Economics for the Daily News

Economics for Beginners is a learning path on Breni. It runs to 6 courses. It starts at beginner level. You finish able to interpret how supply and demand shifts impact everyday prices and product availability. You finish able to explain the real-world causes and consequences of inflation on personal purchasing power.

  • 6 courses
  • 0 learning objectives
  • Level: beginner
  • Language: English
  • Price: Subscription, free trial

What you will be able to do

  • Interpret how supply and demand shifts impact everyday prices and product availability.
  • Explain the real-world causes and consequences of inflation on personal purchasing power.
  • Analyze how central bank interest rates influence borrowing, saving, and the broader economy.
  • Evaluate economic health using GDP figures and national output metrics.
  • Assess the impact of international trade and tariffs on domestic industries and consumer goods.

Full curriculum

Part 1 · The Market Engine

1. Invisible Hands and Market Prices — How Supply and Demand Shape What We Buy

I see prices change constantly at the grocery store and online — I want to understand the invisible forces driving those numbers up and down.

2. More Money, Same Goods — Unmasking the Causes and Costs of Inflation

I keep hearing that inflation is eating away at my paycheck, but I want to grasp why money loses its value in the first place.

Part 2 · The Levers of Power

3. The Cost of Borrowing — How Central Bank Interest Rates Steer the Economy

I hear news about the Fed raising interest rates and mortgage costs going up, but I want to connect the dots on how this actually cools down or heats up the economy.

4. Measuring a Nation's Wealth — Decoding Gross Domestic Product and Economic Health

News anchors throw around GDP growth numbers like they are a scorecard for the country, and I want to know what those numbers actually measure.

Part 3 · The Global Web

5. Global Supply Chains and Tariffs — Why International Trade Affects Your Wallet

I want to understand why global trade disputes and supply chain bottlenecks end up changing the price of the gadgets and clothes I buy.

6. Connecting the Economic Puzzle — Reading Today's Financial News with Confidence

I want to bring together everything I've learned about supply, inflation, interest rates, and trade so I can decode complex financial news articles on my own.

Questions about Economics for Beginners

What will I be able to do after this Economics for Beginners path?

Interpret how supply and demand shifts impact everyday prices and product availability. Explain the real-world causes and consequences of inflation on personal purchasing power. Analyze how central bank interest rates influence borrowing, saving, and the broader economy.

What does the Economics for Beginners curriculum cover?

The path is 6 courses, starting with Invisible Hands and Market Prices — How Supply and Demand Shape What We Buy and ending with Connecting the Economic Puzzle — Reading Today's Financial News with Confidence. Each course is graded across 5 tiers, from Novice to Expert.

How long does the Economics for Beginners path take?

About 6 courses at a steady pace, across 6 courses. It is self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.

Do I need experience before starting Economics for Beginners?

The path is pitched at beginner level. The first course opens with: I see prices change constantly at the grocery store and online — I want to understand the invisible forces driving those numbers up and down.

Is the Economics for Beginners path free?

The Economics for Beginners path is part of a Breni subscription, which starts with a free trial. All 6 courses are in the Breni app on iPhone, Android and the web.

Related learning paths

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