Concluding Thoughts

Besides being economists and educators, all of the authors are also parents, aunts, and uncles. In addition to leaving a legacy of knowledge to our students and other readers of this book, we wish to positively influence the lives of future generations. We are sure that you feel the same way.

We accomplish this goal in many different ways. At the local, national, and global level we can work to ensure that public policies create an environment where individuals can achieve their potential. At a personal level we can seek to ingrain habits of success by serving as role models and guiding our children to make sound choices.

As we have seen in this section of Common Sense Economics, financial security tends to elevate general well-being by making necessities attainable and eliminating worry about fulfilling basic needs. Those who develop the habits of working diligently, setting goals and achieving them, and avoiding the temptations of instant gratification by considering the future consequences of current choices are typically more successful in all walks of life than those who do not.

One of the most important ways to teach young people responsibility is by helping them understand that money is earned; it is not manna from heaven. Children can, even at an early age, be empowered by setting tasks that enable them to earn the money to meet their desires. These tasks can involve incentives to meet specific educational goals or help out around the home such as walking the dog or peeling the potatoes for dinner. Money is not just a means of getting more of what you want, it is also a measure of your contribution in helping others get more of what they want. The best way to earn more money is by serving others and finding ways to make them better off. This entrepreneurial lesson will pay important dividends during a child’s career, no matter what that career turns out to be.

Even when paying for a child’s purchases, it is possible to provide them with an understanding of the costs and trade-offs that are inherent in all expenditures. Throughout their lives, all of our children will have to decide how they are going to spend a limited income. If they spend more on one item, they will have to spend less on others. We all have to make trade-offs. Beginning at an early age, we need to teach our children about this reality and provide them with experiences that will help them learn to choose wisely. Many parents (even those who give their children allowances without requiring anything in return) encourage their children to set aside a portion of the money they receive to donate to a charity. These parents also often take the time to discuss with them where to direct their funds and why thinking about other people’s well-being contributes to their own worth and the welfare of the society in which they live.

To a large degree success in life is about setting goals, working hard to achieve them, figuring out how to make your services useful to others, saving for a specific purpose, and spending money wisely. These are the key ingredients for success. Economics provides the recipe for how to live a more fulfilling life.

We are now at the end of a journey. Throughout this book, our goal has been to provide you with information and tools that will help you live a more successful life. It is our hope that your mind has been opened to new ways of thinking and that you will use the insights gained to improve your life and the lives of those around you.