Article: Introductory economics textbooks: what do they teach about sustainability? Journal: International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education (IJPEE) 2012 Vol.3 No.2 pp.189 - 223 Abstract: In response to accelerating ecological deterioration, many universities have made commitments to integrate sustainability across the curriculum and to ensure they graduate ecologically responsible citizens. This study involves a content analysis of the coverage of environment-economy linkages in introductory economics textbooks. In North America, introductory economics courses tend to cover similar content and to rely heavily on textbooks. A small number of standard textbooks dominate this market. Standard introductory economics textbooks in current use in British Columbia, Canada were included in the study as well as three leading US textbooks. These were contrasted against a pair of micro/macro introductory texts explicitly written to address sustainability. The standard textbooks are found to largely ignore or mischaracterise environment-economy linkages and to include little content that would help further student understanding of sustainability. Universities that have made a commitment to integrate sustainability across the curriculum should examine carefully the textbooks used in their introductory economic courses and give preference to textbooks that have integrated sustainability-relevant content throughout the text and have addressed both environment-economy linkages and the challenge of sustainability with sophistication. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Introductory economics textbooks: what do they teach about sustainability?

Authors: Tom L. Green

Addresses: Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada

Abstract: In response to accelerating ecological deterioration, many universities have made commitments to integrate sustainability across the curriculum and to ensure they graduate ecologically responsible citizens. This study involves a content analysis of the coverage of environment-economy linkages in introductory economics textbooks. In North America, introductory economics courses tend to cover similar content and to rely heavily on textbooks. A small number of standard textbooks dominate this market. Standard introductory economics textbooks in current use in British Columbia, Canada were included in the study as well as three leading US textbooks. These were contrasted against a pair of micro/macro introductory texts explicitly written to address sustainability. The standard textbooks are found to largely ignore or mischaracterise environment-economy linkages and to include little content that would help further student understanding of sustainability. Universities that have made a commitment to integrate sustainability across the curriculum should examine carefully the textbooks used in their introductory economic courses and give preference to textbooks that have integrated sustainability-relevant content throughout the text and have addressed both environment-economy linkages and the challenge of sustainability with sophistication.

Keywords: Talloires Declaration; environmental sustainability; introductory economics; economics textbooks; environment; curriculum; ecological economics; principles; sustainable development; higher education; economics education; Canada; USA; United States.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPEE.2012.049198

International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, 2012 Vol.3 No.2, pp.189 - 223

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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Title: Introductory economics textbooks: what do they teach about sustainability?

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