Netflix's 'Stranger Things': A Surprisingly Engaging Economics Lesson

In a unique blend of the supernatural and the educational, the acclaimed Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’ has unexpectedly become a tool for teaching economics. Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Joe Keery (Steve), and Charlie Heaton (Jonathan) not only captivate audiences with their thrilling adventures but also contribute to an innovative educational methodology that simplifies complex economic principles.

Unexpected Educational Tool

According to a study co-authored by Dr. Julien Picault from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, this popular series is being leveraged in academia to engage students with real-world economic concepts. The study, published in The Journal of Economic Education, demonstrates how various shows, including ‘Stranger Things’, offer visually enhanced learning opportunities for understanding market dynamics, inflation, and creative destruction.

The Making of EcoNetflix

At the heart of this innovative approach is ‘EcoNetflix’, a free online resource curated by Dr. Picault and his team at Marymount University. This platform provides teaching guides that integrate Netflix’s vibrant storytelling with educational frameworks, allowing students to connect economic theories with entertaining narratives.

Connecting Pop Culture and Economics

Dr. Picault emphasizes the strategic utilization of popular media, noting, “Students are already watching this content. Our goal is to meet them where they are and use culturally relevant media to explain fundamental concepts like opportunity cost, supply and demand, or moral hazard.” By merging pop culture with academics, educators can foster a more interactive and engaging learning environment.

‘Stranger Things’ and the Smartphone Metaphor

In one of the lessons, ‘Stranger Things’ serves as a metaphor for creative destruction—a key economic concept illustrating how innovation leads to the decline of obsolete industries. Just as smartphones revolutionized communication, the show depicts the shift in societal structures and trends, making it an exemplary case study for this economic phenomenon.

Economic educators and students alike are finding ‘Stranger Things’ to be an effective medium for exploring macroeconomic and microeconomic issues. As stated in Mirage News, this novel linkage between Netflix narratives and educational concepts showcases the potential for media to bridge the gap between entertainment and formal learning.

The next time you watch Dustin, Nancy, Steve, and Jonathan unravel the mysteries of Hawkins, consider that alongside the intrigue, there’s a valuable lesson in economic theory unfolding before your eyes.