Capitalism and socialism: How 7th graders understand and misunderstand the information presented in their geography textbooks

Abstract

In the last few years an increasing number of researchers has started to investigate children’s conceptions of the economic world. However, complex notions, such as those concerning the overall functioning of an economic system, have hardly been considered. In post-elementary schools children encounter some of these notions in history, geography or social studies. An investigation on this topic should therefore consider both children’s conceptions and misconceptions and the relevant information furnished at school.