1. Overview of International Budget Literacy Practices: Key Findings and Lessons Learned
Harika Masud
June 22, 2017

2. Agenda I. Definition, methodology and scope
II. Classroom-based initiatives
BL in classroom and out-of-classroom initiatives: why?
BL in school curricula: how?
BL learning outcomes
BL subjects, themes and topics
BL pedagogical approaches and activities
BL assessment methods
III. Out-of-classroom initiatives
IV. Beyond-school budget literacy initiatives
V. Lessons learned
VI. Useful resources/links

3. Definition, Methodology and Scope
Definition: “The ability to read, decipher, and understand public budgets to enable and enhance meaningful citizen participation in the budget process”.
A technical understanding of public budgets
The ability to engage in the budget process
Scope:
Documentation of 35 case studies from 33 countries (primarily OECD countries and BRICs)
School-Based BL initiatives (27) and Beyond School BL initiatives (8)
Methodology:
Review: Desk research on national education policies/strategies and curriculum standards for primary and secondary school subjects in 33 countries
Outreach and Compilation: Outreach to more than 200 individuals and 150 organizations and compilation of inputs via s and/or phone discussions
Documentation: Use of standard template to draft country case studies of illustrative budget literacy practices
Analysis: Based on learning outcomes, contents, pedagogical approaches and materials, and assessment methods

4. What does the literature tell us about the rationale for budget literacy in school-based initiatives?
Engaging with the federal budget and the federal debt enables students to understand the contextual factors that play a role in economic decision-making (Etizoni,1967)
They gain insights into how the federal government’s responsibilities and approach change over time through an examination of the federal budget, federal debt, and budget deficit (Mosher, 1980)
Students will be unprepared to express views and exert meaningful influence on public policy directions without knowledge of budget issues (Forsyth, 2006)
Measures of general economic knowledge, or knowledge of a particular economic issue are among the most important factors affecting public opinion on a wide range of economic issues (Walstad, 1997)

5. What do school curricula tell us about the rationale for budget literacy in school-based initiatives?
Strengthening civic and legal consciousness (Canada, Czech Republic)
Fostering awareness of tax obligations (Japan, Uruguay)
Increasing comprehension of economic and social roles (United States, Singapore)
Improving knowledge of policy formulation (Austria, Hong Kong)
Enhancing participation in fiscal policy processes (Brazil, Costa Rica)
Developing economic competence (Australia, India)
Building real-life skills (South Africa, Namibia)

6. Strategies to integrate budget literacy education in schools
Cross-Curricular vs. Stand-Alone Approach (e.g. United States and Brazil)
National vs. Subnational Approach (e.g. Hong Kong and Canada)
Comprehensive vs. Selective Coverage of Students (e.g. Luxembourg and Ireland)
Basic vs. In-depth Approach (e.g. Singapore and Munich-Germany)
Tiered vs. Direct Approach (e.g. Australia and Japan)

7. Budget Literacy Learning Outcomes In School Curricula: Knowledge
Role of Government: e.g. learn how the government redistributes income (Namibia)
System of Government Revenues and Expenditures: e.g. define progressive, proportional, and regressive taxation, and determine whether different types of taxes (including income and sales) are progressive, proportional, or regressive (United Kingdom)
Fiscal Policy: e.g. discuss state budget drafting, taxation policy and redistribution of income (Estonia)
Policymaking: e.g. formulate the conflicting objectives and various positions regarding economic policy (Austria)
Economic Competence: e.g. understand the government’s constraints as well as short term and long term economic and social impacts of public finance (Hong Kong)
Real-Life Skills: e.g. describe the method of calculating the subsistence minimum of his/her household and applying for social benefit for which he/she is eligible (South Africa)
Civic Awareness: e.g. acquire a sense of responsibility and consciousness of the social value of taxes and their important role for social development (Costa Rica)

8. Budget Literacy Learning Outcomes In School Curricula: Competencies
Literacy: Examine and interpret budget data and communicate conclusions to a range of audiences through a range of multimodal approaches.
Numeracy: Apply numeracy knowledge and skills to display, interpret and analyze fiscal data, draw conclusions, make predictions and forecast outcomes.
ICT: Develop ICT capability when they access and use digital technologies as an investigative and creative tool. Locate, evaluate, research, plan, share and display budget data and/or information.
Critical Thinking: Develop critical and creative thinking to identify, explore and determine questions to clarify budget issues and/or events and apply reasoning, interpretation and analytical skills to data and/or information.
Intercultural Understanding: Develop an understanding and appreciation of the different ways other countries respond to budget issues and events related to fiscal policy.
Oral and Written Expression: Analyze fiscal sources and data, interpreting this information to make arguments, and communicating ideas and findings with clarity.

