Content
This module deals with monetary policy, the core task of a central bank. The major goals of modern central banks, the significance of the monetary policy instrument, the most important monetary policy effects and the influence of incomplete information are conveyed to the students in a fun way.
Duration:2–3 lessons
Level:Demanding
Format:Online simulation
Updated:10 March 2008
Subjects and suitable topics
Economy/law: Economic correlations/Economic policy/Inflation/Monetary policy goals and instruments/Swiss National Bank
Economy/society: Economic policy/Inflation/Monetary policy goals and instruments/Swiss National Bank
This module deals with monetary policy, the core task of a central bank. The major goals of modern central banks, the significance of the monetary policy instrument and the most important monetary policy effects are conveyed to the students in a fun way.
Duration:2–3 lessons
Level:Demanding
Format:Online simulation
Updated:30 October 2007
Subjects and suitable topics
Economy/law: Economic correlations/Economic policy/Inflation/Monetary policy goals and instruments/Swiss National Bank
Economy/society: Economic policy/Inflation/Monetary policy goals and instruments/Swiss National Bank
This module deals with common pool resources and the problem of overuse of freely accessible resources. Through their own actions during the course of a game, students experience at first hand the major incentives inherent in common pool resources. The game also involves finding solutions for the tragedy of the commons phenomenon. Environmental problems, such as global warming, serve as good examples.
Duration:2–4 lessons
Level:Easy to intermediate
Format:Offline strategy game
Updated:17 March 2010
Subjects and suitable topics
General culture: Economics and ecology/Environment/Globalisation/Society and responsibility
Economy/law: Economics and ecology/Economic types of goods/International agreements/Market failure/Role of property rights
Economy/society: Market failure/Economic types of goods/Economics and ecology/Role of property rights
Biology: Global warming/Endangered species/Environmental policy
Philosophy/educational science/psychology : Cooperation in groups/Role of standards
Geography: Global environmental issues
This module deals with the subject of the division of labour and trade. By doing their own trading in the strategy game, Railgame, students learn about the principle of comparative advantage, an otherwise difficult concept to explain.
Duration:2–3 lessons
Level:Intermediate
Format:Online strategy game
Updated:17 November 2009
Subjects and suitable topics
General culture: Division of labour in everyday life/Globalisation/Production and specialisation/Switzerland and the world
Economy/law: Comparative advantages/Economic integration/Economies based on division of labour/International trade/Specialisation of companies/Trade policy and protectionism
Economy/society: Economic integration/Economies based on division of labour/International trade/Specialisation of companies
Geography: Specialisation of countries
History/civic education: History of trade
The topic of this module is the formation of prices, on markets in general and on well-organised and transparent markets in particular. Students experience at first hand how markets function, by means of a strategy game in which they play traders on a commodities exchange.
Duration:2–3 lessons
Level:Intermediate
Format:Online strategy game
Updated:21 October 2009
Subjects and suitable topics
General culture: Economics/Market and consumption/Market and prices
Economy/law: Competition/Economic systems/Functioning of markets/Introduction to economics/Market economy/Market efficiency/Supply and demand/Role of stock markets
Economy/society: Competition/Economic systems/Functioning of markets/Market economy/Market efficiency/Supply and demand
Content right column
Key
Modules
A module is a structured teaching unit on basic economic principles.
iconomix modules are based on a three-phase concept:
- Learning by doing
- Learning through dialogue
- Learning by applying
For more information, cf. 
Learning with iconomixhttp://www.iconomix.ch/en/service/educational-concept/learning-with-iconomix/.
List of modules
Details on each module can be viewed by clicking on the plus sign (+) on the right-hand side of the list.
The fully expanded view provides key information on contents, duration, level of difficulty, format as well as a list of suitable subjects and topics.
Filter and sort
The list of titles can be filtered by four criteria:
- Subjects/topics
- Level of difficulty
- Format
- Keyword
The filters can also be combined.
Level of difficulty
iconomix works with three levels of difficulty:
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Demanding
Format
iconomix has three types of module: strategy game, simulation and topic folder. Modules of the same type are structured in a similar manner.
Some of the modules require the use of computers and internet (online), others do not (offline).
Keyword
Enter the first letter of the keyword into the search field (e.g. s for supply). A keyword can then be selected from the list.
Time required
The duration of a module refers to the approximate number of lessons required to complete the module.
Offline strategy game
Offline strategy games are always played in groups. These modules start, for instance, with a role play or a card game in which the decisions of several players have an influence on the outcome.
Online strategy game
Online strategy games are always played in groups. These modules start with a game in which one or more computers are used. The outcome depends not only on the players’ decisions, but also on computer calculations.
Online simulation
Online simulations can be worked through either in groups or individually. The main component is a simulation that is run on a computer. A model is used to conduct experiments that provide insights into a real system.
The decisions of the player (individual or group) are integrated into the model and influence the result which is generated online by the computer.
Topic folder
The topic folders contain material that deals with an economics-related topic from a number of different angles. The material is supplemented by a range of tasks that can be customised to suit the specific requirements of the lesson and the needs of the students.
Comments
Comments may be submitted for all modules.
Learning with iconomix modules (in German)(270 KB)http://www.iconomix.ch/fileadmin/docs/didaktik/lernen_mit_iconomix-modulen.pdf