Home › Civics & economics › Comparisons
Two homeschool civics and economics programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: viewpoint, what you study, teaching style, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| LIFEPAC Gov & Econ | Abeka Gov & Econ | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | 12th | 11th–12th |
| Viewpoint | Christian; includes a unit on the Christian and government and one on free enterprise | Conservative, pro-free-enterprise, Christian and patriotic |
| Approach | Self-paced workbooks with self-tests and unit tests, built on mastery | Textbook reading with section reviews, chapter essays and quizzes |
| Who teaches | The program does the teaching | The parent teaches from a scripted guide |
| Parent prep | Low (the teacher's guide has every answer and test) | Low to moderate (teacher edition has lesson plans and keys) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Video lessons | None: print worktexts with no video lessons | Available: abeka Academy video lessons exist but are a separate program |
| Cost | $108: Government and Economics box set (10 student worktexts plus teacher's guide) | $46: American Government student text; teacher edition ($70) and Economics: Work and Prosperity are extra |
| Parents love |
|
|
| Common complaints |
|
|
Publisher and retailer listings describe ten colorful worktexts of three to four weeks each, with self-tests and a teacher's guide holding all the answers. We found no independent parent reviews of this specific course, so what we know comes from the publisher's descriptions of the course content and format.
The economics text is called better written and less dry than many Abeka books, and the government book is thorough with frequent review questions. Reviewers warn that the viewpoint is strongly conservative and Christian, that section questions lean toward recall, and that parents may want to read along on the economics theory.
Neither is better for every child. LIFEPAC Gov & Econ is the stronger fit for minimal. Abeka Gov & Econ is the stronger fit for free-market, limited-government; video lessons a big plus; plenty.
LIFEPAC Gov & Econ: christian; includes a unit on the Christian and government and one on free enterprise. Abeka Gov & Econ: conservative, pro-free-enterprise, Christian and patriotic.
LIFEPAC Gov & Econ: $108: Government and Economics box set (10 student worktexts plus teacher's guide). Abeka Gov & Econ: $46: American Government student text; teacher edition ($70) and Economics: Work and Prosperity are extra.
Summaries are in our own words.