Internationally comparative analyses of economic competences of young adults

Abstract

In this article, the economic competences of students from Germany (N = 983), the USA (N = 3,517) and China (N = 832) are compared. The question is addressed, which personal characteristics of the students in these three largest industrial countries have an effect on the economic competences. The test results show that the countries have varying degrees of success in teaching economic competences. In all three countries, groups of people are identified who can be considered in need of support in terms of economic competences. On the basis of these findings, it is questioned whether the three countries can learn from each other - in the sense of the melioristic function of international comparative studies.