The development of economic thinking in children from the Colombian Caribbean region

The development of economic concepts was investigated in a sample of 486 school children, by using a cognitive-evolutive approach. Participants were children, from 6 to 18 years 11 months old, from high, middle and low socioeconomic levels, living in three types of cities (multifinancial, moderately financial and limited financial) in the Colombian Caribbean area. Data were collected by means of a Piagetian-type clinical interview, and social representations were recorded. The interview collected information about general ideas of money functions, the coining and money issuing processes, the volume of money and its limitation, the determination of money in general, and money circulation. Results indicate there levels of development of economic thinking, associated with age.