Imagine Economics

Leveraging simulation and visualization to explore and teach economics concepts.

Animated picture of buyers and sellers interacting in a market.

The economy impacts nearly every facet of our lives, from where we live, to how we work, to the things we buy and use. And the way we teach economics—and especially the framing and the content of the traditional, introductory economics courses, such as Econ 101—is a significant factor in shaping that economy.

Picture showing elements of the modern economy, such as people and businesses.

The concepts, methods, and key takeaways in these courses form the basis for how the general public thinks about economics, while also providing the intellectual foundation for budding economists, policymakers, and leaders who will one day confront, and make important decisions about, issues and challenges related to the economy.

The traditional introductory economics curriculum has been slow to change over time, and imagine economics is part of a growing movement to introduce new ways of teaching and engaging with economics.

What does imagine economics do differently?

imagine economics leverages modern technology, data, and research to help fill a gap in the way we teach introductory economics. For more information about our teaching philosophy, take a look at the overview module. Our educational content is based around three central pillars:

pluralismThere are many ways to think about economics, including questions about what economics is and how economic research should be conducted. imagine economics primarily leverages simulation and visualization for teaching, while also considering how assumptions, perspectives, and goals vary across different economic approaches.

simulationThe traditional economics education is generally static, rather than dynamic, both in the form course materials take and in the models that are taught, including the classic, algebra-based supply and demand model. By leveraging simulation, imagine economics looks to place dynamics front-and-center in the teaching of economics and, in doing so, aims to build important skills in computation and programming.

interactivityInteractivity provides learners with the ability to actively engage with models and with data in real-time, encouraging an exploration of relationships and assumptions to both build and reinforce critical thinking. imagine economics uses web technology to enable this type of active learning.

Who is imagine economics for?

Our goal is to provide value to:

Teachers and professors

who would like to leverage simulation, interactive visualization, and data as a supplement to their course content

High school and college students

who want a more modern approach to economics and are interested in building skills in computation and programming

Learners in the general public

who want to explore economics and can benefit from our approach

To explore what imagine economics has to offer, take a look at our Modules page. To contact us, or to sign up for our email newsletter, visit our Contact page.