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For want of a chair: Teaching price formation using a cap and trade game

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  • Stefano Carattini
  • Eli P. Fenichel
  • Alexander Gordan
  • Patrick Gourley

Abstract

“Cap and trade” is one of the most innovative policy options developed by environmental economists. By placing a cap on a social bad and allowing firms to buy and sell the right to generate it, policymakers combine government intervention with market-based incentives to improve welfare and internalize the externality. Such programs represent a great opportunity for instructors to show students how economic theory is used in the real world. Students can learn several important tenets of economics by playing an in-class game based on musical chairs, which creates a market for pollution using a mobile app or paper-based interaction. This active learning method engages students and improves comprehension of price formation, gains from trade, voluntary response to incentives, and an important environmental policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefano Carattini & Eli P. Fenichel & Alexander Gordan & Patrick Gourley, 2020. "For want of a chair: Teaching price formation using a cap and trade game," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(1), pages 52-66, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jeduce:v:51:y:2020:i:1:p:52-66
    DOI: 10.1080/00220485.2019.1687379
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    Cited by:

    1. Nungsari, Melati & Flanders, Sam, 2020. "Using classroom games to teach core concepts in market design, matching theory, and platform theory," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • Q31 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q38 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Government Policy (includes OPEC Policy)

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