Today at Decode Econ
Making economics relevant during Economic Education Month
Key takeaways from Dr. José Fernandez’s visit to NKU
Research on relevance and belonging in economics education
Data on who is reading Decode Econ
How Decode Econ connects theory to real-world events and makes you a better instructor
How to get your own referral link and track impact
October Is Economic Education Month
Last week, Dr. José Fernandez from the University of Louisville joined us at Northern Kentucky University to speak at the Haile Research Lab. His presentation on data visualization was exceptional, and what stayed with me was our conversation afterward about the importance of making economics relevant to students.
Many of my students, and even colleagues, admit they rarely follow economic or business news. Some say the news feels biased, so they stay away from all of it. Others simply don’t trust the media. They are not alone. A recent Gallup poll found that only 28 percent of Americans say they trust the media.
When students tune out the news, they also tune out the everyday examples that bring economic ideas to life. If we want to strengthen understanding, we have to connect classroom concepts to the world we live in.
The Importance of Relevance in Education
Research by Amanda Bayer, Syon P. Bhanot, Erin T. Bronchetti, and Stephen A. O’Connell (2020) shows that students, specifically, women and underrepresented minority students often complete economics courses reporting lower levels of relevance, belonging, and growth mindset. These three factors are deeply tied to student success and interest in economics.
Students who don’t see themselves, and the problem they face, in the material are less likely to believe they can master it. They are also less likely to see economics as connected to their daily lives.
That is exactly why Decode Econ was created, to make economics relatable and relevant and to make it easy for you to read and share.
What Decode Econ Offers
Each Decode Econ newsletter is a three- to five-minute read designed for students and faculty alike. It helps you turn today’s headlines into teachable moments that spark curiosity and deeper understanding.
Here’s what you get:
The Brief: A concise summary of what happened and why it matters
The Chart: A clean, ready-to-use visual for class discussion
The Connection: a connection to economic topics
Our mission is simple: make the economy make sense—one story at a time.
Who’s Reading
Decode Econ is already being used by students and faculty across 144 institutions.
From NKU to Louisville to Richmond, locally and internationally, educators are using it to bring current events into the classroom and bridge theory to current events. Here are the top 15 schools by edu subscriber emails.
Two Ways to Bring Decode Econ into Your Class
1. Share the Newsletter with Your Students
Add this to your LMS or your first lecture slide each week:
Stay current with Decode Econ, a weekly snapshot that connects class to the real world.
Subscribe free: www.DecodeEcon.com
2. Use a Five-Minute Warm-Up
Share a Decode Econ Chart and ask:
What is the mechanism behind this trend?
Who gains and who loses?
Which assumptions of our model matter most here?
3. Host a Guest Session
Invite Decode Econ authors for a virtual mini-workshop on any of our pieces. We will tailor the session to your program or department.
Request a session: email me directly.
Quick-Start Kit (Copy and Paste Assets)
LMS Announcement:
This course uses Decode Econ articles. It is free and student-friendly. Subscribe here: Share your referral link
Syllabus Line:
Recommended resource: Decode Econ. Daily briefs, charts, and prompts that help you stay current on economic news. Share your referral link.
Slide Footer CTA:
Want to stay informed about economics in a daily three-minute explainer? Decode Econ. Subscribe: Share your referral link.
Share on Social Media:
Want to stay informed about economics in a daily three-minute explainer? I read Decode Econ, and so can you. Subscribe: Share your referral link.
Share and Track Your Impact
In Substack, go to www.decodeecon.com and to the leaderboard tab.
Click Copy your unique referral link.
Use that link in your LMS, slides, and emails so new signups are credited to you.
Optional: Create a QR code that points to your referral link and add it to your slides each week.
We have a referral leader board because… incentives matter. Get rewards for sharing Decode Econ.
The Bottom Line
If you believe economics should feel alive and connected to the stories students see every day, Decode Econ is for you.
Join the growing network of educators helping students see how the economy shapes their world, one story at a time.
Already using Decode Econ? Reply or leave a comment and tell us how. We love hearing how you use our daily content.
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