The author presents new evidence on the effects of attendance on academic performance. He used a large panel data set for introductory microeconomics students to explicitly take into account the effect of unobservable factors correlated with attendance, such as ability, effort, and motivation. He found that neither proxy variables nor instrumental…

Considers the use of electronic mail in submitting teacher evaluations, student construction of web pages, and PowerPoint presentation slides in lectures within an economics course in order to improve student interest in economics. Addresses the positive and negative aspects of all three teaching strategies. (CMK)