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It is uncertain, however, how many theology teachers in Catholic secondary schools have taken economics courses or otherwise prepared themselves to make use of economics in teaching theology. Similarly, it is not clear to what extent social studies teachers integrate Catholic social teaching in covering economic content. Both percentages, we may infer, are on the low side. And here is where Apostles & Markets can be helpful.

Each of the twelve lessons in A&M addresses a social issue with economic implications. The topics considered include wage disparities, pollution, immigration, market pricing, entrepreneurship, and globalization. Each lesson provides teacher’s guide pages and student handout materials. Teacher pages describe each lesson, offer suggestions on how to present the material to students, and provide answers to all questions posed in the handouts. The lessons have a four-part structure. First, the lessons refer at the outset to Biblical passages relevant to the topic. Second, the lessons turn to relevant passages from the Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Third, the lessons identify and explain relevant economic principles. For example, in the St. Philip lesson on wage disparities, teachers and students are guided through elementary marginal productivity theory and the basics of labor market supply and demand. Fourth, the lessons conclude with exercises and activities that invite students to combine principles from Catholic social teaching with the economic concepts they have just studied, so that they may reflect more deeply on the issue in question.