Modules Overview¶

The course is organized into six modules. Each module pairs a feature film with the work of a Nobel Prize-winning economist, building from foundational economic thinking to advanced topics in environmental and public economics. Click on any module to begin.

Module 1: Understanding Economic Thinking¶

The Big Short (2015) Richard Thaler

Scarcity, opportunity cost, trade-offs, market bubbles, and the clash between rational and behavioral decision-making. Why do financial crises happen, and what does it mean to think like an economist?

Start Module 1

Module 2: Incentives and Human Behavior¶

A Beautiful Mind (2001) John Nash

Game theory, strategic interactions, cooperation vs. competition, and how incentive structures shape human behavior. What happens when every individual acts in their own interest?

Start Module 2

Module 3: Market Dynamics and Labor Markets¶

Margin Call (2011) Paul Krugman

Supply, demand, equilibrium, market failures, labor markets, and globalization. How do prices coordinate millions of decisions, and what happens when markets break down?

Start Module 3

Module 4: Poverty, Inequality, and Development¶

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Esther Duflo & Abhijit Banerjee

Measuring poverty, informal economies, livelihood strategies, and evidence-based approaches to development. What actually works in lifting people out of poverty?

Start Module 4

Module 5: Innovation, Technology, and Growth¶

Moneyball (2011) Robert Solow

Innovation, productivity, data-driven decision-making, and the economics of long-term growth. What drives economies forward, and how do new ideas displace old ones?

Start Module 5

Module 6: Environmental and Public Economics¶

Erin Brockovich (2000) Elinor Ostrom

Externalities, public goods, common resources, and sustainability. When markets fail to protect the environment, what can communities, governments, and institutions do?

Start Module 6

Module Structure¶

Each module contains five sub-pages:

Page	Description
Content	Core economic concepts for the module, with explanations, examples, and key takeaways.
Film Analysis	A scene-by-scene guide to the economic ideas embedded in the module's film.
Nobel Focus	A biographical profile of the Nobel laureate whose work illuminates the module's theme.
Quiz	A 10-question self-assessment with explanations, covering both concepts and film content.
Resources	Additional readings, videos, and links to interactive simulations relevant to the module.