Meet the Economy

Version 1.0 (September 2020)

Overview

This series of lessons introduces the four core spheres of economic activity: the market, the state, the household and the commons. It explores how these can provision for our needs and looks and what it might mean to create a healthy balance between them for a thriving economy. The first lesson starts with the student’s experience of the economy and introduces the Embedded Economy. Lessons 2 and 3 introduce each of the four spheres of activity and explore their very different qualities and caveats. And the final lesson draws them together to explore the tensions, power and synergies between them.

Click here for a printable version of the Embedded Economy diagram in over 25 lanugages.

Lesson Outcomes

1. Learn about the market, state, household and commons and explore their qualities and caveats
2. Think critically about what a healthy balance across these four spheres of activity might look like
3. View the four spheres of activity through one’s own lived experience

Who is it for?

Educators | Students aged 16+ | Communities

How long does it take?

4 x 90 minute lessons
One day-long workshop (6 hours)

How many people is it for? 

10 - 40

What materials do you need? 

Screen or projector, 3 large sheets of paper or boards to write on, materials for the creative expression (see lesson four, part 3)

Acknowledgements

Original content by Kate Raworth. Lesson plan written by Rob Shorter and Kate Raworth.  Additional contributions from Carlota Sanz, Andrew Fanning and Stephanie Leite.

Links

Open the lesson plan in Google Docs
Open the accompanying presentation in Google Slides