Rising petrol and diesel prices are a daily reminder of crises and conflicts, and public debate can quickly turn to assigning blame to figures such as Donald Trump, Iran or oil companies. Education expert Taiga Brahm argues that schools can help young people navigate such uncertainty through stronger economic education.
In a guest commentary, Brahm says children and teenagers are exposed to alarming events and heated discussions. Teaching them how economic and social developments interact can help them judge claims more carefully, she argues, and support democracy.
One reason, according to Brahm, is that a basic understanding of economics can make it harder to accept simple explanations for complicated developments. When inflation rises, people may blame supermarkets or politicians. But inflation is shaped by many factors, she says, rather than a single cause.
Sources: Handelsblatt.