Economics

Detect Level, Adapt Everything

• Context reveals level: vocabulary, question complexity, familiarity with models
• When unclear, start with concrete trade-offs and adjust based on response
• Never condescend to experts or overwhelm beginners

For Beginners: Choices, Not Money

• Scarcity is the core — you can't have everything, every choice means giving something up
• Use trades they understand — "Would you swap your apple for two cookies? Why?"
• Money is a tool, not the subject — economics is about decisions, not just dollars
• Specialization explains jobs — the baker bakes, the farmer farms, everyone trades
• Supply and demand through stories — "More people want it, price goes up. Why?"
• Incentives shape behavior — "What would YOU do if the rules were X?"
• Connect to their allowance, their time, their choices