Students will come to understand inflation, competitive markets, capital investment, transactions costs, cronyism, stimulus packages, bailouts, regulations, free trade, and whether they help or harm the economy. They will see how property rights, the rule of law, free association and free exchange best promote human flourishing; but, most importantly, students will see that it is biblical truth that explains why they are best for human flourishing.

Guided by the basic principles of economics, Oikonomia helps students discover how “incentives” and “opportunity costs” influence our choices and help us make sound decisions, how governments influence prosperity and why some nations flourish while others remain in poverty. It teaches how to appreciate the invisible hand of market prices, how the laws of supply and demand work and the importance of sound institutions and policies.

While a proper understanding of economics should not be under-estimated, we also believe that the best economics in the world will fail to make a difference if it is not accompanied by men and women of character. Our world is in desperate need of young statesman of character who not only understand economics, but also articulate and live these truths in a way that promotes flourishing in all the spheres of life over which God has granted us stewardship—whether that be in the home, as a CEO, CFO, Account Executive, secretary, receptionist, or even the of President of the United States of America!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a Christian curriculum?

OIKONOMIA: Economics for Life and Purpose (OELP) is based upon a Christian worldview. Because we wish to foster Christian unity and avoid discord, we purposefully encourage students and teachers to work through all Scripture references together. We do our best not to interpret Scripture in the curriculum, and instead leave this to your careful and thoughtful study.

Money, Greed, and God by Jay Richards (one of the main required texts) best reflects the economic philosophy of this course: free markets, limited governments, private property and the Rule of Law all working together to create a virtuous and free society.

OELP is directly informed by this perspective on work, stewardship, and collaboration. We believe these views glorify God well and magnify human flourishing. While we acknowledge our inability to present this material in a way with which every Christian will agree, it is our hope and prayer that through this course, God will be magnified, and your high school student’s life will be changed.

What grade is this curriculum designed for?

OELP should be considered a high school honors course. While 9th and 10th grade students have taken the course with success, we have found that 11th and 12th grade students are better able to manage, grasp, and appreciate the material.

How much teacher preparation is required?

Required teacher preparation is minimal.

Ideally, the teacher would read the material and watch the videos; however, the Teacher Guide is thorough enough that parents or teachers can confidently assess students’ responses.

The optional Day 1 discussions and activities will require more teacher involvement, but most can be done with no advance preparation. When a classroom activity requires a certain amount of preparation, detailed instructions are always provided in the Oikonomia Activity Pack.

How much time is needed for students to complete daily assignments?

Students should plan to spend about an hour each day for reading, answering questions and viewing videos. Some days may be as little as 30 minutes, other days may require slightly more than one hour of concentrated effort. Generally, coursework should average 45 minutes per day.

Will this course prepare my student to pass the AP Economics Tests?

Yes. One of the core texts, Common Sense Economics (CSE) satisfies all 20 of the Voluntary National Standards in Economics. CSE is also the sole text used in several college and university courses and is also the sole text used for high school economics in the Detroit Public School system.

Will this course satisfy my state’s Content Standards in Economics?

Yes and no. While OELP will give them a solid understanding of the core concepts required in any economics requirements, it is not specifically designed to prepare students for the AP Economics Micro and Macro Tests. For an in-depth understanding of why OELP does not prepare students for these tests, please read the article Advanced Placement Economics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Tawni Ferrarini, James Gwartney, and John Morton.

The article can be found here

Testimonials

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Example A
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Example B
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Example C