Even governments need a budget! In this episode of Cash Course, middle and high school students break down how national budgets work—from borrowing and spending to managing debt. Discover how a country’s financial choices can shape the economy, and even your own wallet.

Before the American Revolution, Great Britain powered a global empire through mercantilism—an economic system that enriched the crown at the expense of overseas colonies. But one Scottish thinker had a better idea: capitalism. In this episode of Cash Course, teens meet Adam Smith, the “father of economics.” From trade to limited government, they’ll learn how Smith’s thinking struck a blow to the old system and laid the foundation for free markets.

Cash Course

Economic Game Changers: Adam Smith

Meet the real “boss” of the economy—the money market. This Cash Course episode explains how changes in the money market shake up spending, borrowing, interest rates, and even GDP. Teach your teens the basics of monetary policy, a powerful tool that can expand or contract the economy we all participate in. Capiche?

The Money Market: The Real Boss

Can a sports referee also be a player? If that “ref” is the government and the “game” is the economy, the answer is yes! This Cash Course episode explores a strange reality: the government doesn't just set the rules, regulations, and policies—it also plays the game by buying and selling goods. Fair or not, one thing's certain: when the government plays, the economy changes, and so do the outcomes.


Government & the Economy

When "everyone" owns something…does anyone really own it? And who will take care of it? In this episode of Cash Course, teens explore the difference between private and public property and why ownership creates powerful incentives. From America’s first settlements to today’s grocery stores, they’ll see how private property drives responsibility, productivity, and long-term success.

Private Property for the Win!

Did you know taxes affect more than just your paycheck? In fact, you pay them every day—on concert tickets, groceries, gas, and even property. In this episode of Cash Course, teens learn how taxes shape market economies by distorting prices, changing incentives, and creating hidden costs. From sales tax to property tax, they’ll discover the real cost of bigger government: less efficiency for everyone.

Taxes IV: The Price Isn't Right

Is the economy a fair game, or is it rigged by the biggest players? This episode of Cash Course puts imperfect market players to the test, revealing how monopolies, oligopolies, and barriers to entry shape economic outcomes. Teach your teens how competition—fair or not—affects prices, choices, and even cupcakes.

The Imperfect Markets Showdown

Imagine the perfect marketplace—where high-quality products are always available at low prices. Sounds magical, but does it exist? In this episode of Cash Course, your teens will explore the “legend” of perfect competition—an ideal model based on four key conditions that help markets run efficiently. While reality rarely meets those conditions, the legend teaches a powerful lesson: more competition means better results for everyone.

The Legend of Perfect Competition

When markets work, everyone wins. But what happens when they don't? In this episode of Cash Course, teens learn about market failures—when missing information or outside factors prevent markets from delivering goods and services efficiently. From overproduction to supply and demand breakdowns, students will explore how markets can misfire and why that often leads to government stepping in.

Is Market Failure an Option?

Who doesn’t love free money? This Cash Course episode tackles subsidies: payments and discounts the government uses to encourage one economic activity over another. Teach your high school students how subsidies work, how they distort markets, and who’s really footing the bill. Because when the government subsidizes something, everybody pays!

Subsidies: Everybody Pays!

Why do people take jobs, shop at certain stores, or move where they’ll pay fewer taxes? Incentives. In this cold-case episode of Cash Course, a detective investigates how everyday economic motivators drive decisions—and how even the best intentions can lead to costly consequences. High school students will learn how incentives influence behavior and shape economic outcomes on both a personal and national level.

Incentives: The Usual Suspects

What makes an economy grow, and what gets in the way? In this episode of Cash Course, your middle and high school students will learn about the key ingredients for economic growth, like productivity, human capital, and GDP. They'll also examine the role government plays in either helping—or hurting—the process, and gain a clear understanding of the recipe for economic success in a free market.

The Ingredients for Economic Growth

Life isn't equal, and neither are incomes. But is government redistribution the solution? In this episode of Cash Course, teens dive into the economics of fairness with playful illustrations that show what happens when the government tries to spread wealth around. Learn how such policies affect incentives, the free market, and why redistribution often comes at a steep cost.

Redistribution: Does It Work?

The Risky Business of National Budgets

Lights, camera… economics! In this high-energy episode of Cash Course, the "Cash Course Boys" break down the circular flow model through music and dance. From banks to businesses to the government, everyone plays a role in the flow of money, goods, and services. Teach your high school students how everything connects in the constantly grooving economy!

In Sync with Circular Flow

Should a country make everything it needs or trade with others? This episode of Cash Course breaks down the factors that help countries decide what to produce and when to trade. Teach your high school students about absolute and comparative advantage, opportunity cost, and how smart trade decisions benefit everyone.

Trading to Your Advantage

Trade is a global affair—connecting people around the world through the exchange of goods and services, from chopsticks to jumbo jets. Perfect for high schoolers, this episode on international trade explains how exchange rates, specialization, and comparative advantage shape global commerce. Watch to discover how trade impacts economies, prices, and even your next shopping trip.

Make Trade, Not War

You may have heard about tariffs in the news—but what are they, and how do they actually work? This episode covers everything your high schooler needs to know about tariffs—taxes on foreign goods. From imports and exports to international policy, and all the way back to the Boston Tea Party, discover why tariffs remain a hot topic to this day.

But Why Tariffs?

What determines wages—the amount you get paid to do a job? Perfect for high schoolers, teens building their financial literacy, or anyone about to start a new job, this episode explores how supply and demand shape the labor market. From hiring decisions based on the marginal product of labor to wage negotiations and personal trade-offs between earning more and working less, it’s a real-world tug-o-war with big implications.

The Tug-o-War of Labor Markets

What does unemployment reveal about the health of the economy? In this episode, we break down four key types—frictional, structural, cyclical, and seasonal—and explore how each one affects people and markets. It's perfect for high school and up, or anyone who wants to learn more about the labor market, government policy, and what makes it harder—or easier—to find a job.

Unemployment: Vital Sign of an Economy

Buckle up for a thrilling ride through the ups and downs of the economy! In this action-packed episode of Cash Course, we break down the economic cycle—explaining how expansion, contraction, and everything in between shape financial trends. Perfect for high school students, this episode helps decode the signs of economic change so they can navigate the twists and turns like a pro. Don’t miss out on this essential lesson in financial literacy!

Menu

The Risky Business of National Budgets [Member Exclusive]

More Episodes