Developing Human Capital in Kazakhstan: An Evaluation of Economic Understanding and Attitudes Toward Market Economics

Mississippi State University Economics Working Paper No. 03-01

26 Pages Posted: 26 May 2003

See all articles by Paul W. Grimes

Paul W. Grimes

Mississippi State University - College of Business; Pittsburg State University

Meghan Millea

Mississippi State University - Department of Finance and Economics

Date Written: March 2003

Abstract

Economic development experts have recognized the need for the spread of economic literacy in the transition economies of the former Soviet Union. This article presents an analysis of a program designed to enhance economic literacy through teacher training in Kazakhstan. The cognitive and affective outcomes for high school students who were taught by teachers trained through the National Council on Economic Education's (NCEE) International Economic Education Exchange Program (IEEEP) were examined and compared to students in courses taught by a sample of teachers who had not received training. A two equation model was estimated which allowed for the interdependency of economic understanding and attitudes. The results indicate that students taught by trained teachers achieved higher post-course scores on standardized testing instruments, after controlling for differences in student attributes, teacher attributes, and course characteristics. This and other findings suggest that IEEEP training and the distribution of NCEE-developed curriculum materials in Kazakhstan was successful.

Keywords: economic education, international, transition, teachers, curriculum, Kazakhstan

JEL Classification: A20, A21, P21

Suggested Citation

Grimes, Paul W. and Grimes, Paul W. and Millea, Meghan, Developing Human Capital in Kazakhstan: An Evaluation of Economic Understanding and Attitudes Toward Market Economics (March 2003). Mississippi State University Economics Working Paper No. 03-01, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=385260 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.385260

Paul W. Grimes (Contact Author)

Mississippi State University - College of Business ( email )

Box 9580
326 McCool Hall
Mississippi State, MS 39762-0964
United States
662-325-1987 (Phone)
662-325-1977 (Fax)

Pittsburg State University ( email )

101 Kelce Center
Pittsburg, KS 66762
United States
620-235-4590 (Phone)
620-235-4578 (Fax)

Meghan Millea

Mississippi State University - Department of Finance and Economics ( email )

Mississippi State, MS 39762
United States
662-325-7476 (Phone)
662-325-1977 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/finecon/millea.html

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