Rick Kelo – How to Teach Economics to the Public

In today’s world of social media and digital technologies, more and more leaders are turning to the world wide web as a source or platform for sharing their messages and getting their voices heard. The importance of using the digital sphere as a platform for leadership is that is has high potential for reaching audiences around the world. There is no denying that communication has been made more effective and faster than ever before. This communication has largely been limited to superficial social media usage. However, in recent years, thought-leaders and political advocates have recognized the untapped potential that social media has for educating the public on important issues and in a way that is familiar to them.

For financial expert and economist RickKelo, helping to engage the wider public on issues surrounding the economy has been his motivation for using social media. He currently operates and writes for a number of websites that publish his opinions on economic, social, and political theory. With a Bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago, his audience of devoted followers and commentators is rapidly growing.

The reason for this is first and foremost because of his use of social media. His opinions are disseminated more quickly than they would be through print media. Second, publishing online gives him control over the content and frequency of his writing. He is not at the mercy of a publishing house that is simply trying to make money. He has total control over his work. Finally, he is gaining a large millennial following through his use of social media, the digital sphere, and cleverly written articles about topics that matter to all generations. For example, he has published straightforward articles such as  “The Minimum Wage Issue”, “What is the Optimal Progressive Tax?”, “Answering for the 2008 Global Economic Crash”, and “Free Market Capitalism and the Drive Towards Progress”. He has also published articles such as “Socialism and Star Wars” in which he compares traditional socialist theories to the political structure of the Star Wars universe. With these types of accessible articles, more and more people are taking the economy seriously.

Rick Kelo, a guardian for liberal democracy, is using the power of his individual voice in order to educate individuals in engage ways about issues that matter to our society. In doing so, he is creating a deeper understanding and more responsible civil engagement.