Education Resources Recommended by Scott Wolla

The Amazing $2,000 Pizza
This episode of the Continuing Feducation Video Series emphasizes the importance of using credit cards responsibly.

Growing Money - Compound Interest
In this episode of the No-Frills Money Skills Video Series, economic education specialist Kris Bertelsen explains compound interest, or "Growing Money."

Making Personal Finance Decisions Curriculum Unit
This curriculum teaches valuable personal finance lessons grounded in economic theory. The curriculum is divided into 10 themed units, with each unit containing two lessons. The twenty individual lessons employ a variety of teaching strategies designed to engage students in the learning process and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed personal finance decisions.

Saving for College
Growing up means making big decisions, and decisions about college are among the most important. This episode of the Continuing Feducation Video Series follows high school student Martina as she learns about the basics: investing in human capital, factors to consider when choosing a college, and ways to fund higher education.

Soft Skills: Success May Depend on Them
What skills do you need to develop for future success? Academics for sure, but soft skills are also important. Learn more about soft skills, the labor force, and unemployment in this issue of Page One Economics: Focus on Finance.

The Economics of Subsidizing Sports Stadiums
People are passionate about professional sports—they give people pride and a sense of community. And they create economic benefits for the community. But should tax dollars be used to subsidize sports stadiums? This issue of Page One Economics describes some pros and cons.

Gross Domestic Product
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data are among the most important economic data available for measuring economic growth, but measuring the output of a large, dynamic economy is a complex task. In this episode of the Economic Lowdown Video Series, economic education specialist Scott Wolla explains what GDP measures, how it is calculated, how it is useful in determining whether and how quickly the economy is growing, and how GDP can be used as indicator of standard of living.

Inflation
Imagine it’s 1964. A hamburger is 15 cents, a new Mustang is $2,320, and gas to fill the tank is 27 cents a gallon. Prices have risen quite a lot since then. In this episode of the Economic Lowdown Video Series, economic education specialist Scott Wolla explains what inflation is, what causes it, how it is measured, and the Federal Reserve’s goal for the inflation rate.

The Role of Self-Interest and Competition in a Market Economy
Adam Smith described self-interest and competition in a market economy as the "invisible hand" that guides the economy. This episode of the Economic Lowdown Podcast Series explains these concepts and their importance to our understanding of the economic system.

Supply and Demand Online Course
Supply and demand are among the most fundamental concepts in economics. An understanding of these topics helps students better understand the economic world in which they live. This course includes three interactive lessons that introduce supply, demand and market equilibrium. This course uses a fictitious chocolate market to help explain the concepts.

Would Increasing the Minimum Wage Reduce Poverty?
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office tackles that question in a new report and highlights the trade-off presented by increasing the minimum wage. This issue of Page One Economics explains the debate and discusses whether other approaches may be more effective in helping alleviate poverty.