Understanding Education and Economics: Key Debates and Critical Perspectives (2020) by Jessie Bustillos Morales and Sandra Abegglen (Eds)

Catherine Simon

Based on many years’ experience of teaching undergraduate Education Studies courses, I am well aware that there are significant numbers of students (and some academics) who steer well clear of quantitative research, statistics and numbers: any book with the word ‘economics’ in the title was to be avoided at all costs. So it was, with some trepidation, that I approached this addition to the Routledge Education Studies Series. Indeed, I must confess to putting off reading it until my pile of ‘must reads’ for this summer was exhausted. My expectations could not have been further from the truth and, with an academic interest in education policy and politics, I can only regret not having had access to such a book before now.

Bustillos Morales and Abegglen have skilfully brought together international scholarship to explore the nature and purposes of education in a captivating volume, revealing how closely education has become aligned with the economic imperative and the consequences this alignment has for learners and teachers. Drawing on a range of psychological, sociological, philosophical and historical perspectives, the aim of the book is not to provide a simplistic answer to the question ‘why does education fail so many?’ but rather it seeks to broaden understanding of the influences on education and schooling (including further and higher education) and to offer students the critical tools necessary to make reasoned and valued judgements about educational issues and outcomes.

Dealing with such topics as elementary education and child labour, authority and trust beyond neoliberalism and education as a practice of freedom, the authors explain, critique and challenge many long-held assumptions about education, whilst demonstrating the influence of economics in education policy and practice. As with all other books in the series, each chapter models accessible writing and argumentation, with opportunities for personal reflection throughout, clear chapter summaries and recommended reading. Without question, I would encourage all Education Studies courses to include this in their compulsory reading lists.

Simon, C.(2022) Review of Understanding Education and Economics: Key Debates and Critical Perspectives (2020) by Jessie Bustillos Morales and Sandra Abegglen (Eds). Educationalfutures, [online] Vol. 13(2). Available at: https://educationstudies.org.uk/?p=19022 [Accessed 28 Apr, 2024].

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Volume 13(2) 2022

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