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Nexus: Connections Between Economics and Civics

Nexus, a project of the Council for Economic Education, is an effort to specify the major points of contact between civics and economics. Indeed, economics and civics touch in many places. This is nowhere clearer than in the liberalizing nations of the former Soviet Union and its satellites. For example, it has become evident that implementation of a market economy depends crucially on the firm establishment of key elements of government, such as the rule of law and well defined property rights. At this writing, the United States and other members of the coalition are attempting to assist the people of Iraq in reconstructing both their political and economic systems. The difficulty of such a task is manifest as is the desperate need for safeguards for human rights, democratic institutions, and the foundations for a market economy.

The experiences of many nations show the interrelationships of liberal democracy and a market system. Thus, the perspectives of economics and civics complement each other, each adding depth to the treatment of particular themes and topics. To take one example, both civics and economics have a great deal to say about human rights and freedom. In this instance, the concepts of one discipline enrich the corresponding concepts of the other. Sometimes, an idea typically associated with one discipline presents useful applications within the other. In some cases, the same terminology refers to quite different ideas. Consider “failures”—civic educators speak of political failures; economic educators of market failures. In sum, there are many points of connection—nexus points—the specification of which produces a vision that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Nexus Project is conceived of as an ongoing effort to create materials useful for educators in many nations, including the United States, to understand better the points of connection between civics and economics. Each "nexus point" references the United States national standards in both economics and civics, drawn from the Council for Economic Education’s Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics and the Center for Civic Education’s National Standards for Civics and Government, respectively. Each nexus point begins with the nexus statement as listed later, followed by:

  • Rationale Statement: A brief overview of the nexus point and why it is significant.
  • Benchmarks: Statements of what students will be able to do after studying the ideas in a particular nexus point.
  • The relevant United States national standards in civics economics.
  • Content Summary: The main explanation of the civic and economic ideas related to this nexus topic.
  • Enduring Issues: Questions related to the economic and civic ideas that are of continuing interest and that could be used by educators as springboards for student discussion or research projects.
  • Public Policy Question: A brief case study, real or hypothetical, that serves as a vehicle for further discussion with students of the civic and economic content of the nexus point.
  • Economics lesson links to lessons from the Council for Economic Education.

The project is designed to be flexible and grow over time. Others will identify still more nexuses, which can be added. Some potential nexus points, such as one considering “civil society,” were excluded from the present text because there are currently no economics lessons related to the point. Later, if appropriate lessons are found or developed, it might be added. Links to lessons in civics can also be added in the future. This enables the project to grow over time and become both wider and deeper.

Download: Nexus: Connections Between Economics and Civics (PDF 413 kb)