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Threshold Concepts in Economics: A New Way to Teach the Role of Government in the Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Danish Khan
  • June Sanchez

Abstract

This article offers new insights on the issue of student-centric pedagogy. First, it underscores the significance of threshold concepts in teaching radical political economics. Second, it offers a new way to empower students by giving them a role of co-producers of knowledge in the classroom. The framing of threshold concepts is an important topic, but it has been understudied in the context of radical political economics. To initiate a dialogue on this issue, the article proposes the term “equality of opportunity†as a conceptual tool to recontextualize the significance of the role of government in the economy. We argue that the notion of equality of opportunity offers an advantageous vantage point for radical political economists to offer a holistic understanding of the dialectic of government-economy. JEL Classification: A20, A22, B0, B5, P1, P5

Suggested Citation

  • Danish Khan & June Sanchez, 2025. "Threshold Concepts in Economics: A New Way to Teach the Role of Government in the Economy," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 57(3), pages 376-385, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:57:y:2025:i:3:p:376-385
    DOI: 10.1177/04866134241308288
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • A22 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - Undergraduate
    • B0 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - General
    • B5 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches
    • P1 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies
    • P5 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems

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