Surmounting Obstacles to Economic Literacy: A Delphi-Like Inquiry. [And] Exhibit VI: Copies of Outgoing General Communications. Paper No. 557.

The report presents findings of an inquiry to identify the principal obstacles faced in achieving general economic literacy and to suggest ways of surmounting them. Among the 350 respondent educators, social scientists, businessmen, and others, most agree on the importance of economic literacy and its present low level in the general population. Where economics education efforts of the educational establishment are seen to be inadequate, recommendations are made to improve curriculum, train teachers in economics, and encourage or require student courses in economics education. Other, more global, needs include the establishment of specific goals of economics education, identification of skills and knowledge comprising economic literacy, and attention to the facts and processes of economic systems. In addition, various possible characteristics of economics education are reviewed. The delphi-like process used in conducting the inquiry is explained in detail, and response data are tabulated. (AV)