Jungle Book Used as Economics Teaching Tool

A recent study published in the *International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education* proposes that Rudyard Kipling’s *The Jungle Book*—alongside its Disney film adaptations—can function as an unconventional teaching aid for undergraduate economics courses. The authors argue that the narrative’s characters and plotlines provide accessible illustrations of core economic ideas such as scarcity, sustainability, opportunity cost, and the trade‑offs between individual happiness and broader development outcomes.

By integrating excerpts from Kipling’s original text with scenes from the animated film, instructors can present students with concrete, culturally resonant examples that demonstrate how limited resources shape decision‑making and how choices affect both personal well‑being and community welfare. The paper suggests that this blended approach may enhance engagement and deepen students’ grasp of abstract concepts, offering a fresh pedagogical tool that bridges literature and economics.