Know Your Own Economy UK

These teaching packs are designed for 90-minute (online or offline) sessions that can be added to existing courses. They help students become familiar with an important topic that is often neglected. At some universities lectures and sessions are typically longer than 90 minutes and at others shorter. Feel free to adjust the material to make it with your context and purpose.

This teaching pack is inspired by one of our building blocks, Know Your Own Economy. Its primary goal is to assist students in gaining a fundamental understanding of the economy in which they reside. An economics education should equip students with concrete knowledge and a practical understanding of their country’s economic institutions and sectors. For instance, in Ireland, economics courses often include a semester-long module called “The Economy of Ireland.” However, this teaching pack is designed for a single lecture, which limits our ability to cover the entire UK economy comprehensively.

At present, many students graduate without a clear grasp of how the economy functions. We firmly believe that a course (or, in this case, a single class) that imparts the knowledge students anticipate when enrolling in economics studies would be highly valuable. Real-world knowledge also serves as a potent motivator for students, demonstrating how abstract economic concepts can be applied to solve real-world issues.

By comparing abstract economic theory to actual economic conditions, students can reflect on the theory they are learning and become more aware of their role in the economy. This concrete understanding of economic concepts can help them better comprehend and solve real-world issues.