Teaching democracy and capitalism: High engagement and "doing economics"

Democracy and capitalism are two of the most consequential institutional systems in the world. However, their dynamic complexity, current turmoil, and evolution make them challenging to study. High-engagement teaching can bring the subjects alive, motivate student exploration, inform choices, animate sensible policy recommendations, and make a deep impression capable of recall well after the course. In this article, the author reviews why teaching about democracy and capitalism can be challenging, how high-engagement teaching can respond to the challenges, and what kinds of strategies and materials can promote high engagement. Case studies afford excellent opportunities for high-engagement instruction and for doing economic analysis in realistic contexts. The article concludes with a review of examples of cases that focus on data analysis and decision-making.