9. Budget Literacy Learning Outcomes In School Curricula: Values & Attitudes
Gain the confidence and conviction to participate in decision making and play an active role as effective citizens in public life (United Kingdom)
Think proactively about economic phenomena. (Luxembourg)
Participate as informed persons in the discussion of economic issues and decision-making (Hong Kong)
Strengthen understanding and fair judgment on issues surrounding politics, economy, and international relations (Japan)
Understand the perspectives of a range of different stakeholders in relation to economic activity (India)
Apply theoretical knowledge successfully to the current economic situation, and not fall for superficial judgment but have the ability to analyze the situation correctly (Czech Republic)
Adopt a critical approach to initiatives for a fair distribution of income and wealth, human rights, and responsibilities (South Africa)

10. Budget Literacy in School Subjects
Country Examples
Economics
India, Austria, France, United States
Social Studies/Social Sciences
Estonia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore
Mathematical Literacy/Mathematics
Canada, South Africa, United States
Civics/Government
Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, United States
Business Studies
Ireland and Namibia
History
United States
Politics and Governance
Philippines
Life Skills/Contemporary Issues
Czech Republic, Hong Kong and Namibia
Fiscal Education Course
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay

11. Budget Literacy: Themes and Topics
Examples of Budget Literacy Topics
Education about Tax
New Zealand. Module [Tax Education and Citizenship]
Taxes and their impact, how decisions are made about public finances and differing opinions on tax spending
How decisions on taxation affect young people, varying understanding of fairness in relation to taxation, and how young people can influence policy decision-making about taxation
Basic Economic Concepts
India. Module [Government Budget and the Economy]
Objectives of government budget
Classification of receipts – revenue and capital; classification of expenditure – revenue and capital, developmental and non-developmental etc.
Revenue deficit, fiscal deficit and primary deficit: meaning and implications
Economic Citizenship
Singapore. Module [Managing our Financial Resources]
“Careful Use Of Our Country’s Financial Resources Helps Singapore To Progress”.
Developing Singapore through the national budget
Importance of the national budget to me
The role of citizens in contributing to the management of financial resources in the country
Economic and Social Policy
Austria. Module [Macro-economic Results and Challenges – Economic and Social Policy]
Fiscal/tax policy
Social policy: who finances social safety nets?
Specificities of the Austrian economic and social policy
How effective are the state’s instruments?

12. Budget Literacy: Themes and Topics
Examples of Budget Literacy Topics
Politics and Governance
Niedersachsen, Germany. Module [Politics Near to You]
the role of municipalities and their status within the federal state
forms of political participation
finances at the municipal level, such as income, expenditures, and budget plans; and the distribution of tax income at various levels
Business and the Economy
Ireland. Module [Domestic Environment]
The impact of the economy on business, taking into account the general state of the economy, inflation, interest rates, tax and grants
The impact of business on the economy at local and national level, taking into account employment, tax revenues and environmental issues
An introduction to the Government's role in encouraging and regulating business
Role of the Government as employer
History and Economics
United States. Understanding Fiscal Responsibility Module [The Federal Reserve System: Overview]
Structure and Function of the Federal Reserve
History of the Federal Reserve

13. Budget Literacy: Pedagogical Approaches and Activities
Country Examples
Simulations and Role Play
Germany, South Australia
Fact finding and Analysis
Canada, New Zealand
Using Real-life Situations and Scenario Analysis
India, Hong Kong
Debate and Discussion
Victoria-Australia, United Kingdom
Interaction with Relevant Authorities and Field Trips
Philippines, Costa Rica
Write-ups, Essays and Reports
South Africa, United States
Contests and Quizzes
Japan, Singapore
Art and Cartoon Analysis
United Kingdom, United States

14. Budget Literacy Assessment Methods
Multiple choice questions (New Zealand)
Data interpretation questions (South Africa)
Questions on public budget concepts (Ireland)
Open-ended questions (Austria)
Formal Assessments
(tests, exams & quizzes
Teacher assessment: e.g. learning journals, oral presentations, class participation, poster designs, field studies
Peer assessment: e.g. role play, project learning, group work, debates
Self assessment: e.g. self reflection on learning based on feedback from teachers and/or peers
Other Assessments

