Learning Economics By Servicing: A Mexican Experience of Service Learning in Microenterprises

Abstract

This paper explores a complementary method of teaching economics founded in the service learning approach, and evaluates the effectiveness of service learning programs where final-year students of college engaged in Community Service provide microeconomic assistance to underprivileged microenterprises. This approach may be helpful not only to provide economic consulting and transfer some basic economic concepts to foster economic education among poor entrepreneurs, but also to create excitement in learning economics and meaningfulness of the concepts reviewed in class through embarking the students in communitarian activities. The effectiveness of the learning program is measured by estimating learning curves. The paper suggests that most of learning occurs outside the classrooms, and undertakes the hypothesis that service learning programs particularly in developing, countries can play an important role in supporting poor microenterprises.