Perspectives on Economic Education Research, 2018, 11(1) 41-57 Journal homepage: cobhomepages.cob.isu.edu/peer/ From The Beatles to Twenty One Pilots: Economics in Music in the Pop Culture Era Brian O’Roarka, Kim Holderb, G. Dirk Mateerc1 aSocial Sciences Department, Robert Morris University, United States bUWG Center for Economic Education & Financial Literacy, Department of Economics, University of West Georgia, United States cDepartment of Economics, University of Arizona, United States,
[email protected] Abstract Economists have explored methods of using media in the classroom for decades. One of the most common forms of media used is music. This paper adds to ongoing efforts in economics to link music directly to course content by creating a database of each year’s best song since 1964. The database provides an historical timeline to help instructors connect economic events from the past with the music of that time-period. For each song selected, key economics concepts are highlighted and a sample of the relevant lyrics are provided. Key Words: economic education, economic history, music, economics of culture JEL Codes: A10, A22, E20, N00, Z11 1 Corresponding author. O’Roark, Holder, Mateer/Perspectives on Economic Education Research, 2018, 11(1) 41-57 1. Introduction Learning about economics is understandably difficult for students. One of the primary issues they face is their lack of familiarity with the material. Elasticity, utility, subjective value, business cycles and many other terms are akin to a foreign language for most students. In addition, a general shortage of real world experience makes connecting students to the economic lexicon even more trying.