Public Choice Lessons from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Abstract

J.K Rowling’s series of books about the underage wizard Harry Potter is an exceptionally effective tool for introducing students to the key concepts of public choice. By keeping political figures at the forefront of the story, Rowling encourages students to recognize the differences between the choices made by individuals in markets and politics. To illuminate the pedagogical potential of the series, and to ease its adoption, we discuss a set of examples that best illustrate the key concepts of public choice. We also share a classroom exercise showcasing how the series can be used to promote active learning.

Keywords: Edutainment, Economic Pedagogy, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, Public Choice, Rent-Seeking

JEL Classification: A11, A13, A22, D01, D7, D72