Mind the Gap: The Uses of Textbooks in the Development of the Economics of Education

Abstract

One of the most significant trends in economics during the second half of the twentieth century was the development of several applied fields, which often led economists to engage with diverse audiences not necessarily congenial to the economic way of thinking. The present text analyzes the challenges faced by economists specializing in education in disseminating the application of economic ideas in education to diverse audiences in the field of economics and in multidisciplinary academic settings, such as schools and departments of education. Drawing on textbooks published in the second half of the twentieth century, the article reflects on their pedagogical strategies for framing economic arguments in ways that were intelligible and relevant to audiences of diverse backgrounds and motivations. The analysis will also provide major insights into the changing balance over time between academic institutionalization and the new field's relevance to policy.