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How to Learn Economics

Wednesday, July 15, 2009
 

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Computer with Internet access
  • Economics textbook (optional)

Complete a Self-paced Economics Course

  • Step 1:
    Many universities post their economics course curriculum online, including lecture notes and a syllabus, so you can learn at your own pace. Start with Introduction to Microeconomics, then move to Introduction to Macroeconomics.
  • Step 2:
    Pick up an economics book (not a textbook) from the library or local bookstore. Good starts are "Discover Your Inner Economist" by Tyler Cowen, "The Invisible Heart" by Russell Roberts and "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt.
  • Step 3:
    Subscribe to the EconTalk podcast (one hour each week) at econtalk.org
  • Step 4:
    The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has more than 40 economics courses online: ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Economics/
  • Step 5:
    Watch economics lectures from top universities for free at Academic Earth: academicearth.org/subjects/economics
  • Step 6:
    The Mises Institute sells a home study course in Austrian Economics: mises.org/store/Mises-Institute-Home-Study-Course-in-Austrian-Economics-P211C0.aspx
  • Step 7:
    If you learn best from reading, buy an economics textbook from Amazon.com (or a local college bookstore) and complete the problem-sets as you read each chapter. An introductory economics text will present the material in the correct order (microeconomics first, then macroeconomics).
  • Step 8:
    If you learn best in a actual classroom environment, see if your local college offers adult education classes in economics. Some colleges and universities also let members of the public audit for-credit economics classes.

Tips & Warnings

  • There are different schools of economic thought, and it's a good idea to understand multiple perspectives. For example, Keynesian Economics and Austrian Economics disagree on certain key issues.

Resources


How to Learn Economics Provided by eHow.com
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