations makes the economics discipline quite interesting for many students. One such anomaly is that providing "free" education in an effort to reduce the number of dropouts can often result in a lower level of educational quality purchased. This result is easy to show with indifference curves, but many instructors of introductory courses do not introduce this analytical technique. As a consequence, a result that many students find quite interesting is seldom presented. The authors show that it is easy to clarify the educational choice anomaly with ordinary supply and demand curves. Moreover, the exercise of doing so provides students with a greater understanding of benefit/cost analysis as well as consumer and producer surplus. (Contains 2 figures and 3 notes.)
Descriptors: Introductory Courses, Economics Education, Supply and Demand, School Choice, Public Education, Dropouts, Educational Quality, Cost Effectiveness
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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