Socialism: Myths vs Realities

Program content will examine key themes and issues of socialism that middle and high school teachers can use to understand and teach in their classrooms. These themes include: 

• Definitions and perceptions
• Control Problem
• Incentive Problem
• Knowledge Problem
• Pathologies of Privilege 

Instructors will use proven pedagogical practices and will draw from research and academic resources produced by the Fraser Institute. This research examined the experiences with socialist policies of five different countries (Poland, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, and Singapore). 

Teachers will leave with both a better understanding of modern perceptions of socialism and activities for use in the classroom.  

Lesson Outline

Lesson 1: Socialism Defined

• Key Terms and Concepts: Control Problem; Incentive Problem; Knowledge Problem; Markets; Pathologies of Privilege; Markets; Price Systems; Property Rights; Socialism

Lesson 2: A Short History of Poland

• Key Terms and Concepts: Inflation; Market; Market Economy; Nationalization; Price System; Private Enterprise; Property Rights; Real Gross Domestic Product; Socialism; Shortage

Lesson 3: Pathologies of Privilege

• Key Terms and Concepts: Black Market; Bureaucracy; Control Problem; Incentive Problem; Knowledge Problem; Pathologies of Privilege; Shortage; Surplus

Lesson 4: The Mirage of Swedish Socialism

• Key Terms and Concepts: Budget Deficit; Budget Surplus; Inflation; Nationalization; Public Debt; Socialism; Taxes

Lesson 5: Denmark – The Free Enterprise Welfare State

• Key Terms and Concepts: Entrepreneurship; Economic Growth; Gross Domestic Product; Inflation; Protectionism; Socialism; Stagflation

Lesson 6: Estonia

• Key Terms and Concepts: Control Problem; Incentive Problem; Inflation; Knowledge Problem; Market Economy; Pathologies of Privilege; Price System; Property Rights; Shortage; Tariff; Totalitarianism; Tragedy of Commons

Lesson 7: Singapore

• Key Terms and Concepts: Incentives; Institutions; Laissez-faire; Market Economy; Mixed Economy; Property Rights; Socialist Economy

Activity Outline

Activity 1: A Survey – 4 Countries and You

• Key Terms and Concepts: Capitalism; Communism; Fascism; Socialism; Tax/Taxation

Activity 2: Let’s Make It Fair

• Key Terms and Concepts: Knowledge Problem; Markets; Scarcity; Self-Interest; Socialism

Activity 3: Innovation – Is it Rocket Science?

• Key Terms and Concepts: Competition; Incentives; Innovation; Invention; Property Rights

Activity 4: The More the Merrier

• Key Terms and Concepts: Competition; Demand; Markets; Price Supply; Standard of Living

Activity 5: The Shortage Economy

• Key Terms and Concepts: Black Market; Incentive; Market; Shortage

Activity 6: Will the Real Socialism Please Step Forward?

• Key Terms and Concepts: Socialism; Control Problem; Incentive Problem; Knowledge Problem; Pathologies of Privilege