This paper uses variations in a popular parlor game to provide useful instructional benefits. The paper builds a classroom activity to nudge students towards thinking in a backward-inductive manner. The pedagogic innovation is in introducing the game repeatedly with progressively smaller action...

In this short expository note I provide an overview of leveraged buy-out transactions (“LBOs”). I show in detail how an LBO transaction is structured and financed, as well as the typical return profile. I also provide a sample transaction accompanied by financial projections, debt repayment...

In this paper, we examine two factors that may affect student achievement in economics principles courses. First, we examine the effect of working for pay on course performance at a commuter school where 70 percent of the student body works for pay at least part time. Second, we examine how the...

Shorter undergraduate studies, increasing specialization and the priority of applied research in Economics represent threats for the History of Economic Thought (HET) as an integral part of the training of young economists. There are mostly sociological arguments to reduce or eliminate HET...

Caplan notes that the pessimistic bias “has a smaller role in the oral tradition. Famous economists of the past frequently overlook it; teachers of economics spend little time rooting it out.” This paper is an attempt to address the later problem. Awareness of the pessimistic bias is deeply...

The author describes a teaching method that uses powerful contemporary media, movie and television clips, to demonstrate the enormous breadth and depth of economic concepts. Many different movie and television clips can be used to show the power of economic analysis. The author describes the...

The author provides a description of an innovative cooperative learning project set in the context of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign. Student groups were tasked to become experts on one reform issue pertinent to the U.S. health care system. Students worked independently researching their...

This presentation topic aims to address potentially underappreciated skills required of an actuarial graduate and a potential research candidate. The discussion provides the author's views based on his teaching experience and in talking with industry practitioners. This presentation also...

Many universities are recently favouring the introduction of active learning elements inside the teaching-learning process. This research presents a joint strategy of intervention aimed at improving students' class participation and discussion. The suggested active learning instruments' design...