We asked economic educators from around the country to identify five films that they found most useful in teaching economics. Our sample of 105 educators reflects wide-ranging opinions about the greatest films for teaching economics. We provide summaries of each of the Top 10 films in our list and short descriptions of the next 10. The films surveyed are an eclectic mix that spans different eras and genres. It is our hope that this list will spur conversations about economics among interested readers and economic educators.
Al-BahraniA.HolderK.PatelD.WootenJ. (2016). Art of econ: Incorporating the arts through active learning assignments in principles courses. The Journal of Economics and Finance Education, 15, 1-17.
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BerkR. A. (2009). Multimedia teaching with video clips, TV, movies, YouTube, and mtvU in the college classroom. International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning, 5, 1-21.
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GhentL. S.GrantA.LesicaG. (2010). The economics of Seinfeld. Available from yadayadayadaecon.com
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HallJ.LawsonR. A. (2008). Using music to teach microeconomics. Perspectives in Economic Education Research, 4, 23-36.
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HallJ.LawsonR. A.MateerG. D. (2008). From ABBA to Zeppelin, Led: Using music to teach economics. Journal of Economic Education, 39, 107.
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KrasnozhonL. A. (2013). Using popular music to teach principles of economics: Beyonce’s take on demand and quantity demanded. Journal of Private Enterprise, 28, 139-149.
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LeetD.HouserS. (2003). Economics goes to Hollywood: Using classic films to create an undergraduate economics course. Journal of Economic Education, 34, 326-332.
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LuccasenR. A.ThomasK. M. (2010). Simpsonomics: Teaching economics using episodes of the Simpsons. Journal of Economic Education, 41, 136-149.
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MateerG. D. (2005). Economics in the movies. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western.
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MateerG. D.GhentL. S.StoneM. (2011). TV for economics. Journal of Economic Education, 42, 207.
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MateerG. D.LiH. (2008). Movie scenes for economics. Journal of Economic Education, 39, 303.
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MateerG. D.RiceA. (2007). Using music synchronized with lyrics to teach economics. Perspectives on Economic Education Research, 3, 53-64.
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MateerG. D.StephensonF. E. (2011). Using film clips to teach public choice economics. Journal of Economics and Finance Education, 10, 28-36.
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MixonF. G. (2010). More economics in the movies: Discovering the modern theory of bureaucracy from scenes in Conspiracy and Valkyrie. Journal of Economics and Economic Education Research, 11, 101-113.
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MoulderJ. (2009). Commentary on teaching economics with podcasts, literature and movies. Journal of Philosophical Economics, 2, 134-136.
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ServaM. A.FullerM. A. (2004). Aligning what we do and what we measure in business schools: Incorporating active learning and effective media use in the assessment of instruction. Journal of Management Education, 28, 19-38.
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SextonR. L. (2006). Using short movie and television clips in the economics principles class. Journal of Economic Education, 37, 406-417.
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TinariF. D.KhandkeK. (2000). From rhythm and blues to Broadway: Using music to teach economics. Journal of Economic Education, 31, 253-270.
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Van HornR.Van HornM. (2013). What would Adam Smith have on his iPod? uses of music in teaching the history of economic thought. Journal of Economic Education, 44, 64-73.
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WillinghamD. T. (2009). Why don’t students like school?San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
