Active Learning' is a refereed journal and publishes traditional papers, case studies and opinion pieces. A Comprehensive Economic Simulation EcoSim is available to interested colleges and universities at no charge for a limited time. EcoSim is an economic simulation in which students play the roles of companies, groups of people, the government and the central bank. The computer software does not create the economy, but only acts as a game referee. The players create the economic forces of demand and supply as they interact with each other.
Students can do almost everything within the simulation that can be done in the real world.
Companies purchase materials from other companies and labor from populations to produce a product which they sell to populations or other companies. Companies can issue bonds and stock to raise money which they can invest in capital accumulation or research and development. All prices, interest rates, production and consumption levels, etc. are determined by the players themselves as they attempt to maximize profits and utilities. Many opportunities for entrepreneurship exist. Students playing companies and populations are graded based on the amount of profit and utility they obtain over the course of the game.