Viewpoints about world economic problems and descriptive and prescriptive views on the treatment of related controversial issues are presented. Following a section describing three types of controversial issues (issues of fact, causation, and values), the paper is arranged into six sections, each dealing with an aspect of the world economy with particular emphasis on economic development and militarization. These sections are concerned with the division and grouping among the nations of the world; the distribution of wealth among and within nations; the requisites for economic progress; relationships between more developed countries (MDC's) and less developed countries (LDC's); militarization, the arms race, and the arms burden; and the consequences of peace. Following each section is a suggested list of factual, causal, and values issues. In addition, the paper presents a brief discussion on the status of American education (with respect to world problems), a rationale for encouraging controversy in the classroom, and suggestions for managing controversy in the classroom. The document concludes that while the United States and other MDC's have a powerful influence on the world economy, a major responsibility for economic progress lies within the LDC's. Moreover, global education is prescribed as necessary for alleviating ignorance of world economic problems. (LH)