Economics for Everybody
by Compass Cinema (website )
A visually engaging high school economics curriculum exploring free-market principles through a distinctly biblical and Reformed worldview.
Best Fit For
Christian families looking for a high-quality, video-based economics course that aligns with free-market principles and a Reformed worldview.
Not Recommended For
Families seeking a secular or neutral overview of multiple economic theories, or those looking for a rigorous, math-heavy economics program without additional supplementation.
What Reviewers Say
Reviewers consistently highlight that Economics for Everybody transforms a potentially dry subject into an engaging experience by using a story-driven approach and a biblical worldview. Cathy Duffy Reviews and Sunrise to Sunset praise the high production quality, specifically noting that the inclusion of historical film clips and old movie footage prevents the lessons from feeling like traditional lectures. According to Molly Green and Half a Hundred Acre Wood, this format successfully connects economic concepts to the principle of God's ownership, making the material relevant for students who might otherwise be uninterested in social studies. One Blessed Mamma credits the engaging speaking style of R.C. Sproul Jr. for making the lessons feel applicable to daily life. However, Well-Trained Mind Forums reports a more polarizing experience. While some students rave about the videos, others find the presentation style unappealing and choose to abandon the curriculum halfway through.
How It Works
Each week, students watch a 20-minute video lesson featuring R.C. Sproul Jr., who uses humor and clear analogies to explain economic principles from a biblical perspective. After the video, the student works through the study guide, which includes vocabulary definitions, multiple-choice questions, and short-answer reflections based on the video and the recommended textbook, 'Basic Economics' by Clarence Carson. Parents typically spend about 15 minutes reviewing the answers and discussing the 'Discussion' questions at the end of each lesson to ensure the child can apply the concepts to real-world scenarios. A typical session takes about 45 to 60 minutes once or twice a week, allowing the 12-lesson course to be completed in a single semester.
Switching to This?
There are no formal placement tests for this curriculum, as it is designed as a foundational elective for any high school student regardless of their previous exposure to economics. Most families start this course in 11th or 12th grade to meet graduation requirements, but its conversational tone makes it accessible for 9th or 10th graders as well. Families can easily start mid-year or even during the summer because the 12 video-based lessons are modular and do not rely on prior specialized academic sequences. If you are switching from a standard secular or Keynesian-focused textbook, expect a significant shift toward the Austrian school of economics, which emphasizes individual choice and limited government over mathematical modeling.
Curriculum Details
- Price
- $45 - $65
- Grades
- 9 - 12
- Available As
- Digital Video Workbook Print
- Coverage
- Single subject
- Subjects
- History/Social Studies
- Pacing
- Flexible
- Parent Time
- 10-20 min/day
- Student Independence
- Semi-independent
- Academic Level
- Grade level
- Worldview
- Christian
- Engaging for Reluctant Learners
- Yes
Pricing varies by format. Streaming or DVD sets are around $45, while bundles with the printed study guide range from $55 to $65.
Videos
Compass Classroom Economics for Everybody~ Homeschool High School
by Educational Roots
Reviews We Consulted
Highly recommends the course for its first-class production quality and its ability to make complex economic concepts accessible through a distinct Reformed Protestant lens.
"R.C. Sproul Jr.’s engaging speaking style combines with first-class graphic design and lots of film clips from old movies, newsreels, and historical films for this worldview-based economics course..."
Provides a polarizing perspective where some students raved about the video instruction while others found the style unappealing and abandoned the course halfway through.
"FWIW, my kids and I disliked Economics for Everybody and stopped about halfway through. We used the lectures from Great Courses, Thomas Sowell's book Basic Economics, and readings..."
Praises the curriculum for making a potentially dry subject entertaining and information-rich by grounding every lesson in the biblical principle that "God owns everything."
"This actually made economics look fun! And it was... The videos are attention-catching and often funny, but they are filled with plenty of information."
Describes the program as an ideal solution for parents seeking an engaging speaker who can make economic principles feel relevant to a student's daily life.
"Dr. Sproul is a very engaging speaker, and manages to turn what could otherwise be a very dry subject into something relevant and interesting."
Recommends the course for math-and-science-oriented students who typically dislike social studies, noting that the creative use of old movie clips prevents the lessons from feeling like standard lectures.
"These are not videos of R.C. Sproul Jr. standing in a classroom, but instead, include fun video clips from a wide variety of old movies."
Highlights how the story-driven video approach successfully converted a previously uninterested teenager into an economics enthusiast.
"The fascinating videos connecting economics to a biblical worldview (along with the resulting discussions) have been some of the best 'distractions' I’ve experienced as a homeschool mom."
Updated: March 2026
How This Compares
Parents often compare this to the 'Uncle Eric' series by Richard Maybury, which also advocates for free-market principles; however, Economics for Everybody is preferred by those who want a structured video component rather than just a series of books written as letters. Compared to Notgrass 'Exploring Economics,' which is a reading-heavy, full-credit course including literature and primary sources, this curriculum is much more concise and better suited for students who are already carrying a heavy academic load. If you are weighing it against Dave Ramsey’s 'Foundations in Personal Finance,' note that Ramsey focuses on practical life skills like budgeting and debt, while Sproul Jr. teaches the theoretical 'why' behind how markets function. Against a traditional program like BJU Press Economics, this course is less focused on technical graphing and formulas, making it more engaging for students who struggle with dry, textbook-style instruction. Ultimately, families choose this over other options when they want a course that explicitly links economic theory to historical theology and biblical stewardship.
Getting Started
Try It Free
The central hub for students to access streaming video lessons and digital course materials.
Purchase
The official publisher shop for the complete 12-lesson course, available in physical, digital, and bundled formats.
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