Publication: Journal of Economic Education
Volume: Volume 22, No. 2
Issue: Spring 1991
Pages: pp. 101-110
Author(s): David J. Whitehead and Tony Halil
Address (Principal Author):
Title: Economic Literacy in the United Kingdom and the U.S.A.: A Comparative Study
Abstract: This article describes the trailing of the U.S. Test of Economic Literacy in the U.K. in May, 1989, provides norming data, and draws comparisons with the American data. The British sample, which had 7549 students compared with 4325 in the U.S. study, had a higher mean general ability than the American sample, and the U.K. with-economics groups received substantially more economics instruction. The U.S. overall mean was 22.06; the U.K. was 30.09. British students performed substantially better than American students at both 11th and 12th grade levels, for both with- and non-economics groups. Remarkably, 57 percent of British 12th grade non-economics students performed better than the mean for American with-economics students. The research data indicate that the TEL may be used effectively as a standardized test in British schools.