Northern Michigan University's Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE) will launch the Wildcat Economics Reading Program this fall. Students from all academic majors and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Participants in the one-semester, non-credit group will read, meet and discuss non-technical selections on contemporary topics ranging from health care, property rights and freedom of speech to the environment, economic systems and discrimination.
Joshua Ingber, assistant professor of Economics and fellow within the CEEE, will moderate the discussions, with support from the Student Economic Association. The topics are tailored more to non-economic students, because some students may never experience topics such as healthcare or environmental policies while within their discipline. Understanding topics is part of developing a comprehensive analytical framework of thinking, or “the essence of a university degree.”
There will be 10-15 mandatory meetings at which those involved will receive a free dinner. Those with 100% attendance will receive a stipend at the end of the semester. Participants have a chance to attend a conference to meet with other students and engage with some of the authors of the works that were read.
Similar reading groups have seen success at other institutions including Southern Methodist University, Baylor, Texas Tech and others. NMU's CEEE received permission to join this curriculum.
Students will apply to the group and 12 to 15 students will be chosen by an advisory board set by the CEEE. For more information, or to request an application, email ceee@nmu.edu