15. Budget Literacy: Out-Of-Classroom Initiatives
Country
Examples of Initiatives
Austria
The Entrepreneur’s Skills Certificate online training program
Brazil
CGU Drawing and Composition Contest
Citizen Child Day
Canada
School participatory budgeting in Vancouver
CIVIX Student Budget Consultations
Chile
The Band’s Debut TV show
Costa Rica
Tribute to My Country
France
Participatory budgeting in Poite-Charentes, Nord Pas de Calais and Ile-de-France
Hong Kong
Seminars e.g. Hong Kong’s public finance and long-term fiscal planning
Japan
Study tours and education classes
National essay competitions on taxes
Poster competition on taxes at the prefecture level
Award program for promoting tax education for students
New Zealand
High School Policy Challenge
Policy Workshops
Peru
Payment Receipt Contest
Youth Auditors Program
Singapore
Annual MOE-MOF Budget Debate Seminar
United Kingdom
Chance to be Chancellor Program
Uruguay
Videogames Contest

16. Budget Literacy: Beyond-School Initiatives
Country
Activities
Results
Northern Ireland
Children’s advisory groups
Consultations
Online survey
Adoption of the 2015 UN Human Rights Council Resolution: “Towards Better Investment in the Rights of the Child”
Ghana
Field research
Training of trainers
Validation and feedback meetings
Role Play
Inputs in national budget
Continuation of Youth in Agriculture Program
Inputs to district assembly on development issues concerning youth and children

17. Setting Strategic Objectives
Lessons Learned
Setting Strategic Objectives
Chart clear objectives for imparting budget literacy education
Emphasize links between budget literacy and public service delivery
Incorporating Budget Literacy Education into School Curricula
Use existing subject curricula as entry points to teach budget literacy
Adopt a gradual, tiered approach to educating students about public budgets, beginning in primary school
Continue to rely on a tiered approach to budget literacy education during secondary school
Emphasize civic competence and technical knowledge to capture the true essence of budget literacy
Use budget literacy content to convey interesting facts, initiate stimulating discussions, and pose real-life challenges to students .

18. Lessons Learned
Developing Diverse Methods and Materials for Teaching and Assessing Budget Literacy
Use instruction methods that make learning about public budgets relevant and compelling for students
To the extent possible, arrange for students to receive feedback on their contributions to the budget process
Provide learning opportunities that will improve confidence
Adopt assessment approaches that can keep pace with the diversity of materials and pedagogical approaches being used to teach budget literacy
Develop pedagogical materials that can accommodate varying levels of budget literacy knowledge among educators
Building Capacity to Promote Budget Literacy Education
Design assessment methods that are exclusive to budget literacy education
Collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the design and implementation of measures for strengthening budget literacy
Explore various means of providing ongoing support to educators

19. Useful Resources Type of Resource Examples Blogs
Understanding Fiscal Responsibility Blog (United States)
Comics/Cartoons
Sofinha and her Gang (Brazil)
What’s in it for Us? (New Zealand)
Crossword Puzzles
National Budget Crossword (Ireland)
Datasets on Public Spending
A Scuola di OpenCoesione (Italy)
Budget Stories (Moldova)
Glossaries/Primers
The ABC of Taxes (Guatemala)
Declaring My Taxes (Costa Rica)
Interactive Games
CyberBudget Game (France)
Role Playing Game-Deciding a Municipal Budget (Germany)
Participatory Budgeting Guides
Handbook for Schools to Implement Student Participatory Budgeting (Germany)
Welsh Government Participatory Budgeting Toolkit (United Kingdom)
PowerPoint Presentations
Budget Taxation & Government Finances (Ireland)
Government Spending (United States)
Posters/Graphics/ Wordles
National Budget Wordle (Ireland)
Tax Expenditure Interactive Graphic (Uruguay)
Quizzes/Trivia and Surveys
Taxes Trivia (Dominican Republic)
Tax Education and Citizenship Survey (New Zealand)
TV shows/media clips
10-minute-box (Japan)
PBS Learning Media: Government Revenues and Spending (United States)
Worksheets and Handouts
Government Expenditures Worksheet (Canada)
Comparison of tax rates (Hong Kong)
Tool Kits/Lesson Plans
‘Tax Matters’. HM Revenue and Customs (United Kingdom)
Overview of Budget 2015: Building Our Future, Strengthening Social Security (Singapore)